Affiliation: Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

Dr. Sourav Das is a researcher and DST INSPIRE Faculty Fellow at the Institute of Life Sciences in Bhubaneswar, India, and possesses a profound passion for unravelling the mysteries of microbial interactions in soil. Holding a PhD in Biotechnology, his expertise lies in the innovative application of solar-photocatalysis using metal/ZnO nanostructures for the disinfection of waterborne pathogenic bacteria. With over 10 years of research experience, including postdoctoral positions at IIT, Kanpur India, and Ben-Gurion University, Israel, Dr. Das has contributed significantly to nanotechnology, environmental microbiology, wastewater disinfection, and microbial predator-prey interaction in soil. His current ambition involves founding an innovative research laboratory that specializes in creating cutting-edge microfluidic soil-on-chip devices, aiming to tackle the intricate challenges associated with studying interactions between soil and microbial entities. Sourav is motivated by a dedication to environmental sustainability and seeks natural solutions for soil fertilization to promote sustainable agricultural benefits for farmers.