Photograph Name Dr VARNIKA BHATIA
Email Id varnikabhatia@yahoo.com Date Of Join 08/04/2015
Designation Associate Professor Mobile No 9899525246
Address 44, first floor, Priyadarshani Vihar, Part II, Delhi- 110009
Web Page ">
Educational Qualifications
Degree Institution Year
B.Sc. (H) Botany Hansraj College, Univ. of Delhi 2002
M.Sc. Botany Deptt. of Botany, Univ. of Delhi 2004
M.Phil. Biotechnology Deptt. of Genetics, Univ. of Delhi, South Campus 2005
PG Diploma Bioinformatics Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 2008
Ph.D. Botany Deptt. of Botany, Univ. of Delhi 2011
Career Profile

Working as Associate Professor in Department of Botany, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi (2011-till date)

Worked as Research Associate (2010-2011) in the project entitled 'Role of small signal peptides in systemic defense response of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) to aphids' at National Research Center on Plant Biotechnology, IARI, PUSA, New Delhi

Worked as Research Associate (2006-2009) in the project entitled 'Development of transgenics of Indian mustard Varuna using E-b-farnesene synthase gene and chickpea lectin gene for aphid resistance' at National Research Center on Plant Biotechnology, IARI, PUSA, New Delhi   
Administrative Assignments

Ø  Convener, Kalpa Vriksha Botanical Society organized several lectures and activities held under the aegis of Botanical Society of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College (2021-2022) (2022-2023)

Ø  Took botanical excursions to to  Hydroponics facility PUSA, New Delhi, Sultanpur National Park, Gurugram, Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, Delhi, to Sajjangarh Wild Life Sanctuary, Udaipur, to National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Delhi, to National Gir Forest, Gujarat and to Naddi, Dharamshala

Ø  Member, Committee of Courses and Studies in Botany (2019-2020), (2020-2021)

Ø  Teacher In-Charge, Department of Botany (2018-19)

Ø  Convener, Admission Committee (Botany) (2018-2019), (2023-2024)

Ø  Convener, Eco Club (2017-2018), (2021-2022)

Ø  Convener, ‘Vande Mataram’ Inter College Cultural festival (2015-2016)

Ø  Member, Music & Dance Society (2015-2016)

Ø  Member, Examination Committee (2015-2016), (2016-2017), (2022-2023), (2023-2024)

Ø  Member, Founder’s Day Committee (2015-2016), (2017-2018)

Ø  Member, Science Foundation (2015-2016), (2016-2017), (2017-2018)

Ø  Member, Silver Jubilee Celebrations (2015-2016)

Ø  Member, Stock Verification Committee (2015-2016), (2016-2017), (2018-2019), (2021-2022), (2022-2023)

Ø  Member, Women Development Cell (2016-2017)

Ø  Member, College Festival Committee (2016-2017)

Ø  Member, Purchase Committee (Technical) (2017-2018)

Ø  Member, Research Committee (2017-2018)

Ø  Member, Waste Management Committee (2017-2018)

Ø  Member, Green Building Committee (2017-2018)

Ø  Member, DBT Star College Scheme (2017-2018)

Ø  Member, EWS Admission Committee (2021-2022), (2022-2023)

Ø  Member, Admission Committee (Botany) (2017-2018), Botany and Life Sciences (2023-2024)

Ø  Member, Moderation Committee (2018-2019), (2019-2020), (2020-2021)

Ø  Member, Selection Committee (2018-2019)

Ø  Member, Academic and Administrative Audit of Eco Club (2019-2020), (2020-2021)

Ø  Member, Eco Club (2022-2023)
 

Member, Photography Club (2022-2023)

Member, Attendance Committee (2023-2024)

 
Areas of Interest / Specialization
  • Molecular Biology
  • Plant Biotechnology
  • Molecular Systematics
Subjects Taught
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biostatistics
  • Economic Botany and Plant Biotechnology
Research Guidance

Level of Guidance

Number of candidates registered

Candidate’s Affiliation

Year

Status

Ph.D.

