"LAB IS WHERE HEART IS"
Motto of our group
We are always open to new people and ideas to engage with.
Group Head - Food matrix lab
Veda Krishnan
"Lab is where your heart is" that's the motto of our group. We are a passionate bunch of multidisciplinary members who aims to understand the food derived compounds to elucidate their underlying mechanism involved in health implications. With this we aim to walk a mile ahead towards characterizing the matrix, understanding the matrix interactions, comprehensive analysis of various explanatory variables for nutritional traits towards bio-accessibility and bio-availability to bridge the existing gaps in nutrition research. Even-though we work on many nutrients, let me tell you "Carbohydrates are my first love"
Co-Investigator & Pr.Scientist
Archana Singh
Dr Archana Singh has a vast experience in the field of nutrition & stress (Nutri-O-Stress). Contributed immensely to the International sequencing projects of Rice, Tomato, pigeon pea, mustard, brinjal, sugarcane, and bitter gourd. She has established very cost-effective & user-friendly seed priming techniques for abiotic stress management (salinity & drought). She spearheaded towards understanding RS synthesis in rice grain and first time established a positive correlation between starch debranching pullulanase enzyme with the resistant starch (RS) content as well as assay techniques. She is also engaged in unraveling the dynamics of starch granule bio-genesis for improved starch quality in rice and indices of nutritional diversity during rice aging.
Email: sarchana19@gmail.com
Scientist
Dr. Sunil Warwate
Dr. Sunil’s doctoral research centred on the nutritional quality of rice starch (especially resistant starch). He has explored the synergy of enzymes, nutrients, and differential expression of starch-synthesizing genes. He reported a couple of diabetic friendly, low-GI rice genotypes. Further, his research area switched to millets (Nutri-Cereals). He has standardized a protocol to detect cyclopiazonic acid (mycotoxin) from kodo millet grains and fungal broth culture. Currently, he is working on antinutritional profiling and bioavailability of iron from the major and minor/underutilized millets.
Email: sunilwarwate1213@gmail.com
Doctoral students
Deepanyeta Goswami
2021-2025
Research Title- Optimization, Characterization, and Structure–Digestibility Relationship of Slowly Digestible Carbohydrates
Education-
B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture , UBKV, West Bengal
M.Sc. Biochemistry, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi
Achievements-
ICAR-AIEEA (PG)-2018 (AIR-02)
ICAR-AICE JRF/SRF-2021 (AIR-01)
ASRB-Net -2021 Qualified
GATE-2020 Qualified
CSIR-Net-2019 Lectureship
Email: deepanyetag@gmail.com
Rahna Fathima A
2023-2027
Research Title- Satiety signatures in Millets: Nutrigenic signatures of GLP-1
Education-
B.Sc. Biochemistry, Bharathiar University
M.Sc. Biochemistry, Bharathiar University
Achievements-
CSIR UGC-NET JRF 2024
ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF(Ph.D.)-2023 (AIR-7)
Email: rahnadhilshath19@gmail.com
Chinmaya Behera
2023-2027
Research Title- Integrating Sweetness Profile and Taste Perception with Predictive Glycemic Index in Rice: A Multi-Modal Approach Using NIR, Spectrophotometry, Gene Expression and E-Tongue
Education-
B.Sc. (Hons.) Chemistry, Berhampur University, Odisha
M.Sc. (Hons.) Biochemistry, Ravenshaw University, Odisha, Cuttack
Achievements-
ICAR-AICE JRF/SRF , AIR-13 (2023)
DBT-BET Category II Qualified (2025)
Email: chinmayabehera311@gmail.com
Mohammed Salman C K
2024-2027
Research Title- Decoding Glycemic Signature of Red Rice: Trait Drivers and a Smart Glycemic Sensing Prototype
Education-
B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Thrissur, Kerala
M.Sc. Biochemistry, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi
Achievements-
ICAR PG Fellowship (2022), ICAR JRF/SRF (AIR 1) (2024)CSIR-UGC JRF (2024)ICAR-IARI Merit Medal at 63rd Convocation (2025)UGC-NET (2023), ASRB NET (2025)Other exams qualified: GATE-XL (2024), TIFR- JGEEBILS (2024), ACTREC-JRF(2024), DBT-GAT-B(2022), DBT-BET (2024)
Email: salmanckmohammed@gmail.com
Devika Ajith
2025-2028
Research Title- Comparative Biochemical Phenotyping and QTL Mapping for Elucidation of Low Glycemic Index Traits in Nagina 22
Education-
B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Thrissur, Kerala
M.Sc. Biochemistry, ICAR-IIAB, IARI Ranchi hub
Achievements-
ICAR-AIEEA PG 2023 AIR 23
ICAR-AICE JRF/SRF 2025 AIR 1
Email: devikaajith1904@gmail.com
Master's student
Fathima Shima N. A.
2024-2026
Research Title- Optimization of mushroom for micro-gravity simulation for space
Education-
B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Thrissur, Kerala
Achievements-
ICAR AIEEA (PG)-2024 (AIR-16)
Email: shimanannat2000@gmail.com
Project student
Muskan Beura
DST-SHRI 2024-2027
Project Title- Heritage millet recipes of the Southern India and their scientific validation for low GI and satiety inducing effects.
