Anju Arora

As a Research Scientist at IARI my job entails:Research :Identifying issues related to agriculture and environment in India and relevant to global society, carry out research to find solution to these issues.Preparing technical concept notes, formulating project proposals, assessing the feasibility, project budgeting, developing infrastructure facilities, execution and implementing project activities according to technical program within timelines, compilation, analysis and publication of data, writing reports, presentation of results at meetings, conferences.Writing proposals for obtaining external grants, hiring of skilled manpower and managing budget, I hugely contributed in developing Institute’s challenge program on biofuels and securing funding. Our team was successful in securing research project funding of >Rs 2crores and about 70 lacs from National Fund for Basic and Strategic Research in Agriculture and network project Application of Microorganisms in Agriculture and Allied Sectors. I served as principal investigator / co investigator in in- house and externally funded projects.I forged research collaborations with University of Arkansas, Amity University, IIT Delhi, ICGEB Delhi and developed joint proposals. Teaching and mentoring post graduate students and research scholars. I have guided M. Sc and Ph. D students as chairperson/ co- chairperson/member of their advisory committee. Two of my M.Sc students received IARI merit medals.I have contributed in upgrading/redesigning microbiology course curricula for agriculture educational institutions. Capacity building: Train technical manpower and serve as resource person in training programs. Extension: Participated in institute’s extension programs and making farmers aware of technologies developed and providing farmers with materials like biofertilisers.My expertise is in the area of Natural Resource Management: agrowaste management, Bioenergy/ biofuels and bioremediation of wastewaters and organics.

Conservation, characterisation and utilisation of Azolla and blue-green algae (DBT funded and presently ICAR funded)
The role of biofertilizers (BGA and Azolla) in Integrated Nutrient Management of Rice-based Cropping System Project (funded by Department of Biotechnology)
Develop a microbial consortium for faster bioconversion of recalcitrant lignocellulosic wastes paddy straw (NATP-ICAR funded)
Use of Azolla spp. in bioremediation of metal-contaminated and municipal wastewaters
Bioremediation of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) through microbial consortia
Microbial inoculants for efficient nutrient use and crop improvement
Profiling of Azolla in relation to crop improvement
Microbial degradation of agrowastes: Development of formulation of effective microorganisms for production of enriched compost for peri-urban agriculture
Increasing the efficiency of microbial production of bioethanol from agricultural biomass (ICAR funded)
Bioprospecting of microorganisms for sustainable production of second-generation liquid biofuels
Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering opportunities for enhanced production of biofuels through microbes (ICAR-AMAAS funded)

Working as scientist (research)
Area of expertise: Natural resource management and Applied Microbiology (Agri-residue management, Bioenergy/biofuel production, and bioremediation of wastewater and organics)
Teaching and mentoring M. Sc. and Ph. D students as a faculty member of Graduate school at IARI (Deemed University)