02

Department of Botany, University of Delhi

2021, 2023

Pursuing
M.Sc.  02 Department of Computer Science, University of Delhi 2022 Completed

 
Publications Profile

Papers in Scopus Indexed International Refereed Journals

06

h-index

05

i10-index

05

ORCID Webpage

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7107-503X

ResearcherID-Web of Science

JAC-0491-2023

 

1. Aphid resistance in Brassica crops: bottlenecks, biotechnological progress and future possibilities. Bhatia, V.; Uniyal, P.L.; Bhattacharya, R. Biotechnology Advances. 2011, 29, 879. (Impact factor: 9.559, ISSN: 0734-9750).

2. Host generated siRNAs attenuate expression of serine protease gene in Myzus persicae. Bhatia, V.; Bhattacharya, R.; Uniyal, P.L.; Singh, R.; Niranjan, R.S. PLoS ONE. 2012, 7(10), e46343. (Impact factor: 3.234, ISSN: 1932-6203).

3. Molecular marker analysis of the linkage drag around the FAE1 loci of Brassica juncea during conventional backcross breeding. Bhatia, V.; Alok, A. Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology. 2014, 17(3), 147. (Impact factor: N.A., ISSN: 1975-9479).

4. Aphid repellent pheromone E-β-farnesene is generated in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana overexpressing farnesyl diphosphate synthase2. Bhatia, V.; Maisnam, J.; Jain, A.; Sharma, K.; Bhattacharya, R. Annals of Botany. 2015, 115(4), 581. (Impact factor: 3.501, ISSN: 0305-7364).

5.  Pragmatic approach to drug discovery through biophysical perspective. Alok, A.; Kumar, M.; Kumar, S.; Bhatia, V. International Journal of Medical Science and Clinical Invention. 2016. 3(4), 1758. (Impact factor: N.A., e-ISSN: 2348-991X p-ISSN: 2454-9576).

6. Host mediated RNAi of cuticular protein gene impaired fecundity in green peach aphid Myzus persicae. Bhatia, V.; Bhattacharya, R.  Pest Management Science. 2018. 74(9), 2059. (Impact factor 3.253, Online ISSN: 1526-4998).

7.  Improving plant-resistance to insect-pests and pathogens: the new opportunities through targeted genome editing. Bisht, D.S.; Bhatia, V.; Bhattacharya, R. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology. 2019. 96, 65. (Impact factor 6.138; ISSN: 1084-9521).

8.  I-LDD: An Interpretable Leaf Disease Detector. Mishra, R.; Kavita; Rajpal, A.; Bhatia, V.; Rajpal, S.; Agarwal, M.; Kumar, N. Soft Computing. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00500-023-08512-2 (Impact factor 3.732; ISSN: 1432-7643).

9. Explaining Deep Learning-Based Leaf Disease Identification. Ankit Rajpal; Rashmi Mishra; SHEETAL RAJPAL; Kavita.; Varnika Bhatia; Naveen Kumar. Soft Computing. 2024. Ms. No. SOCO-D-24-01278R1 (Impact factor 3.732; ISSN: 1432-7643).

10. Cuticle protein gene: a potent target for control of sap-sucking aphids through RNA interference. Best oral awarded paper. Bhatia, V.; Bhattacharya, R.; Uniyal, P.L. 2016. National Conference on Plant Science Research: Looking beyond 21st century for Environmental & Agricultural Revolution (SPREA 2016) organized by Society for Plant Research & Department of Botany, University of Delhi on 5-7 February, 2016.

11. Towards designer plants: Emerging opportunities. Best Poster Award in International Conference on Advances in Sustainable Agriculture: Bioresources, Biotechnology & Bioeconomy, Mansarovar Global University, Bhopal on 29-30 November, 2019

12. Vigyan, Paryavaran aur Hindi Sahitya: Ek Drishti. Rukmini, Bhatia, V.; Alok, A.; Kumar, S. In: Jindal, S.K.; Kumar, P. (ed.) Vigyan Sanchar. 2013, Vol 7, 215. DESIDOC, DRDO, Ministry of Defence, India. (ISBN: 978-81-86514-45-0).

13. Biotechnology for Combining Crop Productivity and Stress Tolerance. Bhatia, V.; Bhattacharya, R. In: Chopra, V.L.; Kumar, S. (ed.) Technologies for Livelihood Enhancement. 2015, Ch 7, 147. NIPA, New Delhi. (ISBN: 9789383305810).

