Assistant Professor

I am a Plant Biotechnologist with active research and teaching interests in Plant Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering, Plant Tissue Culture, Secondary Metabolites, and Biofuels. My research focuses on applying cutting-edge molecular tools and plant biotechnological approaches to address global challenges in sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and environmental resilience.
I earned my Master’s degree from Pune University, followed by a Ph.D. from CSIR–Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Jammu, where my research was focused on gaining molecular-level insights into Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha). Post-Ph.D. I worked as a Contractual Lecturer in the Department of Bioresources where i engaged in teaching and mentoring students for one year.I then moved to the University of Delhi as an ICMR Post doctoral Fellow, Contributing to advanced research in plant molecular biology and development of suspension cultures of some high value medicinal plants as perennial source oof biomolecules.
My acadamic journry took me internationally when i joined the University of Pretoria, South Aferica, as a recipient of the Vice Chancellor's Postdoctoral fellowship - one of the institution's most prestigious research fellowship. During this time, i was also awarded the NRF freestanding postdoctoral fellowship by the national research foundation (NRF), South Africa. In addition i was also awarded Dr. DS Kothari post doctoral fellowship by UGC, New Delhi .
In Feb. 2016, I recieved  the prestigious Energy Biosciences Overseas Fellowship (Re-entry Fellowship) by DBT, Government of India, this recognition marked a significant milestone in my carrier following which i got appointed  as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany on March 31, 2016.Over the years, i have been fortunate to present my reserch findings abd deliver invited lectures at various national and international platforms. I have also been honoured with several prestigious Awards and fellowships .

Awards & Recognitions (Selected Highlights):
• Young Scientist Award (Botany) by Society for Plant Research & Springer-Vegetos (2022)
• Certificate of Appreciation (Editor, Springer-Vegetos) by Springer & Society for Plant Research India – 2024 & 2025
• Best Presentation Award, NCRITCPSR National Conference, Tamil Nadu (2022)
• Bioenergy Award for Cutting Edge Research (B-ACER) by DBT, Govt. of India & IUSSTF, USA (2019)
• Travel Grant, IndiaBioscience – Young Investigator Meeting (YIM), Guwahati, India (2019)
• INSA Visiting Scientist Fellowship, NCSBS-TIFR, Bangalore (2017)
• Early Career Research Award, SERB-DST, Govt. of India (2017)
• Visiting Professor, University of Queensland, Australia (2016)
• International Travel Grant, DST, Govt. of India – SFDCC 2016, Universiti Putra Malaysia (2016)
• Travel Grant, IndiaBioscience – YIM 2015, Srinagar, India (2015)
• NRF International Travel Grant, Bioenergy from Forests, Helsinki, Finland (2014)
• International Travel Grant, DST, Govt. of India – Plant Molecular Biology Conference, Missouri, USA (2010)
• International Travel Grant, CSIR – Environment and Bioscience Conference, Cairo, Egypt
• Best Poster Presentation Award, 96th Indian Science Congress, Shillong (2009)

Professional Affiliations:
• Fellow & Life Member, International Society for Development & Sustainability (Japan)
• Member, Royal Society of Biology (London, UK)
• Life Member, Society for Plant Research, India
• Life Member, Indian Science Congress Association
• Life Member, Asian Phytopathological Society (APS Asia), India

Editorial Roles:
• Assistant Editor, Vegetos (Springer), 2023–2025
• Review Editor, Plant Biotechnology (Frontiers in Plant Science)
• Associate Editorial Board Member: Nanoscience & Nanotechnology – Asia, Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry
• Editorial Board Member:
o Journal of Biologically Active Products from Nature (Taylor & Francis)
o Journal of Herbal Medicine (China)
o Journal of Integrative Medicine
o International Journal of Biodiversity & Conservation
o Advances in Biomedicine and Pharmacy
o Journal of Modern Medicinal Chemistry (Synergy Publishers)
• Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Applied Biology and Biotechnology (2018–2020)
• Reviewer, for numerous international journals in plant sciences and biotechnology

My onerarching goal is to contribute to high-impact, interdisciplinary research, foster international collaborations, and inspire the next generation of scientists in plant biotechnology. I am committed to leveraging modern biotechnological tools to develop sustainable, real-world solutions in agriculture, energy, and environmental management.

