Dr. Giridhar Parvatam (DOB: 25.07.1969) is working as a Scientist in CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysuru since 1999. He has done his MSc., and PhD from Kakatiya University, Warangal. He was a DAAD Fellow, at University of Byareuth, Germany (1995-96), and BOYSCAST Fellow at Institute for Research and Development, Montpellier, France (2005-2006). Dr. Giridhar’s research contributions over the past 21 years in the interface of Plant biotechnology and Food Science & Technology, specifically explores the nutritional and nutraceutical potential of unexplored and lesser-known plant parts for harnessing bioactive compounds, and phytonutrients to develop health food formulations that offer value addition to these plants. Dr. Giridhar made concerted efforts to develop novel and sustainable methods for in vitro propagation of food value plants and also established alternate mode of production of pigments and flavour molecule 2H4MB. He has extensively worked on annatto dye (Bixa orellana), natural colours, caffeine (Coffea spp., capsacin (Capsicum spp.), and isoflavones (soybean). Also, engaged with anthocyanins and betalains by utilization of sustainable and affordable plant sources as a potential resource for both value addition and its usage through Food Science & Technology. His main research interests are in the areas of Plant Tissue Culture, Molecular biology, Metabolic engineering, Plant Secondary metabolites, Phytonutrients and nutraceuticals, Functional food formulations.
So far has successfully developed two processes and had 09 patents. He has visited Belgium, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia and Nepal. Dr. Giridhar authored more than 170 publications (h-index 41 and i-10 index 102). He has guided 11 PhDs., and 35 M.Tech./B.Tech./M.Sc. students for Dissertation work.
BIOTECHNOLOGY and FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Dr. Giridhar�s research focuses on the cross-cutting themes of Food biotechnology specifically in the interface of plants and nutraceuticals. His interdisciplinary research approaches mainly oriented on the development of sustainable plant tissue culture methods for food value plants and, phytonutrients from unexplored plants, Metabolic engineering and molecular biology interventions to identify the key genes of desired plant secondary metabolites biosynthetic pathways, identification of bioactives, and nutraceuticals from lesser-known and unexplored plants and green leafy vegetables for value addition etc.
Fellowships & Memberships:
Fellow of National Academy of Biological Sciences (FNABS)
Fellow of Andhra Pradesh Akademi of Sciences (FAPAS)
Fellow of Indian Botanical Society (FIBS)
Fellow of Academy of Plant Sciences India (FAPSI)
Fellow of Society for Applied Biotechnology (FSAB)
An elected member of The National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad
An elected member of Plant Tissue Culture Association of India.
Awards:
Dr. Giridhar is the recipient of Outstanding Scientist Award of The Society of Tropical Agriculture, India (2019), Senior Scientist Award of Asian Biological Research Foundation (2019), Senior Scientist Award of Association of Biotechnology and Pharmacy (2018), APSI-International Plant Scientist Award (2017), Dr. Rajammal P. Devdas Memorial NABS-Best Scientist Award- Food Sciences (2015), VIFRA-Outstanding Scientist Award in Biotechnology (2015), Laljee Godhoo Smarak Nidhi Award for Excellence in R&D in the field of Food Science & Technology conferred by Association of Food Scientists and Technologists, India (2012), CSIR-CFTRI-Individual Award for Scientific Contributions among Scientists of Group IV (R&D) (2012), Prof. Y.S. Murthy Young Botanist Award – of Indian Botanical Society (2009), Prof. HC Dubey Outstanding Young Scientist Award of Indian Society for Mycology & Plant Pathology (2008), Young Scientist Award of Academy of Plant Sciences, India (2007), and Smt. Kamala Devi and Sri Ramlal Dhiman Gold Medal for a young researcher, Academy of Plant Sciences (1999).