Team
Meet the NANOPLANT Team
DR. DIBYENDU MONDAL
ERA CHAIR HOLDER
Dibyendu Mondal has been selected as ERA chair holder of NANOPLANT and joined IPG PAS on September 2021. Dibyendu received his PhD in Chemical Sciences from CSIR-CSMCRI, India in 2015. He was a postdoctoral fellow at CICECO, University of Aveiro, Portugal from 2015-2017 and has been an Assistant Professor at CNMS, Jain University, India since 2017. His research interest include value addition of bio-resources under the biorefinery concept and packaging of biomolecules using green solvents. He is also fascinated with the development of green nanocomposites for task-specific applications such as biocatalysis, water purification and in plant science. Dibyendu has 66 publications in high impact journals, 5 granted patents, ~2100 citations, 24 h-index. He was recently elected as a member of of the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC), London. Dibyendu has worked on various challenging problems and new concepts which have helped him to gain experience in a wide range of research areas, experimental techniques and critical analysis.
DR. LEONARD KIIRIKA
SENIOR RESEARCHER
Leonard Kiirika joined the NANOPLANT team as a senior researcher in the IPG PAS from May 2022. Kiirika received his PhD in Molecular Plant Pathology and Plant Proteomics from Leibniz University of Hannover, Germany in 2013; completed Postdoctoral research in the University of Wisconsin-Madison USA and short-term trainings in Washington State University USA and Okayama University in Japan. He has been a Lecturer in the department of Horticulture and Food Security, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Kenya since 2016. He is also a recipient of a number of fellowships including the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Matsumae International Foundation (MIF) in Japan as well as the National Science Foundation in USA. His research interests include studying the molecular aspects of the host plant-nanomaterials-microbe (pathogen/symbionts) interactions. Kiirika has 21 publications in peer-reviewed journals and with experience in the application of nanotechnology for detection of plant microbes by developing a nano-based probe for qualitative detection of bacteria pathogens. His key focus in the NANOPLANT project is to utilize nanotechnology in detection of microbial infections in crop plants. His work in diverse research environments opens up his ability to think analytically, creatively and conceptually in different aspects of research.
DR. PRADEEP MATAM
POSTDOC
Pradeep Matam joined the NANOPLANT team in January 2023 as a postdoctoral fellow. Pradeep holds a PhD in Agriculture and Horticulture from IPG PAS, Poland. Previously, he was a research associate at CSIR-CFTRI, India. He is author/co-author of 12 publications in reputed journals. In the NANOPLANT project, Pradeep will focus on green synthesis of nanoparticles for nanofertilizer applications and metabolomic response of plants to these nanoformulations.
DR. DIKSHA DHIMAN
POSTDOC
Diksha Dhiman joined the NANOPLANT team in August 2024 as a postdoctoral fellow in the SONATA 17 project. She holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Delhi, India. During her doctoral studies, she also conducted research at Inha University, South Korea, as part of a two-month academic collaboration. With a strong research background, Diksha has authored 10 publications in reputed journals. She has also won various national-level oral presentations. Her current work focuses on developing biopolymer-based protein-friendly ionic liquids (ILs) to design enzyme nano-constructs for tandem biocatalysis, aiming to enhance biocatalytic efficiency and performance.
DR. SELVAKESAVAN RAJENDRAN KAMALABAI
POSTDOC
Dr. Selvakesavan Rajendran Kamalabai is a plant biotechnologist with a research focus on nano plant interactions, plant stress responses, and secondary metabolite engineering. Since June 2024, he has been a member of the NanoPlant team, contributing his expertise in the application of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles in plant systems. He holds a Ph.D. in Biotechnology and has gained extensive international research experience, including a research fellowship from the University of Minho, Portugal. His work explores the molecular and metabolic responses of medicinal plants, particularly Hypericum perforatum, to nanoparticle exposure using integrated omics approaches. Dr. Selvakesavan has coauthored several peer reviewed publications and remains actively engaged in advancing nanobiotechnological tools for sustainable agriculture and phytopharmaceutical innovation.
DR. LAKSHMIPATHY MUTHUKRISHNAN
POSTDOC
Lakshmipathy Muthukrishnan has been associated with the NANOPLANT project since August 2023 as a postdoctoral researcher. He earned his PhD in Life Sciences from Sathyabama University, India. He has worked in various research capacities in some of the leading institutions like King Institute of Preventive Medicine & Research (KIPM&R), CSIR – Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Sathyabama University and Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS). He has authored 34 research articles in peer-reviewed international journals and 5 book chapters. He is a life member of Indian Association of Applied Microbiologists (IAAM), Indian Association of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IANN) and International Society for Fluoride Research Inc. His research focuses on the impact of nanotechnology on plant systems.
