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Dr. Tejal Gajaria

Assistant Professor

School: Science
Email Id: tejal.gajaria@nuv.ac.in

She introduces herself as a science professional, harboring enriched research experience in algal biochemistry, bioprocessing, nutritional profiling, biopolymers, algae-based prebiotics and antioxidant metabolites. With a strong passion for research and academics, she contributes actively in inspiring and promoting the students for a research-oriented career.   

Work Experience

She has +9 years of experience in both research and academics. Of these past years, her core research experience comes from working as CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR-CSMCRI), Govt. of India, Bhavnagar, Gujarat. In addition, she has worked in collaboration with Department of Endocrinology, Dr. A. L. M. Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Madras University, Chennai; CSIR-Central Food Technology Research Institute, Mysuru; DBT-ICT Center for Bioenergy, Mumbai; Department of Zoology, Department of Chemistry and Department of Pharmacy at the M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara and Department of Microbiology, Shree Swaminarayan Naimisharanya College of Science, Bhavnagar, Gujarat. 

Academic background

Education: 

  • Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from CSIR-CSMCRI, Bhavnagar, Gujarat. 
  • M.Sc. Biotechnology from Sardarpatel University, Anand, Gujarat.  
  • B.Sc. Microbiology from Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar, Gujarat. 

Qualifiers: 

  • GATE Biotechnology – 95 percentile 
  • CSIR-SRF-DIRECT (Senior Research Fellowship) 
  • Gujarat State Level Eligibility Test (GSET) for Lecturership  

Professional/Industrial Experience 

  • Teaching 

Courses taught 

  • Her preliminary engagements of courses are but not limited to Biotechnology, Fundamentals of Microbiology, Bioprocess Technology, Industrial Microbiology, Microbial Physiology and Medical Microbiology across the undergraduate and post graduate programs offered with specialization in Life/Biological Sciences/Biomedical Sciences. 
  • Apart from the full-time UG/PG programs the courses taught include the common elective course(s) offered centrally to the NUV students.  
  • She adapts philosophy of “learning by practice” that provides higher exposure to laboratory experiences to inculcate curiosity driven understanding of the key concepts. 

Area of Expertise and Research 

  • Exploring prebiotics from (but not limited to) marine polysaccharides for therapeutic interventions during gut-microbiome dysbiosis. 
  • Studying beneficial impact of gut-microbial metabolites using human and mouse cell-line model and therapeutic intervention of β-glucans for the management of PCOS using in-vivo models. 
  • Algal biochemistry for enhanced CO2 sequestration and nutrient removal.  
  • Algal bioprocessing for deriving commercially value-added compounds such as proteins, biopolymers and potential antioxidant metabolites.  
  • Tissue engineering by means of constructing biopolymer-based scaffolds and regenerative biomedicine. 
  • Unraveling impact of bisphenol A and other potent contaminants from food and water on gut-microbiota.

Publications (in the order recent to be first) 

Journal Articles

  • Mantri, V. A., Gajaria, T. K., Rathod, S. G., & Prasad, K. (2024). A Mini Review on Iodinophyte Seaweed Resources of India. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences, 1-12.  
  • Grewal, M., Sambwani, K., Udata, K., Paidi, M. K., Gajaria, T., Veeragurunathan, V., & Kavale, M. G. (2024). Seasonal variation in biomass availability and biochemical composition of Gayralia brasiliensis (Ulotrichales, Chlorophyta) from Shirgaon estuary west coast of India. Journal of Applied Phycology, 1-14.  
  • Yashshvini, P., Tejal, G., Ankita, D., & Darshee, B. (2023). A Review of the Current Understanding of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and its Therapeutic Alternatives for Female Fertility and Well-being. Interwoven, 6,  
  • Renita, A. A., Gajaria, T. K., Sathish, S., Kumar, J. A., Lakshmi, D. S., Kujawa, J., & Kujawski, W. (2023). Progress and prospective of the industrial development and applications of ECO-friendly colorants: an insight into environmental impact and Sustainability issues. Foods, 12(7), 1521.  
  • Mantri, V. A., Dineshkumar, R., Yadav, A., Eswaran, K., Shanmugam, M., & Gajaria, T. K. (2022). Projections for profitability assessment parameters under short-term, medium-term and long-term evaluation for three farming techniques of Kappaphycus alvarezii along eastern coast of India. Aquaculture, 551, 737912.  
  • Gajaria, T. K., & Mantri, V. A. (2021). Perspectives and Attitudes towards the Functional and Safety Aspects of Seaweeds for Edible Applications in India. Foods, 10(12), 3026. 
  • Lakshmi, D. S., Sankaranarayanan, S., Gajaria, T. K., Li, G., Kujawski, W., Kujawa, J., & Navia, R. (2020). A short review on the valorization of green seaweeds and ulvan: Feedstock for chemicals and biomaterials. Biomolecules, 10(7), 991.  
  • Gajaria, T. K., Bhatt, H., Khandelwal, A., Vasu, V. T., Reddy, C. R. K., & Shanthana Lakshmi, D. (2020). A facile chemical cross-linking approach toward the fabrication of a sustainable porous ulvan scaffold. Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers, 35(4-5), 301-313.  
  • Baghel, R. S., Suthar, P., Gajaria, T. K., Bhattacharya, S., Anil, A., & Reddy, C. R. K. (2020). Seaweed biorefinery: A sustainable process for valorising the biomass of brown seaweed. Journal of Cleaner Production, 263, 121359.  
  • Mantri, V. A., Kazi, M. A., Balar, N. B., Gupta, V., & Gajaria, T. (2020). Concise review of green algal genus Ulva Linnaeus. Journal of Applied Phycology, 32, 2725-2741.  
  • Mantri, V. A., Ganesan, M., Kavale, M. G., & Gajaria, T. K. (2020). Status, exploitation and resource management of alginophytes in India: an account and way forward. Journal of Applied Phycology, 32, 4423-4441.  
  • Suthar, P., Gajaria, T. K., & Reddy, C. R. K. (2019). Production of quality seaweed biomass through nutrient optimization for the sustainable land-based cultivation. Algal Research, 42, 101583.  
  • Pawar, V. A., Manjappa, A. S., Murumkar, P. R., Gajaria, T. K., Devkar, R. V., Mishra, A. K., & Yadav, M. R. (2018). Drug-fortified liposomes as carriers for sustained release of NSAIDs: The concept and its validation in the animal model for the treatment of arthritis. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 125, 11-22.  
  • Bhatt, S., Bhatt, M., Kumar, A., Vyas, G., Gajaria, T., & Paul, P. (2018). Green route for synthesis of multifunctional fluorescent carbon dots from Tulsi leaves and its application as Cr (VI) sensors, bio-imaging and patterning agents. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 167, 126-133.  
  • Dixit, D. C., Reddy, C. R. K., Balar, N., Suthar, P., Gajaria, T., & Gadhavi, D. K. (2018). Assessment of the nutritive, biochemical, antioxidant and antibacterial potential of eight tropical macro algae along Kachchh coast, India as human food supplements. Journal of aquatic food product technology, 27(1), 61-79.  
  • Gajaria, T. K., Suthar, P., Baghel, R. S., Balar, N. B., Sharnagat, P., Mantri, V. A., & Reddy, C. R. K. (2017). Integration of protein extraction with a stream of byproducts from marine macroalgae: a model forms the basis for marine bioeconomy. Bioresource technology, 243, 867-873.  
  • Bhattacharya, S., Pramanik, S. K., Gehlot, P. S., Patel, H., Gajaria, T., Mishra, S., & Kumar, A. (2017). Process for preparing value-added products from microalgae using textile effluent through a biorefinery approach. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 5(11), 10019-10028.  
  • Parikh, K., Mistry, B., Jana, S., Gajaria, T., Gupta, S., Devkar, R. V., & Kumar, S. (2015). Isosorbide spacer containing gemini surfactants: surface and biochemical study. Colloid and Polymer Science, 293, 1437-1446.  
  • Gajaria, T. K., Patel, D. K., Devkar, R. V., & Ramachandran, A. V. (2015). Flavonoid rich extract of Murraya Koenigii alleviates in-vitro LDL oxidation and oxidized LDL induced apoptosis in raw 264.7 Murine macrophage cells. Journal of food science and technology, 52, 3367-3375.  
  • Patel, D., Desai, S., Gajaria, T., Devkar, R., & Ramachandran, A. V. (2013). Coriandrum sativum L. seed extract mitigates lipotoxicity in RAW 264.7 cells and prevents atherogenic changes in rats. EXCLI journal, 12, 313.  
  • Mukherjee, R., Desai, F., Singh, S., Gajaria, T., Singh, P. K., Baxi, D.B., Sharma, D., Bhatnagar, M. & Ramachandran, A. V. (2010). Melatonin protects against alterations in hippocampal cholinergic system, trace metals and oxidative stress induced by gestational and lactational exposure to cadmium. EXCLI Journal, 9, 119. 

Chapters in Books 

  • Gajaria T.K., Baxi D., Robin E., Pandya P. & Ramachandran A.V. (2024) Macroalgal nutraceuticals and phycotherapeutants. In Seaweeds and Seaweed-Derived Compounds: Meeting the growing need for healthy biologically active compounds. Ed. Dr. Fatih Ozogul, Dr. Monica Trif and Dr. Alexandru Rusu. Springer-Nature; Switzerland. In press. 
  • Lakshmi, D. S., Gajaria, T. K., & Kumaran, S. (2024). Chemicobiological surface modifications of zein. In Handbook of Natural Polymers, Volume 2 (pp. 301-321). Elsevier. 
  • Patel, F., Gajaria, T. K., Robin, E., & Baxi, D. (2024). Emerging trends in herbal formulation based on medicinal plants and algae in cancer therapeutics: A modern era perspective. Herbal Formulations, Phytochemistry and Pharmacognosy, 43-53. 
  • Kavale, M. G. & Gajaria, T. K. (2022). Habitat and Resources of Edible Seaweeds. In Algal Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals: Benefits, Opportunities, and Challenges (pp. 74-93). Avinash Mishra. 
  • Gajaria, T. K. & Mantri, V. A. (2022). Emerging Trends on the Integrated Extraction of Seaweed Proteins: Challenges and Opportunities. Sustainable Global Resources of Seaweeds Volume 2: Food, Pharmaceutical and Health Applications, 219-234.

Conferences/Seminars (in the order recent to be first) 

 International  

  • Gajaria T.K. Biorefining of seaweed proteins: Quality vs Quantity. Two-Days Online Workshop on Seaweed: A Sustainable Source for Future Food Systems, Dublin City University, Ireland from 12th-13th September 2024. 
  • Gajaria T.K., Khandelwal A., Bhatt H. & Mantri V.A. Marine macroalgal derived antioxidant bioactive peptides modulate glutathione and catalase expression followed by cell cycle arrest in cancer cell lines. International Conference on Molecular Medicine and Reproductive Endocrinology from 14th – 16th September 2023. 
  • Patel Y., Mogha A., Ramachandran A.V., Gajaria T.K. & Darshee Baxi. Ameliorative effects of ulvan against testosterone induced gut-ovarian dysbiosis. International Conference on Molecular Medicine and Reproductive Endocrinology from 14th – 16th September 2023. 
  • Haldar C., Pillai S., Gajaria T. K., Darshee Baxi & A. V. Ramachandran. Melatonin mitigates oxidative stress induced dysregulation of dehydrogenases in the brain, gut and ovary of zebra fish under acute exposure of bisphenol A. International Conference on Molecular Medicine and Reproductive Endocrinology from 14th – 16th September 2023. 
  • Gajaria T.K., Mantri V.A. & Reddy C.R.K. 2019. Unraveling the interplay of protein digestibility with nutritional and antinutritional factors among tropical seaweeds: Functional foods and Health promotion. 
  • Gajaria T.K., Mantri V.A. & Reddy C.R.K. 2019. Eat wisely: A note on the nutritional. Health and safety aspects of seaweeds in the course of food revolution. India International Seaweed Expo and Summit. 
  • Gajaria T.K., Bhatt H., Khandelwal A., Vasu V.T., Mantri V.A. & Reddy C.R.K. 2019. Marine algae derived antioxidant bioactive peptides modulate glutathione and catalase expression followed by the cell cycle arrest in cancer cell lines. 9th International Conference on Algal Biomass, Biofuels and Bioproducts (AlgalBBB). 
  • Gajaria T.K., Khandelwal A., Vasu V.T., Mantri V.A. & Reddy C.R.K. 2018. Enrichment of marine macroalgal proteins and their bioactive potential. International Conference on Biotechnological Research and Innovation for Sustainable Development (BioSD-2018) & XV Annual Convention of the Biotech Research Society, India. 
  • Khandelwal, A., Bhatt, H., Gajaria, T., Sabapathy, I., Manikkam, R. and Vasu, V., 2018. Evaluation of the anti-cancer property of Toluquinol, a marine fungus derived natural product. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 120, pp.S122-S123 
  • Bhatt, H., Khandelwal, A., Gajaria, T., Gohil, K., Cross, C. and Vasu, V., 2018. Modulation of FKBP5 Expression by cigarette smoke. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 120, p.S96 
  • Khandelwal, A., Bhatt, H., Gajaria, T. and Vasu, V.T., 2017. Redox modulatory and Anti-cancer property of Toluquinol, a marine fungus derived natural product. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 112, p.27 
  • Gajaria T.K. & Devkar R.V. 2012. Prevention of LDL oxidation and Ox-LDL induced apoptosis by methanolic extract of Brassica juncea”. International conference on Recent Trends in Atherosclerosis organized by the Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar.

National  

  • Jadhav A., Gajaria T.K., Baxi D. & Ramachandran A.V. 2022. Influence of preservation conditions on nutritional and antinutritional profile of brown seaweeds. International Conference on Organic, Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry organized by School of Science, Navrachana University. 
  • Gajaria T.K. & Devkar R.V. 2012. The antiatherosclerotic effect of Murraya koenigii on RAW 264.7 cell line. XXVI Gujarat Science Congress organized by the M.S. University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat

Training/Workshops 

  • Faculty Development Program on ‘Literature Review’ and ‘Research Proposal Writing’ organized by Navrachana University, Vadodara on 23rd March 2024.  
  • Hands-on workshop on Molecular Identification of Microorganisms, organized by Genexplore Diagnostics & Research Center Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad from 28th – 29th April 2023. 
  • Faculty Development Program on Biotechnopreneurship, organized by Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission and Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, Ahmedabad during 12th – 23rd December 2022. 
  • Metagenomic data analysis Workshop organized by Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) and Gujarat University, Ahmedabad during 26th – 30th September 2022. 
  • Online Faculty Development Program on Computational Genomics and Proteomics organized by PDPM IIITDM Jabalpur & JUIT Solan during 18th August to 1st September 2022. 
  • Workshop on Advanced Techniques in Life Sciences, organized by Navrachana University, funded by DST-SERB, India from 9th – 11th March 2022. 
  • IP-MAXIMA, IPI awareness for maximum reach Innovative Technology Enabling Center (InTEC), CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar during 7th – 8th January 2022. 
  • Online 9th Workshop in Algae Lipidomics organized by the Mass Spectrometry Centre of the University of Aveiro (Portugal). May 26th,2021. 
  • One day online seminar on Algae Solutions: Technologies for Algae Industries, organized by the Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of the Algarve, Gambelas Campus (Faro), Portugal. 12th May 2021. 
  • Short term course on Biotechnology and Intellectual property rights jointly organized by AICTE and IIT-Kharagpur from14th -19th December 2020. 
  • Online webinar on Popular Science Writing: AWSAR (Augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research) organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Vigyan Prasar on 20th July 2020. 
  • A Basic Online Course in Proteomics organized by the Center for Cellular and Molecular Platforms, Bangalore from 1st -2nd June 2020. 
  • An Online Course on Untargeted Metabolomics using High Resolution Mass Spectrometry organized by the Center for Cellular and Molecular Platforms, Bangalore from 28th -29th May 2020 
  • National Seminar on ACS Guide on Scholarly Communication and Expert Advice for Early Carrier Researchers organized by the American Chemical Society, 27th May 2020. 
  • Hands-on workshop on Machine Learning for beginners organized by Teqzap Future Tech Solutions Pvt. Ltd. From 18th – 20th May, 2020. 
  • Online webinar series on citizen science: Science communication in the time of COVID-19, Protecting from corona: Innovative Approaches and Solutions organized by the National Council for Science and Technology, Department of Science and Technology, Government of Gujarat on 16th May 2020. 
  • International Scientific Writing and Speed Sparring workshop jointly organized by Institute of Water Education, Delft, Netherlands and the International conference on the New Horizons in Biotechnology, Trivandrum, 20th November 2019. 
  • National workshop on Publication ethics and Peer Reviewing jointly organized by Department of Science and Technology, India and the American Chemical Society on 15th November 2019. 
  • Continuing Education and Quality Improvement Program course on OMICS Technologies for Life Sciences conducted by IIT Bombay, Mumbai from 23rd September to 4th October 2019. 
  • Certificate of Course on Computer Concept (CCC) conducted by National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), January 2015. 
  • National workshop on Techniques in Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology organized by the Department of Endocrinology, Dr. ALMPGIBMS, University of Madras, Chennai on 6-15th March 2013. 
  • National workshop on Basics of Cell culture and Stem cell Techniques organized by the Department of Biochemistry, The M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat on 28th February–3rd March 2012. 
  • National workshop on chemical safety in industry organized by B.V.M. College of Engineering, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Anand, Gujarat in November 2009.

Awards/Honors (in the order recent to be first) 

  • Marked 2nd Position in the “Rapid Fire Presentation Competition on “the Nobel Prize Winners 2019” organized by the CSIR – Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad at CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar, Gujarat on January 27th, 2020. 
  • Young Researcher Award for Rapid Fire Oral Presentation at International conference on the New Horizons in Biotechnology jointly organized by CSIR-National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology and The Biotech Research Society, India, Trivandrum from November 20th – 24th, 2019. 
  • DST International Travel Award for an international conference, Colorado USA, May 2019 (Not availed). 
  • CSIR-SRF-DIRECT (Senior Research Fellowship) Award from May 2018 to May 2021. 
  • Best poster presentation award at the India International Seaweed Expo and Summit jointly organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Mumbai from January 22-24th, 2019. 
  • GATE-Junior Research Fellowship Award from August 2015 to April 2018. 
  • Best oral presentation award at XXVI Gujarat Science Congress jointly organized by Gujarat Science Academy and The M. S. University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat on February 26th, 2012.

Expert/Invited talks (in the order recent to be first) 

  • Expert-talk at the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Atmiya University, Rajkot on 1st October 2024. 
  • Invited Speaker at workshop “Seaweed: a sustainable source for future food systems” School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Ireland on 13th September 2024 (online mode). 
  • Expert-talk at the 13th CSIR-Integrated Skill Initiative Program, Division of Applied Phycology and Biotechnology, CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar on 1st November 2023. 
  • Expert-talk at the 12th CSIR-Integrated Skill Initiative Program, Division of Applied Phycology and Biotechnology, CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar on 19th June 2023. 
  • Resource person at the DST-KARYASHALA (Accelerate Vigyan Scheme, Govt. of India) Division of Applied Phycology and Biotechnology, CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar on 5th August 2022. 
  • Invited speaker at the 10th CSIR-Integrated Skill Initiative Program, Division of Applied Phycology and Biotechnology, CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar on 28th March 2022 (Online mode). 
  • Invited speaker at the 9th CSIR-Integrated Skill Initiative Program, Division of Applied Phycology and Biotechnology, CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar on 27th December 2021. 

Research Grants 

  • Can β-glucan-induced gut microbiome metabolites improve PCOS symptoms? An experimental and clinical study – DBT–Biomedical Task Force Research Grant Award, DBT-India – National – Sanctioned (2024-27) – 83.2 lacs
  • Role of heterostructural ulvanobiuronic acids into modulating oxidative stress mediated damage into essential probiotic strains (Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium sp.) – Navrachana University Seed Grant Award, NUV, Vadodara – University – Ongoing (2022-2024) – 2.0 lacs
  • Evaluation of the Preventive Role of Marine Algal Derived Ulvan Polysaccharide against BPA-induced Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis: in vitro and in vivo studies – SERB-SURE (State University Research Excellence) Program – 2023, DST-India – National – Under review 2023- 

Professional Affiliations /Membership  

  • American Society of Nutrition, USA (Student member 2021-22, Early Career Researcher, 2023-present) 
  • The Biotechnology Research Society of India, Trivandrum, India (Life member) 
  • Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World, UNESCO (Life member) 
  • American Chemical Society, Washington D.C., USA (2019-2020) 
  • Recognized as the peer-reviewer for:  
    • Journal of Applied Phycology, Springer 
    • Scientific Reports, Springer-Nature 
    • Food Microbiology, Elsevier  
    • Discover Materials, Springer 
    • Food Hydrocolloids for Health, Elsevier 
    • Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, Elsevier 
  • External examiner and BoS member at various UGC recognized state universities.  
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