Education-
B.Sc. (Hons.) Botany, University of Delhi, New Delhi
M.Sc. Botany, Central University of Kerala, Kasargod, Kerala
Email: beuramuskan2001@gmail.com
Interns
Prathmesh Nadarge
Post graduate from Punjab Agricultural University. Working on mushroom based nutraceutical development
Rashid
Dec-May 2026
Currently pursuing M.Sc. Biotechnology at Amity University, working on the analysis of low glycemic index (GI) properties and antinutritional factors in millet-based recipes.
Nikhil Mani Maran B
Feb-June 2026
B.tech Biotech student from Garden City University, Banglore.Working on analyzing the glycemic index of different rice samples
Harshavardhan P
Feb-June 2026
B.tech Biotech student from Garden City University, Banglore. Working on optimization of a Retrogradation degree analysis protocol for starch-based Food matrices.
Ex-Master's student
Debarati Mondal🥇
2019-2021
Research Title- Starch-lipid interactions and its influence on inherent glycemic potential
Education-
Achievements-
Received the People’s Choice Award in the International Sci-Art Competition, three Best Poster Awards, and multiple competition recognitions. Honored with the first NABARD–Professor V.L. Chopra Gold Medal (2021) and Best Student of the Year (2021) at IARI
Email: debaratimondal7991@gmail.com
Shuvarghya Chakraborty 🥇
2021-2023
Mohammed Salman C K🥇
2022-2024
Research Title- Isolation, structural charecterization and hypo glycemic effects of functinal polysaccharides from Shiitake (Lentinula edodes)
Education-
B. Sc (Hons.) Agriculture, Visva-Bharati university, West Bengal
Achievements-
ICAR AIEEA (PG)-2021 (AIR-01)
Email: suvarghya1999@gmail.com
Research Title- Development and validation of glucose nanosensor for predicting inherent glycemic response
Education-
B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), Thrissur, Kerala
Achievements-
ICAR PG Fellowship (2022)
UGC-NET (2023),
Email: salmanckmohammed@gmail.com
Sohel Rahaman
2018-2020
Research Title: Developing starch quality matrix to identify fibre rich Indian rice varieties with low glycemic potential
Email: sohail.rahaman7@gmail.com
Ex-Project Associates
C S Keerthana
DBT-JRF
(2022-2025)
Completed bachelor's and master's in Botany from St. Teresa's College Ernakulam Kerala. My work focused on vitamin D2 (Ergosterol) and its extraction and characterization from niche medicinal mushroom (Lentinula edodes).
Sanjeev Kumar
DBT-JRF
(2022-2023)
Completed his B.Sc.(hons) Botany, BHU, India and M.Sc. Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Hyderabad. Worked on vitamin D2 (Ergosterol) and its extraction and characterization from niche medicinal mushroom (Lentinula edodes).
Monika Awana
SERB-JRF
Ms. Awana's journey started when she joined as a JRF in SERB funded project - pullulanase-based identification of high-resistant starch rice. She cleared CSIR-NET, DBT as well as GATE. She also bagged many best poster awards in various national and international conferences.
Ex-Interns
Nakul
Feb-May 2026
Pursuing M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Shobhit University, Meerut. Worked on Nutraceutical Research involving Ganoderma lucidum Extraction and Analysis of Triterpenoids and Polysaccharides.
Dr. Pooja Dubey
Feb-May 2026
Completed doctorate from IMS- BHU, with research centered on obesity and its associated metabolic alterations. Worked on Nutraceutical Research involving Ganoderma lucidum Extraction and Analysis of Triterpenoids and Polysaccharides.
Gurmeet Singh
Feb-May 2026
B.Sc. Agriculture student at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi. Worked on the extraction, optimization, and analysis of bioactive compounds and nutraceutical research on Turkey Tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor)
Shahbaan
June-October 2025
Undergraduate student from Garden City University, Bangalore, worked on gaining hands-on experience in extraction technologies for different mushrooms and exploring their nutraceutical potential.
Mauli Aggarwal
Bachelor's student in Pharmacy, worked on biochemical assays and formulation studies with a focus on evaluating the bioactive potential of mushrooms.
Sanskriti Vatsa
June-August 2025
Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) student in Biotechnology with a strong interest in life sciences and laboratory research. Worked on the biochemical analysis of mushrooms and research focused on their nutraceutical potential.
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Agrima Viraj
B.Sc. Biosciences student at Banasthali Vidyapith University, Jaipur, with interests in cell and molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry. She has gained hands-on experience in protein estimation and SDS-PAGE analysis and is keen to further strengthen her research skills.
Sneha Pandey
M.Sc graduate in Food Technology from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. Used this valuable oppurtunity to deepen my understanding of the biochemical and nutritional intricacies of cereals.
Haris Iqbal
Was pursuing his degree at Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Natural Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India. He initiated work on "Identifying high resistant starch (RS) rice" through characterizing the fractions of starch quality - rapidly digestible starch (RDS), slowly digestible starch (SDS) and RS.
Devika
Ms. Devika, while pursuing Master's degree at MACFAST, Thiruvalla joined Food Matrix Lab as summer intern.
Madhurpreet Kaur
Ms. Kaur was instrumental towards understanding the existed starch degradation heterogeneity between pigmented and non-pigmented rice varieties. She developed the in vitro tool of starch hydrolyzation kinetics to analyze the inherent glycemic potential (IGP) of food crops.