PB

Pritesh Bhatt

Vimal Research Society for Agro-Biotech & Cosmic Powers (DSIR, Gov of India), All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Saurashtra University, Shree H. N. Shukla College

ORCID iD 0000-0002-5550-5087
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About

I am an accomplished Molecular Biologist currently working as a Scientist-B at the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rajkot, (India). I have over 9 years of experience in advanced plant biology research and university-level teaching. I obtained my PhD in Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology from Saurashtra University, where my doctoral research specialized in molecular and bioinformatics analyses of grass species' organelle genomes. I became the first to deposit the complete chloroplast genome of grasses from south Asia, and all are deposited as reference genomes in the NCBI database. My dissertation project involved numerous complex laboratory techniques including DNA/RNA extraction, PCR amplification, DNA sequencing, computational genomics, molecular markers, time tree and phylogenomics and other Bioinformatics analyses. Leveraging my expertise in plant molecular biology and genetics, I have published 20 research papers from my research work in reputable peer-reviewed journals, demonstrating my research writing abilities. Currently, as Principal Investigator, I lead the extramural funded project: “Development of an RT-PCR Based Multiplex Diagnostic Kit for Detecting Respiratory Viruses in Clinical Samples.” Furthermore, I am acting as co-Principal Investigator on two additional research projects at AIIMS.

In addition to my research accomplishments, I have served as a lecturer in the MSc Botany program at Shree H.N. Shukla College for the past year. In this teaching role, I taught university courses over two semesters and received positive reviews for my ability to explain intricate botanical concepts in an understandable manner. My teaching experience has strengthened my communication skills and reaffirmed my passion for educating others.

Beyond my research and academic roles, I am also a certified medical writer with two years of specialized experience in medical writing and an additional 5+ years of comprehensive background in science writing. This expertise enhances my ability to communicate complex scientific information effectively to diverse audiences.

I have been the recipient of numerous prestigious awards and honors throughout my academic career. I was honored with the Young Scientist Award by the International Conference for Award Winners in Engineering, Science and Medicine (INSO) at Pondicherry, India in April 2023. I have also received the Bharat Shiksha Gaurav Puraskar by KTK outstanding achievers and education foundation, New Delhi. I achieved 1st rank in my MSc Botany class at Saurashtra University. I was also selected for the highly competitive DST-INSPIRE Fellowship, which funded my PhD research for 5 years. Additionally, I have passed multiple national exams including ICAR NET in Plant Physiology and Agricultural Biotechnology, demonstrating my comprehensive expertise across botanical disciplines. Furthermore, I completed the certificate course "Writing in the Sciences" from Stanford University in November 2023, further refining my scientific communication skills.

On the extracurricular side, I have taken initiative to conduct hands-on workshops in bioinformatics, published a metaphysics book, served as a journal reviewer in Scientific Reports (Nature), Human Gene (Elsevier), Functional & Integrative Genomics (Springer), BMC genomic data, Mitochondrial DNA Part B (Taylor & Francis), Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution (Springer), Environmental Sustainability (Springer), BMC Plant biology, and BMC Genomics journals, worked as an associate editor for Human Gene, and regularly presented my research at academic conferences. My passion for community education and outreach enhances my role as a scientist.

I possess interdisciplinary knowledge bridging biology, biomedical engineering, BioPhysics, and computer science. I am proficient in a wide range of technical and computational skills including PCR, sequencing, genomics, molecular markers, Plant Barcoding, phylogenetics, expression profiling, data analysis, and more. I have also worked with Vimal Research Society for Agro-Biotech and Cosmic Powers (VIRSACO) and have been associated with their various research activities for 5 years. Here we are engaged in plant tissue culture, seaweed collection, identification and barcoding, plant extractions, agricultural biotechnology, and biophysics research projects. My diverse research experience at VIRSACO has allowed me to expand my skills and contribute to innovative projects spanning multiple scientific domains. This interdisciplinary research environment has enriched my capabilities as a quick-learning scientist able to bridge gaps between different fields.

Employment

  • Vimal Research Society for Agro-Biotech & Cosmic Powers (DSIR, Gov of India) Research Director
    2025 - Present
  • All India Institute of Medical Sciences Scientist
    2024 - 2025
  • Shree H. N. Shukla College lecturer in Master of Science (M.Sc.)
    2022 - 2023
  • Saurashtra University Inspire Fellow
    2017 - 2022
  • Vimal research Society for Agro-Biotech and Cosmic powers Researcher
    2016 - 2022

Education

  • Saurashtra University Doctor of Philosophy
    2017 - 2022
  • Saurashtra University Master of Science
    2014 - 2016

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (18)