Postdoc
Jisha, M.: Research Associate, ICMR
miRNAs are the most abundant class of small non-coding RNAs, and they are involved in regulation of secondary metabolite formation among other things. The present study is aimed to find out the metabolic, functional and toxicological diversity of asiaticoside, the major secondary metabolite in Centella asiatica.
PhD students
Binoy Kurian : PhD student (Kerala University Research Fellow)
Objectives of his study are (i) to develop molecular markers for Calamus sp., (ii) analyze genetic diversity in Calamus using SSR polymorphism and (ii) to analyze phylogenetic relationships in the genus using nrDNA ITS and cpDNA rps16 or trnL-F regions.
Sakthipriya, M : PhD student (DST INSPIRE Fellow)
Understanding the genetic basis of complex traits or locating allelic regions associated with these traits can be useful in genetic studies and breeding to manipulate the important quantitative traits. Ms. Sakthipriya will apply association mapping to identify genes associated with complex traits in Centella asiatica which would leads to map the possible QTLs and also provide the knowledge about the genome organization of the species.
Gouri Priya Ranjith : PhD student (KSCSTE Research Fellow)
Gouri aims to identify the possible relation between asiaticiside biosynthesis and microRNA (miRNA) regulation in Centella asiatica, which might prove to be useful for the studies towards formation of important biomedical molecules by the medicinal plant, which in turn can provide novel and rapid applications ranging from medicinal plant cultivation to herbal therapeutics.
Jaichand J : PhD student
His work involves identification and characterisation of antimicrobial compounds, with special reference to antivirals from medicinal plants belonging to families, Fabaceae and Lamiaceae.
Deepa J.M. : PhD student (Govt of Kerala Research Fellow)
Selection of elite genotype of Trichosanthes cucumerina var. cucumerina L., a potential medicinal plant and production of cucurbitacins through in vitro culture systems are major aspects of her PhD programme.
Devi Ramesh Chandra Bhanu : PhD student
Her research involves micropropagation, nutritional analysis and estimation of genetic diversity in selected wild fruit trees.
Jinu Thomas : Junior Research Fellow (DBT project)
The project aims to identify elite genotypes of Centella asiatica and Bacopa monnieri, two important medicinal plants. Jinu will be developing microsatellite markers through bioinformatics approach and assist related project activities.
Shefeek, S : Project Assistant (DBT project)
The project aims to analyse plant-pollinator interactions using molecular markers.
Alumni
PhD students
Nadiya, F. : PhD in Biotechnology (KSCSTE Research Fellow)
Title of the PhD work: Genome-wide miRNA and transcriptome expression analysis of wild and cultivar genotypes of cardamom
Period: Sept 2012 - Feb 2017
Status: Thesis submitted in Feb 2017 to University of Kerala
Anjali, N. : PhD in Biotechnology (KSCSTE Research Fellow)
Title of the PhD work: Development of molecular markers and identification of drought regulated microRNAs in cardamom
Period: Jul 2011 - Dec 2016
Status: Thesis submitted in Dec 2016 to University of Kerala
Ashitha J Prakash : PhD in Biotechnology (UGC Research Fellow)
Title of the PhD work: Association mapping in wild cardamom to identify disease resistance genes
Period: Jul 2011 - Oct 2012
Status: Discontinued
Project fellows
Athira V Nair : Technical Assistant
Title of the Project: Analysis of genetic variability and bioprospecting of wild cardamom populations (Plan programme)
Period: Nov 2015 - Mar 2017
Vishnu V Nair: Junior Research Fellow
Title of the Project: Analysis of Genetic diversity in selected Rattan palms (Calamus sp.) using Microsatellite Markers (Kerala Biotechnology Commission)
Period: Jan 2013 - Apr 2014
Sajith kumar S.V.: Junior Research Fellow
Title of the Project: Analysis of Genetic diversity in selected Rattan palms (Calamus sp.) using Microsatellite Markers (Kerala Biotechnology Commission)
Period: May - Dec 2012
