Founder Members
DR. PITAMBAR HUMANE, Founder, BOTANY 4U is an Professor & Head, Department of Botany, Dharampeth M. P. Deo Memorial Science College, Nagpur-440033 (MS), India. He has completed his Ph.D. degree from RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur (MS), India in 2012 and the title of his thesis is ‘Investigation of the medicinal flora of Bhandara district (MS), India’ and qualified National Eligibility Test (NET), conducted jointly by CSIR-UGC in 2002. He has more than nineteen years of teaching and research experience in the field of Angiosperm Taxonomy, Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry and Ecology. He has successfully completed one major research project, ‘Study of the phytoremediation activity of some wild plant species and the effects of phytoremediation on taxonomically important characteristics, sanctioned by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi, India and one minor research project ‘Floristic Studies in Bhandara District, Vidarbha Region (MS), India funded by University Grants Commission (UGC), WRO, Pune (MS), India. He is the author of two books and over fifteen research papers have been published in the journals of international repute. He has also published more than twenty abstracts and articles related to Life Sciences in various conference proceedings. He has presented many research papers in national and international conferences and is a life member of many national and international organizations.
DR. NISHIKANT WASE, Founder Member, BOTANY 4U and is working as Senior Scientist, Biomolecular Analysis Facility, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903. He has completed his Ph.D. degree from (Chemical and Biological Engineering) University of Sheffield, UK in 2010 and the title of his thesis is ‘Proteomic and metabolomic analysis of the effect of UV-A radiation on cyanobacteria Nostoc punctiforme ATCC 29133’. He has qualified NET in Life Sciences jointly conducted by CSIR-UGC in 2001. He is a Member of The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and also contributor for peer-review process. He has teaching experience as Lecturer in Botany Rajaram College, Kolhapur (MS), India from Sept 2002 to April 2003; as Assistant Professor in Department of Botany, Nabira Science College, (MS), India from June 2003 to Jan 2005 and in Dr. Ambedkar College, Nagpur (MS), India from Jan 2005 to Sept 2006. He was postdoctoral research associate in University of Nebraska-Lincoln from May 2011 to Apr 2016 and also worked as senior research associate in University of Nebraska-Lincoln from May, 2016 to Dec., 2019. He is innovative & self-motivated biological scientist with more than 8 years’ experience across various fields; quantitative proteomics, metabolomics (GC & LC-MS), targeted analysis (GC-SIM, LC-MRM), algal biofuels, drug discovery, HTS screening, assay development and large scale data analysis (NGS, Proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, HTS screening drug discovery). Skilled at project management, data collection & analysis, scientific writing (manuscripts/ reports), effective communication within multidisciplinary groups, leading/ training scientists, lead author on manuscripts, more than 15 presentations & talks.
DR. NITIN LABHANE, Founder Member, BOTANY 4U and is working as Associate Professor, Department of Botany, Bhavan’s College, Andheri (W), Mumbai (MS), India. He has completed his Ph.D. degree from RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur (MS), India in and Post-doctoral research at Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary in the Laboratory of Arabidopsis Molecular Genetics from Nov 2015 to Sept 2016. He has worked as JRF in NEERI, Nagpur from Aug., 1997 to Nov., 1997. He has also worked as Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, VMV Government College, Amravati (MS), from Aug., 2000 to Nov., 2000. He has qualified many national and international level examinations, like GRE, TOEFL, GATE, NET, SET, etc. He has worked on four different projects of national and international repute. He has published more than twenty research papers in national and international journals and is author of one book. Also more than fifty oral and poster presentations with invited talks are in his name and frequently involved in many national and international organizations as a member. He is having national and international collaboration and more than twenty years of teaching and research experience.
DR. TUSHAR WANKHEDE, Founder Member, BOTANY 4U and is working as Professor, Department of Botany, Shri. Shivaji Science College, Amravati (MS), India. He has completed his Doctoral degree from Sant Gadgebaba Amravati University, Amravati (MS) in 2015 and his title of thesis is ‘Investigations on Eco-environmental status of Bryophytes in Melghat region with reference to soil micro-floral association’. He has qualified GATE and SET Examinations in 2001 and 2002 respectively and is a meritorious student in M.Sc. and B.Ed from Amravati University. He has teaching and research experience of more than twenty years for UG and PG classes. He worked as a Lecturer in Botany, Vidhnyan Mahavidyalaya, Malkapur, Dist.: Buldhana (MS) from Feb., 1999 to July, 2003. He has successfully completed one minor research project ‘Diversity of AMF Fungi in and around Lonar Crater as Co-investigator. He has published five research papers in international journals and is author of one book. He has presented more than twenty five research papers in various national and international seminars, workshops and conferences and also delivered many invited talks. He is life member of around ten national associations in India.
DR. DEEPAK KOCHE, Founder Member, BOTANY 4U and is working as Professor, Department of Botany, Shri. Shivaji College of Arts Commerce and Science, Akola (MS), India. He is a recipient of Chadrabhagabai Chate Gold Medal, Dr. A. S. Khalatkar Memorial Gold Medal and Prof. L. B. Kajale Memorial Prize in 2001. He has qualified NET Examination in Life Sciences jointly conducted by CSIR-UGC in 2001. He has worked as JRF & SRF under DAE funded research project from Sept. 2000 to May 2003. He has completed his Doctoral degree from RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur in 2004 and the title of his thesis is ‘Plant Defense Gene Expression in Vigna radiata L. Wilczek’. He has completed five research projects of which four were sanctioned by UGC and one by BRNS. Two students have awarded with Ph.D. degree under his able guidance. He has published 44 research papers in peer reviewed journals of national and international repute and three in various conferences proceedings. His nine research papers/articles are published in different books and is author for five books. He has one patent is to his credit and has more than twenty years of teaching in UG and PG classes and in research. He is also a member of many national and international organizations.