Dr. Archana S Rao

Associate Professor

With a passion for teaching and research Dr. Archana S. Rao is working as an Assistant Professor of Microbiology in School of Basic and Applied Sciences. She has done her post -graduation in Microbiology from Mangalore University, Karnataka. As a part of the master’s program she has worked on “Identification and Characterization of Antimicrobial Compounds in Robusta Coffee” at CFTRI (Central Food and Technological Research Institute), Mysore and “Study on Endophytic Bacteria of Coffee” at Post Graduate Department of Microbiology, Madikeri, Mangalore University. She has also worked on Preliminary Studies on “Paracalyx scariosus”, “Evaluation of Hepato protective and Antibacterial activity of Andrographis serpyllifolius” and “Effect of Agnihotra on Airborne Microorganisms” at SRNMNC, Kuvempu University during her BSc. These preliminary research works made her to get hands on experience of microbiological techniques and enhanced inclination towards research. She has been awarded with PhD degree from Kuvempu University, Karnataka for the research work “Biological Control of Purple Blotch of Onion and Development of IDM packages for Residue Free Safe Produce” carried out in the Department of Plant Pathology, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hesaraghatta, Bangalore. During her PhD she got Senior Research Fellowship from ICAR. The research work mainly focussed on the biological control of A. porri affecting onion and developing an integrated package for the effective disease management during epidemics. Two microbial products were developed for fungal disease management and PGPR in vegetable crops. Having 10 years of research experience in molecular biology, plant pathology and microbiology she has expertise on the field evaluation of bioagents, formulation development, marker characterization of microorganisms, primer designing, molecular works, statistical analysis of data etc. She has presented her research works in national and international conferences and won awards. Currently her research expands to microbial production of industrially relevant products, plant pathology, agriculture microbiology, extremophiles, mushrooms, environmental microbiology and vedic microbiology.

Qualification- PhD (Microbiology)

Area of Expertise- Plant Pathology, Extremophiles, Environmental microbiology, Microbial Production

Research Interests at DSU- Microbial Production of PUFA, Bio-valorisation of agro-industrial wastes, Exploration of valuable microbial metabolites

Awards and Recognitions

• First prize for oral presentation on “Biological control of purple blotch of onion by using pesticidal resistant strain of Trichoderma harzianum –IIHR1” during south zone, IPS for M.J. Narasimhan Academic Merit Award contest, held at UAS, Dharwad.
• First prize for oral presentation on “Exploitation of Rhizobacteria for the eco-friendly management of purple blotch disease of onion” during IV National symposium on plant protection in horticultural crops: Emerging challenges and sustainable pest management at Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore.
• Invited Talk at Online Summit on PLANT SCIENCE and AGRICULTURE, Belgium-March 2021
• Invited Talk at SRNMNC, on “Science – The Passion”, Shivamogga – 23rd March, 2020

LinkedIN: https://in.linkedin.com/in/archana-s-rao-6b65a4236

Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=eeItHnsAAAAJ&hl=en