14. Food security: A Step towards Nation Building. Bhatia, V. In: Singh, G.; Pandey, R.K.; Gautam, B.S.; Singh, R.; Kumar, A.; Das, B. (ed.) Nation Building through Higher Education. 2016, 153. New Delhi Publishers, New Delhi. (ISBN: 9789385503207).

15. Taxol, An Anti-Cancer Drug: Progress and Future Challenges. Nebhnani, P.; Bhatia, K.; Kamal, T.; Verma, J.; Gupta, D.; Jindal, M.; Dalal, A.; Suman, P.; Mahajan, S.; Yadav, A.; Bhatia, V. In: Kapoor, R. (ed.) The Botanica. 2016, 66: 144-152. Delhi University Botanical Society, University of Delhi. (ISSN: 0045-2629).

 16. Craving for tea? Bhatia, V. In: ‘Plant Science’ Annual Newsletter of the Botanical Society. 2013, Issue 4, 4. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi, Delhi.
 

17. Genetically Modified Crops: Boon or Bane? Bhatia, V. In: ‘Contemporary Plant Sciences’ Annual Newsletter of the Botanical Society. 2014, Issue 5, 6. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi, Delhi. (Print ISSN: 2393-8676). 

18.  Vigyan Gyan Ki Khan: Bharat. Bhatia, V. In:  Reflections’24, College Magazine, 2024, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi, Delhi. 

 
Conference Organization/ Presentations (in the last three years)

 
  1. Presented poster in International Conference on ‘Current Trends and Future Prospects of Plant Biology and 14th Plant Sciences Colloquium’ on the topic ‘Species, genetic and chemical diversity of genus Jatropha from India’ organized by Department of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Telangana on February 23 – 25 2023
  2. Presented paper in International  Seminar on ‘Technology for Environmental Sustainability, Socio-Economic Responsibility and Associated Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Society and Rural Environment’ on the topic ‘NEP 2020 and Science Education – A review cum survey based study’ organized by Sri Aurobindo College, University of Delhi, Delhi on March 16 – 17, 2023

3. Participated in poster presentation on the topic “Jatropha: An Alternate Renewable Energy Source” in G20 event on “Novel Initiatives in Indo-US Education Sector: Exploring Indian Knowledge System” organized by Culture Council (University of Delhi) in association with Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College (University of Delhi) on 28th August, 2023
Research Projects (Major Grants/Research Collaboration)

Title

Duration

(starting date and end date)

Amount Sanctioned

Funding Agency

Equipment purchased

Status (Ongoing/

Completed)

Elucidation and Validation of Molecular basis of the anti-cancerous effects of taxol

23rd Oct., 2015 to 31st  Oct., 2016

7.0 lacs

University of Delhi

T100™ Gradient 96 Well Thermal Cycler (Bio-Rad Laboratories (India) Pvt. Ltd.

)

Completed

Metabolic engineering of taxol to enhance its anti-cancerous efficacy

23rd  June, 2017 to 22nd Nov. 2019

10.0 lacs

UGC-BSR Research Start-Up- Grant

Gel documentation system  (Azure C-150), Refrigerated centrifuge (Thermo Scientific Sorvall Legend Micro 17R), Dewars for liquid nitrogen (IBP Co. Ltd., 20 litres and 3 litres)

Completed
 

 
Awards and Distinctions

Ø  Awardee of Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma (Former President of India) Gold Medal-2004 adjudged best for General Proficiency, Character and conduct, excellence in Academic Performance, Extra Curricular Activities and Social Services

Ø  Awardee of ICMR-JRF, 2006

Ø  Topped in M.Phil. Biotechnology in D.U.

Ø  Topped in PG Diploma in Bioinformatics, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi

Ø  Topped in college in graduation & post graduation and was awarded Dr. Shanti Prasad Jain Prize

Ø  Awardee of University Post-Graduate Scholarship for the year 2002-2003 & 2003-2004
 

Awardee of Science Meritorious Award for the year 2000-2001 & 2001-2002
Association With Professional Bodies

Ø  Life Member, The Indian Science Congress Association

Ø  Life Member, Delhi University Botanical Society, Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi

Ø  Life Member, The Indian Botanical Society
 

Member, Vijanana Bharati (VIBHA); Membership ID: 4458; Membership Year: 2023
Other Activities

Design of New Course Curriculum:

Course Content

Course

Paper

Category

Credits

Designation

UGC-LOCF 2019

B.Sc. Hons. Botany

Molecular Biology

CC

4(T)+2(P)

