Research Interests:

Currently, I am working in following projects as Co-Principal Investigator,

1. Studies on Antarctic Lichens {sponsored by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi}
2. Lichen diversity of Himachal Pradesh, India {(All India Coordinated Project on Taxonomy (AICOPTAX), sponsored by Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India}
3. Revision of few Graphidaceous lichen genera from India {In house project - NBRI}
4. Studies on biological resources and documentation of traditional knowledge of Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh {sponsored by Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India}
5. Pollution monitoring, mitigation devices and systems {sponsored by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India as CSIR Task Force Project} 

I am much interested in 'community ecology' of lichens. I have started working on this aspect for lichens of Amarkantak Achanakmar Biosphere Reserve.

Utilizing lichens for air pollution and biomonitoring studies is the other aspect of interest to me. Earlier I have studied lichen flora of Bangalore City in relation to air pollution. Similar study for Kolkata, Pune, Lucknow and Delhi Cities is in progress.

Biopropecting lichens is the another area of great interest. In India lichens have not been exploited for their uses in medicinal and nutritional value. I am planned to initiate such studies.

I am involved in other on-going research activities of our 'Lichenology Laboratory' such as floristic, taxonomic and revisionary studies.