Dr. Nisha Rani D.

Dr. Nisha Rani D. is an educator, researcher, and mentor whose work spans plant biotechnology, environmental science, and institutional leadership. She joined the faculty in 2011, bringing experience from distinguished public-sector roles including the Government Secretariat and the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE). She holds a Ph.D. from CSIR-NIIST, completed with JRF and SRF fellowships from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Her research interests encompass Plant Tissue Culture, Biotransformation, and Phytoremediation, fields in which she holds patents registered in the United States and Japan, with publications in peer-reviewed journals across Elsevier, Springer, and Taylor & Francis. She also serves as a reviewer and editorial board member for reputed international journals. Dr. Nisha has held several institutional responsibilities, including Principal-in-Charge and Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) during 2024–25, and has coordinated the Placement Cell, National Service Scheme (NSS), and Civil Services Club.

Research and Publications

More than 10 Research publications and patents. Some of them are mentioned below.

• Nisha Rani. D and Emilia Abraham (2016). A Potential Tissue culture Approach for the Phytoremediation of Dyes in Aquaculture Industry. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 115: 23-29. (Impact factor 2019- 3.6). (Elsevier).
• Nisha Rani. D and Emilia Abraham.T(2006). Kinetic study of a purified anionic peroxidase isolated from Eupatorium odoratum and its novel application as time temperature indicator for food materials, Journal of Food Engineering 77: 594-600. (Impact factor 2025- 5.8). (Elsevier)
• Nisha Rani. D and Emilia Abraham.T (2006). Kinetics and thermal stability of two peroxidase isozymes from Eupatorium odoratum. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 128: 1-12. (Impact factor 2025- 3.3). (Springer).
• Nisha Rani. D, Beena Joy and Emilia Abraham.T (2006). Cell suspension cultures of Portulaca grandiflora as potent catalysts for biotransformation of L-tyrosine into L-DOPA. Pharmaceutical Biology,45 (1): 48-53. (Impact factor 2025- 4.8). (Taylor & Francis)
• Nisha Rani. D and G.M. Nair (2006). Effects of plant growth regulators on high frequency shoot multiplication and callus regeneration of an important Indian medicinal plant, nirgundi (Vitexnegundo L.). In vitro, 42 (1) 7-9. (Impact factor 2024-2.21). (Springer)
• US Patent- "A process for the production of peroxidase from plant cell and callus cultures". Patent number- US7390641
• US Patent- "A process for the production of peroxidase from plant cell and callus cultures". Patent number- US7390641
• Japanese Patent- JP2008500038.

International / National / State-Level Seminars & Workshops Attended / Organized / Presented