Working Group member

UGC-LOCF 2019

B.Sc. Hons. Botany

Plant Biotechnology

CC

4(T)+2(P)

Working Group  member

NEP 2022

B.Sc. Hons. Botany

Basic Laboratory and Field Skills in Plant Biology

DSC

2(T) + 2(P)

Committee member

NEP 2022

Allied Courses

Essential Methods in Plant Sciences

GE

2(T) + 2(P)

Committee member

NEP 2022

Allied Courses

Basic Laboratory and Field Skill in Plant Biology

GE

2(T) + 2(P)

Committee member

NEP 2022

B.Sc. Hons. Botany

Economic Botany and Biotechnology

DSC

2(T) + 2(P)

Committee member

NEP 2022

B.Sc. Hons. Botany

Genetics

DSC

2(T) + 2(P)

Committee member

NEP 2022

B.Sc. Hons. Botany

Biostatistics & Bioinformatics for plant Sciences

DSE

2(T) + 2(P)

Committee member


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  • Reviewer, SCOPUS Indexed, Peer-Reviewed International Journals viz. BMC Plant Biology, BMC Plant Biology, Functional and Integrative Genomics, BMC Biotechnology, Journal of Nanobiotechnology (2023-2024)
    Participated in National Seminar on Relevance of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya’s Philosophy in Contemporary India organized by Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Study Circle, National Democratic Teachers Front, University of Delhi in collaboration with Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi on 10th April, 2024.

    Participated in One Week International Online Faculty Development Programme on ‘Revolutionizing Agriculture: Novel Perspectives on Technological Innovation’ organized by Department of Botany, Hansraj College in collaboration with MH-MMTTC, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Delhi from 1st – 6th April, 2024.

    Organising Committee Member, National Science Day’ 24 organized by Science Foundation Committee under the aegis of DBT Star College Program, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi in association with Indraprastha Vigyan Bharti on 28-29th February, 2024

    Participated in ‘Vigyanika’conducted from 18-19 January, 2024 as a part of 9th India International Science Festival 2023 organized by Government of India’s Ministry of Science & Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Department of Space, Department of Atomic Energy and Government of Haryana in association with Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA) at Faridabad, Haryana