Faculty Details

  • Citations 1200
  • HIndex 18
  • i10 Index 22
  • Mobile 7051623467
  • Email meerbilal82@gmail.com bilal.mir@uok.edu.in
  • Administrative position Held Coordinator, Department of Botany, North Campus, University of Kashmir
  • Resume View



Research Papers Published

  • "In planta expression of hyperthermophilic enzymes as a strategy for accelerated lignocellulosic digestion" Nature Scientific Reports, 7(1): DOI No. 11462 Impact Factor= 5.23
  • "Metabolic and Biotechnological Approaches to determine therapeutic potential of Withania somnifera (L) Dunal: A review" Phytomedicine, 10(4): DOI No. doi Impact Factor= 3.53
  • "New Frontiers for Chemical Ecology: Reaffirming a commitment to the Goteborg resolution" Journal of Chemical Ecology, 43(1): 2 -3 Impact Factor= 3.15
  • "DNA Barcodes distinguish Withania somnifera and Withania ashwagandha" Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci, 3(8): DOI No. doi Impact Factor= 0.5
  • "The role of YIM in shaping my independent scientific career" India Bioscience (Journey of YI), 10(2): DOI No. doi Impact Factor= 0.0
  • "Phenolic content, antioxidant and allelopathic potential of Artemisia brevifolia wall ex dc across the elevations of Western Himalayan region of Ladakh" South African Journal of Botany, 157(0): 508 -519 {ISSN: 1234567} Impact Factor= 3.2
  • "Interactive effect of 24-epibrassinolide and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria inoculation restores photosynthetic attributes in Brassica juncea L. under chlorpyrifos toxicity" Environmental Pollution, 320(0): 120760 -120760 {ISSN: 0269-7491} Impact Factor= 9.988
  • "Transcriptome Analysis and Differential Expression in Arabidopsis thaliana in response to rohitukine (a chromone alkaloid) treatment" Functional & Integrative Genomics, 23(0): 35 -35 {ISSN: 14387948} Impact Factor= 3.674
  • "Comprehending the dynamism of B chromosomes in their journey towards becoming unselfish" Frontiers in Cell & Developmental Biology, 10(0): 1072716 -1072716 {ISSN: 2296634X} Impact Factor= 6.08
  • "Prokaryotic communities adapted to microhabitats on the Indian lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) growing in the high-altitude urban Dal Lake" International Microbiology, 134(0): 123 -134 {ISSN: 978-070207} Impact Factor= 3.079
  • "Effect of altitude on volatile organic and phenolic compounds of Artemisia brevifolia wall ex dc. from the Western Himalayas" Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 10(0): 864728 -864728 {ISSN: 2296-701X} Impact Factor= 4.49
  • "Effect of halopriming on seed germination performance and early seedling establishment in okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) under saline conditions" Plant Physiology Reports, 30(3): DOI No. 146 Impact Factor= 1.3
  • "Medicinal plants of the Himalayan Tral region of Kashmir, India: an ethnobotanical study of their diversity, use patterns, and health implications" Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 27(1): DOI No. 1 Impact Factor=
  • "Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Traditional Medicinal Foods in Cancer Treatment: Molecular Evidence and Bioactivities" Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, 24(26): DOI No. 137 Impact Factor= 2.9
  • "Genetic, molecular and physiological crosstalk during drought tolerance in maize (Zea mays): pathways to resilient agriculture" Planta, 260(81): DOI No. 116 Impact Factor= 3.6
  • "Altitude-dependent influence of Artemisia brevifolia on its rhizosphere microbiome in Ladakh region of the Western Himalayas" Rhizosphere, 30(37): DOI No. 124 Impact Factor= 3.4
  • "Repurposing of Plant-based Antiviral Molecules for the Treatment of COVID-19" Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, 24(7): DOI No. 613 Impact Factor= 2.9

