Mr. Yogananda T is an emerging researcher in Agricultural Entomology, Biological Control, Insect–Plant–Microbe Interactions, and Sustainable Crop Protection. His research career is focused on developing environmentally safer approaches for insect pest management through the use of entomopathogenic and endophytic fungi.

His Ph.D. research focuses on the development of an endophytic fungal-based biological product from seaweeds of the East and West coasts for managing Thrips parvispinus in chilli. His work involves marine-algae surveys, isolation and screening of fungal endophytes, insect bioassays, metabolite profiling using GC-MS and LC-MS/MS, and evaluation of formulation compatibility with beneficial insects.

He is a recipient of the prestigious Prime Minister’s Fellowship for Doctoral Research (PMFDR), jointly supported by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), in collaboration with Pinnacle Biosciences, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.

Research Experience

Mr. Yogananda has developed substantial research expertise through both his Ph.D. and M.Sc. research. His M.Sc. research investigated endophytic Beauveria bassiana UHSB-END1 for insect pest management in cabbage, involving fungal isolation, culture maintenance, characterization, production, bioassays, and laboratory evaluation.

He also served as a Young Professional at the Central Coffee Research Institute from February 2023 to January 2024, assisting scientists in laboratory and field experiments. His responsibilities included insect rearing associated with coffee, insect chemical-ecology studies, and mass culturing of entomopathogenic fungi.

Research & Publications

Mr. Yogananda has demonstrated consistent research productivity through peer-reviewed research articles, popular scientific articles, and book chapters. His publications address biological control, endophytic fungi, insect pest management, horticultural crop protection, insecticide compatibility, genetic diversity, and sustainable agriculture.

His research articles include studies on Beauveria bassiana against Myzus persicae, Plutella xylostella, Spodoptera litura, and grape mealybug, as well as research on pummelo genetic diversity and insecticide–plant oil compatibility. He has also contributed popular articles on invasive insect pests, pollinators, and seed priming, demonstrating his interest in scientific communication and agricultural outreach.

Research Interests

His major research interests include:

• Biological control of agricultural insect pests
• Entomopathogenic and endophytic fungi
• Beauveria bassiana-based pest management
• Insect–plant–microbe interactions
• Chemical ecology
• Seaweed-associated fungal endophytes
• Bioactive metabolite discovery
• Sustainable and eco-friendly crop protection
• Integrated pest management
• Climate-resilient agriculture
• Compatibility of biological control agents with beneficial insects

Training & Professional Development

Mr. Yogananda has strengthened his scientific expertise through specialized training programmes, including a 10-day training programme on “Chemical Ecology: Exploring Insect-Plant-Microbe Interactions” conducted in March 2025. He also participated in the 21-Day International Summer School Training Programme on Climate-Resilient Agriculture & Allied Sciences in July 2026.

These programmes complement his research interests in chemical ecology, sustainable agriculture, biological control, and climate-resilient crop production.

Academic & Co-Curricular Achievements

In addition to his research accomplishments, Mr. Yogananda has demonstrated active participation in university-level extracurricular activities. He represented his university at the South Zone level in volleyball in 2019 and also participated in South Zone-level fine arts during the same year. He has further participated in research presentations and poster activities related to fungal endophytes and sustainable insect pest management.

Scientific Contribution & Impact

Mr. Yogananda's research reflects a strong commitment to developing sustainable alternatives to conventional chemical pest management. His work on endophytic Beauveria bassiana and seaweed-associated fungal endophytes has potential relevance to safer and more environmentally compatible crop-protection strategies. His combination of laboratory experimentation, field-oriented research, fungal biotechnology, insect bioassays, and scientific communication demonstrates promising interdisciplinary research capability.

Eligibility for Young Researcher Award 

Mr. Yogananda T is eligible for the Young Researcher Award in Scientific Laurels in recognition of his promising research career and contributions to sustainable agricultural pest management. His eligibility is supported by his ongoing Ph.D. research, peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, popular scientific articles, specialized training in chemical ecology and climate-resilient agriculture, professional research experience at the Central Coffee Research Institute, and research contributions involving entomopathogenic fungi and biological control.

His focused work on endophytic fungal-based biocontrol products, Beauveria bassiana, insect–plant–microbe interactions, bioactive metabolites, and environmentally sustainable pest management demonstrates significant potential for future scientific contributions. His multidisciplinary research approach and commitment to sustainable agriculture make him a strong candidate for the Young Researcher Award in Scientific Laurels.