    Participated in Faculty Development Programme on ‘Empowering Educators for Engaged Learning in Higher Education’ organized by MHFDC, Hansraj College, University of Delhi in collaboration with CIC, University of Delhi from 4th December  to 8th December, 2023.
  • Participated in One week Faculty Development Programme on ‘Hydroponics and Aeroponics Farming’ jointly organized by University of Delhi (Department of Botany and SEC Committee); Swami Shraddhanand College, DU; Shaheed Rajguru College of Applied Sciences For Women, DU; Chaudhary Charan Singh Hisar Agricultural University (CCSHAU), Hisar and Guru Angad Dev Teaching Learning Centre, a Centre under PMMMNMTT, Ministry of Education, Government of India held from 04th September to 10th September 2023. 
  • Participated in  Workshop for educators on “Ayurveda and Nutrition” on June 7, 2023 organized by  Sri Aurobindo College in collaboration with Value Addition Course Committee, University of Delhi, Delhi
  • Participated in Workshop for Educators on ‘The Art of Being Happy’ on April 24, 2023 organized by Deshbandhu College in collaboration with Value Addition Courses Committee, University of Delhi, Delhi 
  • Participated in National Workshop on ‘Hydroponics- Smart Urban Farming’ on March 11, 2023 organized by Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi in collaboration with Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi
  • Participated in Short Term Course on Community Participation and NEP-2020  from January 31st – February 02nd, 2023 organized by Centre for Professional Development in Higher Education (CPDHE), University of Delhi, Delhi
  • Organized Her & Now Short Films – Screening & Discussion on March 30, 2022 sponsored by Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of India
  • Participated in IP Awareness/ Training Program under National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission on January 28, 2022 organized by Intellectual Property Office, India
  • Participated in National Webinar on “The Genus Ipomoea L. (Convolvulaceae) in India” on October 14, 2021 organized by “Flores”- Botanical Society, Department of Botany, Government College Daman. 
  • Participated in 2-day International Conference via Virtual Platform on “Nanomedicine: Biomolecules for human health – (NBHH 2021)” on September 27th-28th, 2021 organized by Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi.
  • Participated in Post Conference Workshop on Nanomedicine on September 29, 2021 organized by Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi
  • Participated in Webinar on ‘Plant Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture’ on August 17, 2021 organized by Society for Plant Research, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Participated in National Virtual Hands-On-Workshop on ‘Tools Used in Biostatistics Research and Teaching’ from  13th-14th, August 2021 organized by Department of Botany , Ramjas College, University of Delhi
  • Participated in Online Summer Internship on ‘Application of DNA Barcodes in Systematics and Biogeography- a Phyloinformatics approach’ from 14th-31st May, 2021 organized by Department of Botany, Madras Christian College (Autonomous), Tambaram, Chennai
  • Participated in One week Faculty Development Programme on ‘E-content Generation and Managing Online Teaching’ from 11-17 December, 2020 organized by Sri Aurobindo College (E), University of Delhi in collaboration with Mahatma Hansraj Faculty Development Centre, Hansraj College, University of Delhi
  • Participated in Celebration of Constitution Day on 2 December, 2020 organized by Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi, Delhi
  • Participated in One week Faculty Development Programme on ‘Transforming Lifestyle through Yoga Darshan and its Functional modes’ from 20-26 November, 2020 organized by Teaching Learning Centre, Ramanujan College, University of Delhi
  • Participated in Webinar on “Authentication Services in Herbal Medicine; Principles and Prospects to prevent fraudulence in the Herbal Market” held on 19 – 20 November 2020 organized by SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur
  • Participated in Online Faculty Training Program on Microsoft Teams from 27-29 July, 2020 organized by Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi, Delhi
  • Participated in Faculty Development Programme on ‘Research Methodology: Tools & Techniques from 5-11 June, 2020 organized by Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College (University of Delhi) In Collaboration with Teaching Learning Center, Ramanujan College (University of Delhi) under Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya National Mission on Teachers and Training Scheme of MHRD, Govt. of India
  • Participated in Short Term Course on ‘Personality Development and value Education’ from 13-19 February, 2020 organized by Centre for Professional Development in Higher Education (CPDHE), University of Delhi, Delhi
  • Participated in Workshop on ‘Advanced Computer-Aided Drug Design and Computational Biology’ on 21-22 May 2019 organized by AIB, Amity University, Haryana & SCHRODINGER INC. USA
  • Participated in UGC-Sponsored Workshop on ‘MOOC’s, e-content development and open educational resource’ on 13-19 March, 2019 organized by CPDHE, UGC-HRDC, University of Delhi
  • Participated in Workshop on ‘Introductory Evolutionary and Phylogenetic Biology’ on 4-5 January, 2019 held at Department of Botany, University of Delhi
  • Participated in UGC-Sponsored Short Term Course on ‘Nation building’ at CPHDE-HRDC, University of Delhi from 18-24 December, 2018
  • Participated in Faculty Development Program on MOOC’s at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi on 17 November, 2018
  • Actively participated in Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on Data analytics using R Environment, 2017 at Satyawati College, University of Delhi, Delhi
  • Actively participated in Faculty Development Programme (FDP) on ‘The spaces we create together’, 2017 at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi, Delhi
  • Actively participated in National Seminar on ‘Identifying and Avoiding Publishing in Predatory Journals: A Lesson for Researchers’ 2017 organized by Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi
  • Actively participated in Workshop on ‘Training the Trainers: IPR Workshop’ 2016 organized by IPR Chair & CIC-CSEC in collaboration with Ramjas College, University of Delhi, Delhi
  • Actively participated in Faculty Training Programme in ‘Research Project Management - Proposal to Publication and beyond’ 2016 organized by CSEC, University of Delhi, Delhi
  • Participated in Refresher Course in Contemporary Studies (IDs), Centre for Professional Development in Higher Education (CPDHE), University of Delhi, Delhi, 7th June 2016 to 27th June. 2016
  • Participated in Orientation Programme (OR-83), Centre for Professional Development in Higher Education (CPDHE), University of Delhi, Delhi, 17th Nov. 2015 to 15th Dec. 2015
  • Actively participated in Workshop on ‘Creating Courses using Open Education Resources’ 2015 organized by IQAC, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi, Delhi
 
 

 

 

 
Assignment, Notes for Students

.