Books Published

  • "Emerging Trends in Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Salicylic Acid". Nazar R., Iqbal N., Khan K. (eds) Salicylic Acid: A Multifaceted Hormone (Springer Singapore). {ISBN: 978-981-10-6068-7} pp 29
  • "Cross Talk Among Reactive Oxygen, Nitrogen and Sulfur During Abiotic Stress in Plants". John Wiley & Sons. {ISBN: 123} pp 10.1002/9
  • "A current scenario on role of brassinosteroids in plant defense triggered in response to biotic challenges". Springer, Singapore. {ISBN: 123} pp 367-388
  • "Role and regulation of plant hormones as a signal molecule in response to abiotic stresses". Elsevier, USA. {ISBN: 1234} pp 303-317
  • "Role of Beneficial Microorganisms in Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants". CRC Press, Taylor & Francis. {ISBN: 12345} pp 327-340
  • "Kinase-Mediated Signaling Cascades in Plant Abiotic Stress Physiology". Springer, Singapore. {ISBN: 9789811679803} pp 25
  • "Mechanism Associated with Brassinosteroids-Mediated Detoxification of Pesticides in Plants". Springer, Singapore. {ISBN: 9789811657429} pp 18
  • "Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR): A Credible Tool for Sustainable Agriculture". Bentham Science. {ISBN: 978-981-5179-70-5} pp 211-250
  • "Integrating Multi-Omics Approaches to Unravel the Mysteries Underlying Metalloid Stress in Plants". CRC Press. {ISBN: 9781032673592} pp 108-131
  • "Siderophores and their Action against Metalloid Toxicity". CRC Press. {ISBN: 9781032673592} pp 246-269
  • "Zinc, nematodes, and plant disease: role and regulation". Academic Press. pp 225-247
  • "Plant Metabolism and Abiotic Stress in Crops". Scrivener Publishing. pp 23
  • "Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR): A Credible Tool for Sustainable Agriculture". Bentham Science. pp 211-250
  • "Influence of Nanomaterials on Physiology and Antioxidant Defense Activities in Plants Under Abiotic Stress Conditions". Springer, Cham. {ISBN: 978-3-031-61081-3} pp 117-149

Research Projects Details:

Title of the ProjectFunding AgencyDatedAmount (in Rs.)
cloning and expression of of some novel thermostable lignocellulose digesting enzymes in E. coli and plantsDBT16-02-20163,250,000.00
Isolation and functional analysis of oxidosqualene cyclase genes in W. somniferaBSR UGC20-03-2019100,000.00
Metabolic engineering of Withanolides biosynthesis pathway in Indian ginseng (Withania somnifera) for enhanced withanolide accumulationSERB, DST24-03-20174,330,000.00
Cloning and expression of thermophilic/hyperthermophilic lignocellulose digesting enzymes in microbial/plant hosts for advanced biofuel productionDBT-Energy Fellowship16-02-20163,250,000.00
Autotetraploid induction in critically endangered high value Himalayan medicinal plant Podophyllum hexandrum as a means of, preventing extinction, mitigate climate change(s), colonize new ecogeographical regions and genetic improvementDepartment of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & technology, Govt. of India07-01-20242,862,000.00

Research Scholars:

NameCourseStatusNature
Palak BakshiPh.D Awarded Whole Time
POONAM CHOWDARYPh.D Awarded Whole Time
MANZOOR HUSSAINPh.D Awarded Whole Time

Teaching:

DepartmentSubjectCourse TaughtSemester
North Campus BotanyFive Year Integrated (B.Sc-M.Sc) BotanyMICROBES AND ALGAE1
North Campus BotanyFive Year Integrated (B.Sc-M.Sc) BotanyMICROBES AND ALGAE1
North Campus BotanyFive Year Integrated (B.Sc-M.Sc) BotanyINTRODUCTION TO BIOTECHNOLOGY1
North Campus BotanyFive Year Integrated (B.Sc-M.Sc) BotanyCOMMERCIAL MEDICINAL AND AEROMATIC PLANTS2
North Campus BotanyFive Year Integrated (B.Sc-M.Sc) BotanyPLANT PHYSIOLOGY3