Academic Experts
Academic Experts
Dr. Nivedita Mishra
Assistant Professor (Grade I)
nivedita.mishra@mail.jiit.ac.in
Biography

Dr. Nivedita Mishra, is associated with Department of Biotechnology, JIIT since April 2023. She did her Masters in Botany from University of Allahabad and PhD in Biotechnology from JIIT, Noida.
In previous roles, she served as JRF-CSIR at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, and as JRF-DBT at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi. Additionally, she worked as a Scientific Writer for the Current Science news article series 'Science Last Fortnight' and as Teaching Faculty for Botany at Rao’s IAS Academy."
Her research interests involve study of role of microbes and related mechanisms in various fields including environment, agriculture and medical. During her Doctorate, she worked upon developing microbial consortia for providing holistic plant growth support and developed formulations having long shelf life. Expanding her interest in role of microbes in diverse fields, she worked as scientist at National Institute for Cancer Prevention and Research (NICPR-ICMR), NOIDA. There as PI of DHR-Project, she worked to explore the role and impact of microbes in reducing the toxicity of Smokeless Tobacco Products.
In addition, she accumulated over six years of administrative expertise while serving with Ministry of Defence, Government of India and with Delhi University in various capacities.
With over two decades of rich and diverse experience, Dr. Mishra has made significant contributions across academia, research, and administration. Her work has been widely recognized, with numerous publications in peer-reviewed national and international journals, as well as book chapters with reputed publishers. A lifelong learner, Dr. Mishra actively participates in workshops and training programs to continually enhance her knowledge and skill sets.
 

Research Highlights

My research focus is on exploring the multifaceted role of microorganisms and demonstrating their transformative potential to address critical challenges in sustainable agriculture and public health. 
During my PhD research, I successfully investigated the transformative potential of plant growth-promoting microorganisms and engineered a ground-breaking microbial consortium combining native bacterial isolates with Trichoderma species. This innovative bio-formulation demonstrates exceptional plant growth promotion across multiple crops, while simultaneously providing robust biocontrol against major fungal pathogens.
Our significant breakthrough includes the identification and molecular characterization of novel microbial species, and the development of a cost-effective biofertilizer formulation with remarkable shelf stability without refrigeration – representing a substantial advancement over existing bio-inoculants. The engineered consortium also exhibits promising bioremediation capabilities for pesticide residues, offering a comprehensive, holistic solution for sustainable farming practices.
During my specialized project work, I conducted the first comprehensive investigation of tobacco microbiome in smokeless tobacco products, revealing the complex microbial ecosystem within these products in the Indian context. Through advanced metagenomic analysis, I identified the dominant genera present and established correlations between microflora composition and chemical profiles of various tobacco products. This pioneering research opens innovative avenues for developing targeted microbial interventions to reduce carcinogenic compounds in tobacco products.
My research passion lies in interdisciplinary approaches that combine conventional microbiological techniques with cutting-edge molecular methods, driving agricultural innovation and environmental sustainability. I strive to develop practical solutions that bridge laboratory discoveries with real-world applications.
 

Areas Of Interest
  • Plant growth promotion and stress tolerance
  • Plant and soil microbiology
  • Bioremediation
  • Microbial biotechnology
  • Agricultural sustainability
Publications
  • Shaheen S, Mishra N and Sundari S K (2022), “Assessment of Pseudomonas spp. for growth promotion, Biocontrol and Stress Tolerance applicability towards organic and inorganic pollutants” Eco Env & Cons, vol. 28 (May Suppl Issue), pp. S316-S329. ISSN 0971-765X
     
  • Mishra N and Sundari S K (2017), “A ‘Six-Step-Strategy’ to evaluate competence of plant growth promoting microbial consortia” Current Science, vol. 113, no. 1, pp. 63-70. DOI: 10.18520/cs/v113/i01/63-70
     
  • Mishra N, Khan S S and Sundari S K* (2016), “Native isolate Trichoderma harzianum – a biocontrol agent with unique abiotic stress tolerance properties” World J Microbiol Biotechnol, vol. 32, no. 8, pp. 130.  DOI: 10.1007/s11274-016-2086-4
     
  • Mishra N and Sundari S K* (2016), “Designing low cost SSF strategy for mass production of bioinoculant Trichoderma harzianum KSNM with longer shelf life” Asian J Microbiol Biotechnol Environ Sci, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 447-458. 
     
  • Mishra N and Sundari S K* (2015), “Native PGPM consortium: A beneficial solution to support plant growth in the presence of phytopathogens and residual organophosphate pesticides”. J Bioprocess Biotech, vol. 5, pp. 202. DOI:10.4172/2155-9821.1000202