• Coordinated a Career Conclave in collaboration with K Disc, Kerala Knowledge Mission and Vijnanakeralam- &7th March, 2026
• Completed the NEP 2020 Orientation & Sensitization Programme under Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme (MM-TTP) of University Grants Commission (UGC), Organized by UGC-MMTTC, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram from 17-02-2025 to 28-02-2025.
• Participated in the Vijnana Keralam Campus Skilling Programme for AVGC-XR Sector in collabration with SAIK held on 19th December 2025 at Government Woman's College, Vazhuthacaud , Thiruvananthapuram.
• Jointly organized (Collaborator) and participated and completed a short term Add on Course on AI for teachers from 1st October 2024 to 8th November 2024.
• Participated in the online Interdisciplinary Refresher Course on Biological Sciences from 05/01/2021 to 18/01/2021 conducted by the University of Kannur.
• Participated in the online Orientation/Induction Program organized by the Teaching Learning Centre, Ramanujan College University of Delhi under the aegis of MINISTRY OF EDUCATION PANDIT MADAN MOHAN MALAVIYA NATIONAL MISSION ON TEACHERS AND TEACHING from May 18 - 17 June, 2021 and obtained A+ grade.
• Participated in a 2 week online Refresher Course in NATURAL SCIENCES” organized by the Teaching Learning Centre, Ramanujan College University of Delhi under the aegis of MINISTRY OF EDUCATION PANDIT MADAN MOHAN MALAVIYA NATIONAL MISSION ON TEACHERS AND TEACHING from 20 September - 04 October 2021 and obtained A+ grade
• Participated and presented a paper in the National Seminar on CTAB 2020 organized by post graduate dept. of Botany and Biotechnology, Bishop Moore College, Mavelikkara from 5 to 7 of February 2020.
• Participated in “A Short Term Course in E-Teaching with Learning Management Systems” conducted by The All Kerala Private College Teachers' Association in June 2020.
• Participated in in online Faculty Development Program on Earth and Environmental Responses on Covid 19 conducted by the department of Environmental Sciences, Savitribai Phule University Pune from 11/07 to 17/07/2020.
• Participated in in online Faculty Development Program on Mathematics for Biological Sciences conducted by the Savitribai Phule University Pune from 15/06 to 20/06/2020.
• Participated in an online Short term Faculty Development Programme at S.D College, Alappuzha named "PEDAGOGICAL AND E-LEARNING TOOLS FOR TEACHING- from 4/08/2020 to 10/08/2020."
• Attended a 3 Day National Seminar on Concepts of Genes Genetics and Genomics from 25 to 27th November 2019 held in Govt. Arts College.
• Organized a college level seminar on 28th February 2018 as a part of observance of National Science Day.
• Attended a National Workshop on Scouting, Documentation and Dissemination of Grassroots innovations & traditional knowledge in Mar Gregorios College of Pharmacy, Sreekaryam on 7th May 2018. (National Innovation Foundation, Autonomous body of DST, govt of India)
• Participated and Chaired a session in a three day International Seminar on Environment: Theories & Narratives Science, Society, Culture and Literature Conducted by Haritha Keralam Mission, Govt. of Kerala held from 1 to 3 of August 2018.
• Participated in the Program Officers’ Meeting organized by National Service Scheme, University of Kerala on 13th of August 2018.
• Participated and Chaired a session in a National Seminar on Science, Technology and Future of the World Conducted by St. Xavier’s College Thumba, TVM on 5 and 6 of September 2018.
• Participated in the Two Days Workshop on syllabus revision for BSc Biotechnology Courses organized by Board of Studies in Biotechnology (Pass), University of Kerala on 27 and 28 of September 2018.
• Participated in the One Day Training for Internal Mentors of Walk with a Scholar Program under the New Initiatives in Higher Education Scheme, Govt of Kerala held at Govt. Arts College TVM on 27 and 15th October 2018.
• Coordinated a National Workshop cum Training on Bioinformatics from 26/11/2018 to 27/11/2018 organized by the Dept of Botany and Biotechnology, St. Xavier’s college in collaboration with Makeintern and Ecell (IIT Kharagpur event).
• Participated in an International Seminar on Literature, Culture and Communication- Revisiting Classics: An International Perspective organized by Sahithya Academi, New Delhi and St. Xavier’s College, Thumba 7th December 2018.
• Organized a seminar cum exhibition on Marine life and Career opportunities in Marine field entitled “See the World of Sea” in collaboration with ‘Friends of Marine Life’ and Coastal Students Cultural Forum’29th March 2017.
• Attended a workshop on 201/12/2017 in Govt. Arts College on “Western blotting and its Applications in Protein Research”.
• Attended an annual workshop for principals and IQAC coordinators on 25/11/2017, organized by TKM college of Arts and Science, Kollam on “Changing parameters of Quality Assessment in Higher Education”.
• Attended a seminar on “Research Prospects in Molecular Biology” on December 14, 2016 organized by the Dept of Botany and Biotechnology, Govt college, Kariavattom.
• Participated in a National Seminar on Current vistas on Cell and Molecular Biology on March 26, 2015, organized by the Department of Botany, University of Kerala, Karyavattom and Kerala University Botany Alumni Association.
• Participated and presented a paper in the UGC sponsored National Seminar cum workshop on ‘Techniques in Biosciences’ organized by the Dept. of Botany, KKTM Govt. College, Kodungallur. (Feb 18-19, 2014). Paper title- “Production of class III plant peroxidase by the immobilized callus cultures of Tecoma stans var. angustata using a packed bed reactor”
• Participated in the Refresher Course on Life Sciences from 02/07/2014 to 22/07/2014 at the UGC Academic Staff College, University of Kerala, Karyavattom.
• Attended a two day workshop on Restructuring of courses in Biotechnlogy under CBCSS & Implementation of Prof. Hridayakumari Committee Report on 28 and 29, March 2014 organized by the Board of Studies in Biotechnology (sponsored by Kerala State Higher Education Council).
• Presented a paper in the UGC sponsored National Seminar on Environmental Security and Sustainable Development organised by the Department of Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology, Sree Ayyappa College for Women, Chunkankadai, Kanyakumari on 15 and 16 March 2013. Title of paper- “Efficient degradation of Brilliant green , a triphenyl methane dye using immobilized callus cultures of Tecoma stans”
• Convened a Seminar on “Intellectual Property Rights” getting financial support from the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment and also participated in the same. (Council Order No. (P) 761/2013/KSCSTE dated 03/08/2013.
• Attended a workshop entitled “Research Methodology, Writing Practices and Language Skills for Women Scientists” by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment on 3rd & 4th August 2012.
• Undergone an Orientation Programme (IT Oriented), organized by the Academic Staff College, University of Kerala from 31-10-2012 to 27-11-2012.
• Attended a Seminar on ‘Women Achievers in science’ held at Sasthra Bhavan, pattom, Thiruvananthapuram on 8th march, 2011.

Details of Minor / Major Projects, if any

• UGC funded Minor Project dated 25/04/2016. Topic- “Production and Partial Characterization of Peroxidase enzyme from the General Plant body and Callus cultures of Piper nigrum and its applications in Bioremediation”

Awards & Recognitions

• Editorial Board Member, IJBST Journal Group since January 2021.
• Best paper award received for the paper presented in the UGC sponsored National Seminar cum workshop on ‘Techniques in Biosciences’ organized by the Dept. of Botany, KKTM Govt. College, Kodungallur (Feb 18-19, 2014)
• Reviewer of ‘Journal of Hazardous Materials’ (Elsevier) (Received Outstanding Reviewer Recognition from Elsevier)