Educational Qualification: M.Sc. Microbiology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (2011), Ph.D. Microbiology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (2015)

Positions Held: Senior Research Fellow at GADVASU, Ludhiana (2015-2017), Assistant Professor Microbiology (2017-2019).

Research Interests:

1. Development of sustainable packaging materials through microbial interventions.
2. Survey of biodiversity for novel useful microbial strains.
3. Development and assessment of food safety protocols for various food products.
4. Bio-fortification of microbes for nutraceutical applications.

Research Projects: All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Post Harvest Engineering and Technology.

Selected Research Publications (maximum up to 5):

1. Kaur, G., Kalia, A., & Sodhi, H. S. (2018). Selenium biofortification of Pleurotus species and its effect on yield, phytochemical profiles, and protein chemistry of fruiting bodies. Journal of Food Biochemistry 42(2): e12467. [NAAS Rating: 9.65]
2. Kalia A & Kaur G (2018). Biosynthesis of nanoparticles using mushrooms. Biology of Macrofungi, 351-360. Elsevier
3. Kaur G, Kalia A & Sodhi H S (2020). Size controlled, time-efficient biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from Pleurotus florida using ultra-violet, visible range, and microwave radiations. Inorganic and Nano-Metal Chemistry, 50(1), 35-41 [NAAS Rating: 7.51]
4. Kaur G & Sharma S (2020). Nanotechnology and Food Microbiology. Microbial Diversity, Interventions and Scope, 109-114. Springer Nature
5. Kaur, G, Kalia A & Sodhi H S (2021) Conformational, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of polysaccharides extracted from edible mushrooms of Pleurotus species. Agricultural Research ournal J (58):1071-76. 10.5958/2395-146X.2021.00151.4. [NAAS Rating: 5.44]

Awards/Honours/Distinctions:

• Awarded Merit Certificate by Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana for meritorious performance in M.Sc. Microbiology.
• Awarded Senior Fellowship for meritorious performance in semester course work exams in Ph.D. by Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.
• Qualified ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) NET (2016)
• Life member of Association of Microbiologists in India (AMI). Membership ID: 4684-2018
• Awarded Elite Certificate by IIT Kanpur for scoring 79% marked in course Nanotechnology in Agriculture run through NPTEL
• Awarded Certificate of Appreciation by Dean, College of Agriculture, PAU for Excellence in Teaching (2022).