Dr. Rita Kundu is a Professor at the University of Calcutta’s Department of Botany. With a specialization in Cell Biology and Genetics, she has been engaged in cancer biology research. She has explored cell death through apoptosis /autophagy /any other way in cervical cancer cell lines using traditional medicinal plants and other organic sources (marine/ freshwater algal compounds, microbial compounds, synthetic organic compounds) to regulate cell proliferation. Currently, her main interest is in identifying metal-resistant crop (rice) varieties in southern West Bengal and studying their stress responses. She is the author of numerous papers.
Dr. Rajiv Narula received his Bachelor’s Degree in Botany from the esteemed Presidency College (now Presidency University), Calcutta. He went on to complete a Master’s in Biotechnology at GGD University, Chhattisgarh, and a PhD in Environmental Engineering at Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY. After completing his doctoral thesis on Pathogen Reduction and Recycling of Bedding Materials on Dairy Farms (May 2011), he joined the State University of New York, Canton in 2011, and is currently a member of its Environmental Science and Chemistry Department.