Dr. Harekrishna Jana is an accomplished microbiologist and academician with over 27 years of teaching, research, and higher education experience in the fields of Environmental Microbiology, Food Microbiology, Agricultural Microbiology, and Microbial Ecology. He began his academic career as a Contractual Lecturer in the Department of Microbiology at Panskura Banamali College (1999–2019) and has been serving as Assistant Professor (Stage-II) in the Department of Microbiology at Raja Narendra Lal Khan Women's College, West Bengal, since 2019.

In addition to his institutional responsibilities, Dr. Jana has served as a Guest Faculty at several reputed institutions, including Vidyasagar University, Oriental Institute of Science and Technology, Tamralipta Mahavidyalaya, and Egra Sarada Sashibhusan College, where he teaches postgraduate courses in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, and Zoology.

Research Expertise & Scientific Contributions

Dr. Jana's research primarily focuses on:

• Environmental, Food, and Agricultural Microbiology
• Microbial Ecology of the Indian Sundarbans
• Antibiotic- and heavy metal-resistant bacteria
• Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR)
• Bioremediation and biodegradation
• Food safety and microbial quality assessment
• Marine microbiology and oyster microbiology
• Sustainable agriculture and biofertilizers

His investigations on microbial diversity in the Sundarbans ecosystem, heavy metal pollution, climate change, microbial remediation, and sustainable agricultural practices have significantly contributed to environmental and microbial sciences.

Research Publications & Scholarly Achievements

Dr. Jana has established an impressive publication record, including:

• 51 research papers published in national and international peer-reviewed journals.
• Publications in reputed journals such as Food Bioscience, Polyhedron, Chemistry and Ecology, Journal of Coordination Chemistry, Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology, Current Agriculture Research Journal, and Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology.
• 3 conference proceedings
• 1 authored book
• 5 book chapters
• Research collaborations with national and international scientists across multidisciplinary domains.

His publications encompass environmental microbiology, microbial biotechnology, antimicrobial compounds, wastewater remediation, probiotics, food preservation, heavy metal bioremediation, and sustainable environmental technologies.

Research Projects & Academic Leadership

Dr. Jana has successfully completed a UGC-funded Minor Research Project on heavy metal pollution and microbial ecology in the Sundarbans.

He has actively contributed to research capacity building through:

• Supervision of 1 awarded Ph.D. scholar (2025)
• Guidance of 4 ongoing Ph.D. scholars
• Organization of four national/international seminars, conferences, and workshops
• Mentoring postgraduate and doctoral researchers in microbiology and environmental sciences.

Teaching, Mentoring & Academic Service

With nearly three decades of teaching experience, Dr. Jana has played an important role in undergraduate and postgraduate education.

His academic contributions include:

• Curriculum delivery in Microbiology, Biotechnology, and Environmental Sciences
• Research mentoring
• Faculty development activities
• Organization of scientific events
• Guest lectures across multiple universities and colleges
• Promotion of interdisciplinary research and sustainable environmental practices

Awards & Professional Recognition

Dr. Jana has received numerous prestigious recognitions, including:

• Young Scientist Award (National)
• Young Scientist Award (International Conference on Environment and Ecology)
• Best Research Award (International Conference, 2021)
• Royal Fellow Award (FRIOASD), 2023
• Best Paper Presentation Awards
• Best Poster Presentation Award
• Best Paper Presentation Award (ICCBET-2026)

These honors recognize his sustained excellence in microbiological research, environmental sciences, and scientific innovation.

Areas of Research Excellence

• Environmental Microbiology
• Food Microbiology
• Agricultural Microbiology
• Microbial Ecology
• Marine Microbiology
• Heavy Metal Bioremediation
• Antibiotic Resistance
• Bioremediation Technology
• Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria
• Sustainable Agriculture
• Biofertilizers
• Wastewater Treatment
• Climate Change and Mangrove Ecology
• Food Preservation
• Microbial Biotechnology

Professional Impact

Dr. Harekrishna Jana has made substantial contributions to understanding microbial diversity and ecosystem health in the Indian Sundarbans, particularly through studies on oysters, marine microorganisms, heavy metal contamination, antimicrobial resistance, and sustainable environmental management.

His work integrates environmental conservation, agricultural sustainability, food safety, and microbial biotechnology, making meaningful contributions to both scientific research and societal development.

Eligibility for Best Researcher Award

Dr. Harekrishna Jana is highly deserving of the Best Researcher Award under the Scientific Laurels owing to:

• More than 27 years of distinguished academic and research experience
• 51 peer-reviewed research publications in reputed journals
• Authorship of a scholarly book and multiple book chapters
• Successful completion of a UGC-funded research project
• Supervision of completed and ongoing Ph.D. research scholars
• Significant contributions to environmental microbiology, microbial ecology, and sustainable biotechnology
• Numerous national and international scientific awards
• Active organization of scientific conferences, workshops, and academic events
• Strong interdisciplinary collaborations and consistent scientific productivity
• Demonstrated impact in advancing environmental sustainability, microbial biotechnology, food microbiology, and agricultural research.

Based on his sustained research excellence, scholarly productivity, mentorship, scientific leadership, and international recognition, Dr. Harekrishna Jana is an excellent candidate for the Best Researcher Award in the Scientific Laurels.