Dr. M. O. Viji is an accomplished plant biotechnologist and researcher with 18 years of teaching experience at St. Joseph's College (Autonomous), Irinjalakuda, Kerala. She is currently serving as Associate Professor in the Department of Biotechnology (2024–Present), where she leads research initiatives, supervises postgraduate students, and contributes to curriculum development and institutional academic governance.

Dr. Viji holds a Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, an M.Phil in Biotechnology from Bharathidasan University, and an M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Madras University. Her doctoral research focused on micropropagation studies and comparative pharmacognostical profiling of Withania somnifera, conducted under the guidance of Dr. R. Parvatham. She was also a postdoctoral research fellow at Kyung Hee University, South Korea, specializing in Oriental Medicinal Material and Processing.

Research & Publications

Dr. Viji has established a robust research portfolio spanning plant tissue culture, medicinal plant biotechnology, phytochemistry, green nanotechnology, and secondary metabolite production. Her research output includes over 25 peer-reviewed international journal publications, many in UGC CARE-listed and high-impact journals such as The Science of The Total Environment (impact factor 8.2), Bioorganic Chemistry (impact factor 4.5), and Microbial Pathogenesis (impact factor 3.3). She has authored 6 scholarly books published by Lambert Academic Publishing and other international publishers, and contributed 4 chapters to edited volumes on genomics, genome editing, sustainable development, and phytochemistry. Her publications demonstrate expertise in phytochemical profiling, antimicrobial and cytotoxic screening, and biosynthesis of nanoparticles using plant-derived materials.

Research Projects & Funding

Dr. Viji has successfully secured and executed 9 funded research projects totaling over ₹60 lakhs, demonstrating her ability to attract competitive funding and lead collaborative research. These include a major SERB-TARE project (₹18.30 lakhs, 2024–2027) on micropropagation and bioactive molecule characterization in the endangered medicinal plant Stachyphrynium spicatum; two major KSCSTE projects on secondary metabolite isolation from Withania species and anti-proliferative screening of Sapotaceae family plants; and UGC Minor and Seed Money projects on pharmacognostic profiling and green synthesis of silver nanoparticles. She has also received a UGC Travel Grant (₹40,048) to present research internationally.

Patents & Intellectual Property

Dr. Viji has demonstrated innovation through 3 patent applications filed with the Indian Patent Office. These include a patent granted (Application No. 202241024708 A, published May 2022) for novel rare-earth doped strontium aluminate nanoparticles for fluorescent staining of live plants, and two additional applications on herbal formulations for wound healing and a system for enhanced production of secondary metabolites.

Teaching & Academic Contributions

As an Associate Professor, Dr. Viji has contributed substantially to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in biotechnology, guiding students through practical laboratory work, research projects, and thesis supervision. She has served as an External Examiner for various colleges affiliated to Calicut University and as a Panel Member for Ph.D. thesis evaluation at SRS University, Chennai. She has also participated in Staff Selection Committees for faculty recruitment in multiple colleges. Her pedagogical commitment is evident through her participation in multiple Faculty Development Programmes (FDPs) on innovations, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence tools, and classroom practices, as well as her attendance of 4 UGC-sponsored Orientation and Refresher Courses in Life Sciences and innovation.

Awards, Honours & Professional Memberships

Dr. Viji has received numerous prestigious recognitions throughout her career, including the Best Poster Award at the International Symposium on Free Radical Damage and Herbal Antioxidants in Health and Disease (2013), the Researcher of the Year in Science Award (2015), the Best Outstanding Scientist Award from Venus International Foundation, Germany (2016), the Teacher of the Year Award (2016), the Best Scientist Award from IMRF—International Multidisciplinary Research Foundation (2016), the Bharat Ratna Mother Teresa Award for Research (2018), the Best Oral Award at the International Seminar on Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Pharmacognostic Profile of Endemic Cynometra beddomei (2019), and the Women Researcher Award from VDGOOD Professional Association (2022). She is a member of the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) and serves as an Editorial Board Member of the World Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Faculty Development & Professional Engagement

Dr. Viji has actively engaged in professional development and academic leadership. She has attended 4 FDPs at institutions including SNDT Women's University, Vimala College, and St. Joseph's College, focusing on emerging pedagogical methods, artificial intelligence tools for education, and entrepreneurship. She participated in a UGC-sponsored Short Term Course on Innovation and Start-ups (2024) at Kannur University. She has coordinated 2 international seminars—on Trends in Microbiology and Molecular Biology (2019) and Cancer Nanotheranostics (2021)—and has attended over 40 national and international seminars, workshops, and training courses throughout her career, demonstrating sustained engagement with contemporary research and teaching methodologies.

Leadership & Institutional Contributions

Dr. Viji has contributed to institutional advancement through her roles in academic governance and community engagement. She has supervised successful research students, several of whom have received recognitions including the C. V. Jacob Award for Plant Biotechnology (2015) and multiple paper presentation awards. She served as Supervisor for paper presentations in KSCSTE-sponsored national seminars and has received appreciation for active participation in institutional community service, including flood relief camps organized by Rajiv Gandhi Samskarika Vedhi.

Eligibility for Best Scientist Award

Dr. M. O. Viji demonstrates exceptional scientific credentials and sustained contributions to research, innovation, and higher education. Her 18 years of teaching experience, 25+ peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals, 6 authored books, 3 patents, and over ₹60 lakhs in secured research funding collectively attest to her research productivity and scientific rigor. Her multidisciplinary expertise in plant biotechnology, medicinal plant chemistry, green nanotechnology, and bioactive molecule isolation is reflected in a robust body of work that addresses both fundamental science and applied applications. The numerous national and international awards, editorial and reviewing contributions, and successful mentoring of research scholars further underscore her standing in the scientific community.

Based on her distinguished research output, innovation in patents and publications, secured funding, sustained teaching excellence, and multiple recognitions from academic and scientific organizations, Associate Professor M. O. Viji is eligible for consideration for the Best Scientist Award in Scientific Laurels, particularly in recognition of her substantial contributions to plant biotechnology research, phytochemistry, green nanotechnology, and the development of junior scientists in higher education.