Academic Qualification:

• M.Sc. in Botany

• Ph.D. in Botany ( Lichenology)

          Title of thesis: "Studies on the lichen family Cladoniaceae from India

          and Nepal" under the supervision of Dr. D.D. Awasthi  

Position Held:

• Research fellowship from Junior to Research Associate ship from 1979 to 1988 in UGC and CSIR projects.  

• Scientist `B' 1988 to 1991

• Scientist `C' 1991 to 1996

• Scientist ‘E-1 1996 to 2001

• Scientist ‘E-1 2001 to till 

Research Interest:

• Taxonomical and morphological studies of Lichens.

• Ethnolichenology

• Studies on Lichens growing on historical monuments.

• Studies on Antarctic lichens:

• Diversity studies of Indian lichen flora.

• Biomonitoring studies of lichens of different forest types in India.

• Antifungal activity of lichen substances.

• Air pollution studies with lichens.

Exploration outside India:

          Survey, collection and identification of lichens in and around Maitri region,

          Schirmacher Oasis, East Antarctica.  

Research Project Completed:

(i) Studies on Antarctic lichens, (CSIR funded). 

(ii) DST project entitled "Epiphytic lichen flora of Pinus and Quercus trees of Kumaon"

     (Recently completed).

(iii) Lichen flora of Jim Corbett National Park (UPCST).

(iv) Morphotaxonomic studies on microlichen genera of India (in house project).

            (v) Lichen diversity of North-East lichens (Umbrella Project of NBRI).

(vii) A digitised inventory of plant resources, Part 2, other economically important species

     (DBT) project.

Memberships of the Societies:

            1. Corresponding member of British Lichen Society for India.

            2. Member of International Association of Lichenologist (IAL).

            3. Life Member of Society of Ethnobotanist.

            4. Life Member of Kaul Science Foundation.

            5. Member of CSIR Steering Committee for Antarctic Research.

            6. Member of Palaeobotanical Society of India.

            7. Member of Association for Plant Taxonomy.

            8. Society of Herbal medicine and Himalayan Biodiversity, India.

            9. International Society of Environmental Botanist.

10. Life member International Council for Biodeterioration of Cultural Properties (ICBCP).

11.  Life member of Indian Science Congress.

Awards/Distinctions:

1.         Selected as Member 11th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica 1991-92.

2.         Proposed "Expert" in conservation and development of Himalaya and its people by G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development. Kosi-Katarmal, Almora.

3.         Worked as Co-Director, in 4^th International Ethnological Conference, Lucknow, for Medicinal Women Pre-training Course, 12-14 November, 1994

4.                  Awarded J.B.S. Haldane Memorial Scroll of 1997 for distinguished contribution towards "Theoretical Studies on Environment", by Forum of Scientist for Peace and Development (FSPD) and Rais Ahmed Memorial Trust, New Delhi.

5.                  Examiner for Ph.D thesis “Co-variation in Diversity and Conservation value across taxa: A case study from Garhwal Himalayas” of Mr. Hans Raj Negi, on 18^th January 1999 at Centre for Ecological Science, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.

6.                  Examiner for B.Sc. III Kumaun University at Govt. Post Graduate College, Pithoragarh. 27-28^th May 1998.

7.                  Awarded INSA-DFG International Scientific Collaboration Fellowship to visit different Institutes/Universities in Germany.

            8.         Managing Editor “Phytotaxonomy”.

            9.         Editor ICBCP News letter.

Foreign visit:  

Visited  Germany  under INSA Exchange programme and Received training on  phytochemistry of lichenized fungi at Essen University, Essen, Germany.

Publication List: