Dr. H. Rehana Banu is an accomplished researcher and academician with 12 years of teaching experience and 16 years of research experience. She is currently serving as Assistant Professor in the Department of Botany at PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore (2013–Present), where she is actively engaged in teaching, research supervision, and academic administration.

Her academic journey began with undergraduate studies in Botany from Bharathiar University in 2006, followed by postgraduate qualifications including M.Sc. (2008), M.Phil. (2009), and Ph.D. (2013), all from Bharathiar University. She has further strengthened her expertise through specialized certifications in Algal Biotechnology (2023), Antimicrobial Resistance—Theory and Methods (2023), and a PG Diploma in Biodiversity (2022).

Research & Publications

Dr. Rehana Banu has established a strong research profile in Microbiology, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacognosy. She has published 25 research papers in internationally and nationally indexed journals, with her research indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. She has also contributed 5 book chapters to edited volumes, enriching subject-specific literature. Her research contributions include the successful submission of 14 microbial and algal species records to the NCBI database, including important organisms such as Bacillus cereus, Chlorella vulgaris, Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, making these records publicly accessible for the scientific community.

Research Projects & Funding

Dr. Rehana Banu has successfully secured competitive research funding and led multiple funded projects. She serves as Principal Investigator for a DBT-funded project on "Exploration of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) in the rhizosphere of five varieties of Cocos nucifera L. in Pollachi Taluk, Coimbatore District". Additionally, she is leading two GRG Trust-funded projects: one on "An autonomous tool to predict the Ayurvedic leaf and its medicinal benefits using machine learning algorithms" and another on "Phycoremediation of Lake Water: A Synergistic Approach Using Microalgae."

Research Guidance & Mentorship

She has demonstrated strong mentorship capabilities, having guided 3 Ph.D. scholars to completion and currently supervising 2 doctoral candidates, thereby contributing to the development of the next generation of researchers.

Teaching & Academic Contributions

Beyond her core teaching responsibilities, Dr. Rehana Banu has actively participated in short-term courses and professional development. She completed an online short-term course on "Biodiversity—Status, Services & Management Practices" as part of her PG Diploma in Biodiversity and a one-week short-term course on "Algal Biotechnology and Biorefinery" hosted by the Chennai Research Foundation. She has presented scholarly papers at 40 international and 30 national conferences and seminars, contributing significantly to knowledge exchange in her field.

Faculty Development & Professional Engagement

Dr. Rehana Banu has strengthened her expertise and teaching skills through active engagement in professional development. She has participated in 30 national and international Faculty Development Programmes and 22 national and international webinars, demonstrating her commitment to continuous learning. She has served as a Resource Person in multiple workshops and awareness programmes, including foldscope workshops at NGM College and Government schools, lectures on foldscope as a research tool at Mizoram University, awareness sessions on antimicrobial resistance, and sessions on the role of microbes in industry and healthcare. She has also acted as a Subject Expert in selection committees, Moderator at international conferences, and Judge for science contests, showcasing her expertise and professional standing.

Professional Memberships & Scholarly Engagement

Dr. Rehana Banu is a Life Member of the Indian Science Congress Association, reflecting her commitment to advancing scientific knowledge. She serves as a Reviewer for multiple international and national journals, including the International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts, International Journal of Secondary Metabolite, Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, and International Journal of Plant and Environment, contributing to the peer review process and quality assurance of scientific literature.

Leadership & Institutional Contributions

Dr. Rehana Banu has undertaken extensive administrative and leadership responsibilities at the departmental and institutional levels. She currently serves as Ecowatch Club Coordinator (since 2022), Criteria-II Department In-charge (since 2018), and CHIRD Co-ordinator (since 2024). Previously, she served as UG and PG Admission In-charge (2017 onwards), Placement Co-ordinator (2017), Instruments In-charge (2018–2024), National Digital Library Co-ordinator (2018), CSIR NET-SET Co-ordinator (2019, 2024, 2025), Coursera Program Co-ordinator (2021–2024), and Academic and Administrative Audit In-charge (2022–2025). She is a member of the Audit Committee and serves as a Board of Studies member at Kongunadu Arts and Science College and Nirmala College for Women. She is also a DC meeting member at Botanical Survey of India, Southern Regional Centre, Coimbatore, contributing to institutional and inter-institutional governance.

Eligibility for Women Researcher Award

Dr. Rehana Banu exemplifies excellence in research, teaching, and academic leadership. Her credentials demonstrate sustained research productivity with 25 indexed publications, 5 book chapters, and 14 NCBI species records; successful research funding from DBT and GRG Trust; active mentorship of doctoral scholars; and significant contributions to professional engagement, faculty development, and institutional administration. Her work in microbiology, phytochemistry, and pharmacognosy has advanced scientific knowledge, while her roles as resource person, reviewer, and academic leader have strengthened the research ecosystem.

Based on her comprehensive achievements and credentials, Dr. H. Rehana Banu is eligible for consideration for the Women Researcher Award in Scientific Laurels, in recognition of her substantial contributions to research, publication, research funding, mentorship, and academic excellence.