DR. DAMYANTI PRAJAPATI
POSTDOC
Dr. Damyanti Prajapati joined the NANOPLANT team as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences in January 2025, bringing with her a rich blend of academic rigor and applied expertise in plant nanobiotechnology. She earned her Ph.D. in Agriculture (Molecular Biology and Biotechnology) from Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, India, where she worked on chitosan-based nanofertilizers. Prior to joining IPG PAS, she held key research positions as a Senior Research Fellow at MPUAT and a Research Associate at the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, where she contributed to projects spanning biostimulants, microbial metabolites, and genomic annotation. A recipient of several prestigious fellowships and awards—DBT-JRF, ICAR-SRF, CSIR-NET, SERB-ITS; Dr. Prajapati has authored 10 peer-reviewed publications and holds 2 granted Indian patents in nano-enabled agri-input technologies. Her research passion lies at the intersection of sustainable nanomaterials and plant science, focusing on: Encapsulation of bioactive agro-inputs (macro/micronutrients, signalling molecules), Controlled-release formulations & nano-translocation in plants, Plant nanotoxicology and safety assessment. At NANOPLANT, her core responsibility involves developing and maintaining in-vitro seedlings and plant cell suspension cultures, aimed at assessing the physiological and metabolic impacts of nanoparticles on plants.
DR. RAKESH SINHA
POSTDOC
Rakesh K. Sinha is a plant biotechnologist currently working as a postdoctoral fellow in the NANOPLANT team since September 2024. He got his PhD in Biophysics from Palacky University in the Czech Republic, where he built a solid background in molecular biology and biochemistry. Rakesh’s research covers a wide range of topics, focusing on plant molecular biology, gene editing, and how plants interact with diseases. He has valuable international research experience, including a prestigious NSERC fellowship from the Canadian government. Having published over 15 articles in respected scientific journals, Rakesh has made important contributions to the field of plant biotechnology. At NANOPLANT, he studies how metal and metal oxide nanoparticles affect plants and their interactions with pathogens. His work is aimed at improving our understanding of how these nanoparticles can influence plant health and resistance to diseases, making him an important figure in modern plant research.
SHYNI MONY DAISY
BIOLOGIST
Shyni Mony Daisy is a research scholar with the NANOPLANT team at the Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Science in Poznan, since April 2025. She is a PhD scholar at Noorul Islam Centre for Higher Education (NICHE), India with an interdisciplinary background in nanotechnology and plant sciences. Her research focuses on the interaction between nanoparticles and plant systems treated with nano-fertilizers. Prior to joining the Institute, she worked at the Centre of Marine Science and Technology (CMST), where she studied the effect of nanoformulations on plant growth. She contributes to experimental design, sample preparation, and data analysis related to nanoparticle applications in agriculture.
M.S. GABRIELA MACIEJEWSKA
LAB MANAGER
Gabriela Maciejewska has been a Lab Manager in NANOPLANT project since April 2023. She received the title of biotechnology engineer in 2022 at the University of Life Sciences in Poznan (Poland) and then defended her thesis in this branch of science in 2023. Gabriela participated in project meetings aimed at improving the work of lab technicians. She also completed numerous internships as a laboratory technician and took part in certified trainings in the field of quality control and good laboratory practice. In the NANOPLANT project she will be responsible for preparing ordering lists and purchasing lab supplies.
M.A. JOANNA DUTKIEWICZ
INNOVATION SPECIALIST
Joanna Dutkiewicz has been the Innovation Broker for the NANOPLANT project since June 2023. She received her master’s degree in Administration from Adam Mickiewicz University in 2010. Joanna has gained many years of professional experience in cooperation between public institutions and companies. She participated in entrepreneurship fairs, organized and led project meetings, cooperated with local companies in organizing events and coordinated activities encouraging companies to invest in cities and villages. As part of the Nanoplant project, Joanna will help organize meetings between businesses and academics to expand collaboration between NANOPLANT and industry. She will also organize events related to networking activities such as fairs or information days.
M.A. KATARZYNA SIERSZEŃSKA
PUBLIC RELATIONS SPECIALIST
Katarzyna Sierszeńska joined the NANOPLANT team on April 2025 as public relations specialist. She received her master’s degree in Philosophy from Adam Mickiewicz University and has many years of experience as a journalist and photographer. For over a dozen years she has been cooperating with the largest agricultural magazine in Poland – top agrar – writing articles on rural life, cultivation, breeding, niche production, innovative farmers, enterprising agrobisnesswomen and social activists, culinary arts and regional products. She visited farms and farmers all over Poland, conducting interviews and photo sessions, as well as creating film reports. Her reportage and ilustration photos were published in articles and covers. She was involved in the preparation and participated in numerous industry conferences, seminars and fairs, including “Farmers and Agribusiness Forum” for about a thousand participants, which takes place every year in the Earth Hall in Poznań. Her primary role in NANOPLANT project is to organize public relations activities, promotion and maximization of the project’s impact.
DR. HAB. FRANKLIN GREGORY PROF. IGR PAN
COORDINATOR OF THE NANOPLANT PROJECT,
Head of the Department of Plant Biology and Nanotechnology,
Institute of Plant Genetics, PAS
Professor Franklin Gregory is at the forefront of nanobiotechnology for plants as coordinator of the ground-breaking NanoPlant project. With his international research background and interdisciplinary expertise, he skilfully bridges the gap between the fields of advanced materials science and plant biology. Under his leadership, the Institute of Plant Genetics has established a pioneering department dedicated to exploring the interface between plants and nanotechnology.
His innovative research program focuses on two transformative areas of plant nanotechnology: elucidating how engineered nanoparticles trigger reactions in plants to increase the production of valuable secondary metabolites, and developing sophisticated mechanisms for the green synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extracts. This work has established fundamental principles for nanoparticle-plant interactions and provided crucial insights into the dose-response relationships and molecular mechanisms behind nanomaterial-induced metabolic changes in plants.
As part of the NanoPlant initiative, Professor Gregory coordinates a pan-European research consortium developing breakthrough nano-based solutions for sustainable agriculture. Through his work, his team has positioned itself as an international leader in the use of nanotechnology to address global challenges in food security, crop protection and plant-based production of high-value compounds, representing a significant advance towards precision agriculture with minimal environmental impact.
Alumni
DR. MEGHA SAXENA
POSTDOC
Megha Saxena joined the NANOPLANT team in August 2023 as a postdoctoral fellow. Megha holds a PhD in chemistry from University of Delhi, India. Prior to joining us, she worked as an assistant professor at I.T.S. Engineering College, India. She has authored/co-authored 12 publications in reputed journals. Under the NANOPLANT project, Megha focused on developing a low-cost and eco-friendly nanosensor for monitoring plant health that will be useful for sustainable agriculture.
ALICJA SZYCHULSKA
TRAINEE
Alicja Szychulska is a first-year student of biotechnology at the University of Life Sciences in Poznan. She has been a volunteer in the NANOPLANT project since March 2023. Alicja is learning green synthesis of nanoparticles and chromatographic analysis of plant extracts.
WIKTORIA FRĄTCZAK
TRAINEE
Wiktoria Frątczak is a first-year student of Biotechnology at the University of Life Sciences in Poznan. She wants to become an entrepreneur and has completed training as a phytotherapist at the Polish Institute of Herbalism and Natural Therapies. She joined NANOPLANT as a volunteer in October 2022. She is learning plant tissues culture, plant-nanoparticle interaction of and the application of analytical methods. Wiktoria has presented part of her work at a student conference.
TADEUSZ MIRSKI
PR SPECIALIST
NANOPLANT team member since January 2024. Experienced specialist in communication and management of innovative projects. He worked in three innovation incubators and a living laboratory, supporting various innovators in creating revelatory solutions. Graduate of management and spatial management at Poznan universities. Tadeusz’s primary role is to promote the project on social media, build relationships with potential stakeholders, and organize public relations to maximize the impact of NANOPLANT.
DR. MÓNIA MARTINS
POSTDOC
Mónia A. R. Martins received her PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Aveiro, Portugal, in 2017. From 2017 to 2021, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the Associate Laboratory LSRE-LCM (University of Porto) and CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (University of Aveiro). In 2021 she worked as Analytical Development Scientist in a pharmaceutical company. Mónia is author of 42 publications in reputed international journals with ~1000 citations and 16 h index. Her PhD thesis was awarded by European Federation of Chemical Engineering (EFCE) as the best European dissertation in Thermodynamics and Transport Properties 2019. She worked for the NANOPLANT project until the end of December 2022. Her main interest was the characterization and application of neoteric green solvents such as ionic liquids and eutectic systems. In the NANOPLANT project, Mónia focused on the development of green and low-cost nanoformulations using ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents for sustainable agriculture.
DR. MEENA BISHT
POSTDOC
Meena Bisht joined the NANOPLANT team in August 2022 as a postdoctoral fellow in the SONATA project and worked with the team until the end of February 2023. She received her PhD in Chemistry from the Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, India. She was a postdoctoral fellow at CICECO, University of Aveiro, Portugal. She was working on developing new strategies for biomass processing using alternative solvents (e.g., ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents). Meena has developed an environmentally friendly, innovative and cost-effective technology for improved dissolution and extraction of bioactive compounds from sustainable biomass. She has published more than 30 articles in reputed journals.
DR. SAGAR BISWAS
POSTDOC
Sagar Biswas has joined NANOPLANT team in August 2023 as a postdoctoral fellow in SONATA 17 project. He achieved his Ph.D. degree from Indian institute of Technology Indore, India. Previously he was associated with Indo-German (2+2) LABELONIK Roll-to-roll printed project at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata as a Post-doctoral fellow. He has also published 12 research articles in reputed journals and a book with international publishers. He is focused on developing Biopolymer based protein friendly ILs assisted enzyme nano-construct for tandem biocatalysis with improved efficacy. Sagar Biswas worked with our team until the end of June 2024.
DR. LOKESH VEERESH
POSTDOC
Lokesh Veeresh joined the NANOPLANT team in January 2023 as a postdoctoral fellow. Lokesh holds a PhD in Biotechnology from CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, India. He has worked in various research positions at University of Horticultural Sciences, Denovo Biolabs Pvt. Ltd and IPG PAS. Lokesh is author/co-author of 20 publications in reputed international journals. Under the NANOPLANT project, he is focusing on understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in plant response to nanomaterials and nanoformulations. Lokesh Veeresh worked with our team until the end of June 2024.