Miss. Bandita Dutta: DST INSPIRE Senior Research Fellow at Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology, West Bengal, India

Bandita Dutta is an emerging scientist in the field of biotechnology with a specialized focus on microbiology, biofilm research, and drug discovery. Based in Kolkata, India, she is currently a PhD Senior Research Fellow at MAKAUT, West Bengal, under the DST-INSPIRE Fellowship. Her academic and research journey reflects a consistent dedication to solving real-world biomedical and environmental problems using both wet lab and computational techniques. Bandita’s work bridges microbiological experimentation with molecular modeling, and her contributions in antibiofilm strategies using bacteriocins, phytocompounds, and nanoformulations have been recognized both nationally and internationally. With over 30 publications, she is building a strong reputation as a young innovator in antimicrobial research and translational bioengineering.

Online Profiles

Google Scholar Profile

As of October 2025, Bandita Dutta has accumulated a total of 953 citations, with 950 citations since 2020. Her h-index stands at 13, indicating that 13 of her publications have received at least 13 citations each, and her i10-index is 16, reflecting that 16 of her papers have been cited 10 times or more. These metrics reflect the growing academic impact of her research in the fields of microbiology, biofilm studies, and antimicrobial drug discovery.

Education

Bandita holds a Master of Technology (M.Tech) degree in Biotechnology from Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT), West Bengal, completed in 2021 with a DGPA of 9.56, ranking first in her university. She completed her Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Biotechnology from the University of Engineering and Management, Kolkata, in 2019 with an equally strong DGPA of 9.40. She qualified the GATE 2020 exam with an All India Rank of 953, demonstrating her strong academic grounding. Her educational background has been complemented by several certified training programs, including NPTEL courses on Bioenergy and Cell Culture, and an international certificate course on Stem Cells & Medical Science.

Research Focus

Bandita’s primary research interests revolve around the formation, inhibition, and eradication of bacterial biofilms, with a particular emphasis on quorum sensing mechanisms, natural antimicrobial peptides, and phytocompounds. Her work targets both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, aiming to develop alternative antimicrobial strategies that can combat antibiotic-resistant infections. She has also expanded her research into nanotechnology, working on the development of bacteriocin-mediated silver nanoconjugates and quantum dot-based delivery systems. Additionally, her interest in metagenomics and multi-omics technologies supports her efforts to understand complex microbial communities and their responses to environmental and therapeutic interventions. Her work is highly relevant to current challenges in clinical microbiology, food safety, and environmental biotechnology.

Experience

Currently, Bandita is working as a PhD Senior Research Fellow (since February 2022) at MAKAUT under the Department of Biotechnology, funded by the prestigious DST-INSPIRE Fellowship. Her academic journey began with a B.Tech project on the dual role of biofilm in polyethylene degradation and antimicrobial resistance, followed by her M.Tech research on bacteriocins as quorum sensing inhibitors using in silico methods. She has carried out various course-based research projects involving polyolefin biodegradation, ribosome-targeting AMPs, and phytocompound screening for antibiofilm applications. She also completed internships at CSIR-NEIST focusing on drug discovery and micronutrients, and at Baidyanath Ayurveda Pvt. Ltd on pharmaceutical formulation studies, giving her a balanced perspective of both academic and industrial research environments.

Research Timeline & Activities

Since the beginning of her research career, Bandita has maintained a steady pace of academic output and scientific engagement. From 2018 to 2025, she has participated in over 15 national and international conferences, delivering oral presentations and poster presentations on biofilm control, quorum quenching, and nanotherapeutics. Notable participations include the 9th Nano Today Conference (Singapore) and Microbiology Society Annual Conference (UK). She has consistently received recognition for her presentations, winning several Best Oral Presentation Awards at events such as BIOSPECTRUM, ICRTB, and BIONEXT. In addition to conference activity, she has co-authored over 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and 15+ book chapters, with many as first author. Her academic trajectory also includes collaborative multi-author publications in Frontiers in Microbiology, Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Archives of Pharmacology, and Elsevier volumes, contributing significantly to contemporary microbiological research.

Awards & Honors

Bandita has received multiple accolades for her scientific work and academic performance. Most notably, she was awarded the DST-INSPIRE Fellowship (2022) to support her doctoral research. She was the University Topper during her M.Tech program and was recognized with the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Best Scientific Mind during her B.Tech. She received the Best Oral Presentation Award at several national conferences including ICRTB 2021 (MIT Pune), BIOSPECTRUM 2019, and BIONEXT 2022. In recognition of her continued academic contribution, she was honored with the UEM Young Alumnus Award (2024) and the MAKAUT Achiever Award (2024), further cementing her role as a young scientific leader in her field.

Top Noted Publication

Among her numerous publications, one of Bandita’s most impactful works is titled “Bacteriocin-Mediated Silver Nanoconjugate: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application as an Antibiofilm Agent Against Two Common Pathogenic Bacteria”, published in Probiotics & Antimicrobial Proteins (2025). This study investigates the synthesis and application of a novel nano-bio hybrid system combining bacteriocins with silver nanoparticles, offering significant efficacy against multi-drug resistant biofilms. The paper not only demonstrates strong in vitro results but also supports the mechanistic understanding of biofilm inhibition, paving the way for potential clinical applications. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12602-025-10656-6

  • Bacterial Cellulose: Production, Characterization, and Application as Antimicrobial Agent
    D. Lahiri, M. Nag, B. Dutta, A. Dey, T. Sarkar, S. Pati, H.A. Edinur, Z. Abdul Kari, et al.
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(23), 12984 (2021)
    Citations: 315

  • Antibiofilm Activity of α-Amylase from Bacillus subtilis and Prediction of the Optimized Conditions for Biofilm Removal by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN)
    D. Lahiri, M. Nag, T. Sarkar, B. Dutta, R.R. Ray
    Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 193(6), 1853–1872 (2021)
    Citations: 96

  • Bacteriocin: A Natural Approach for Food Safety and Food Security
    D. Lahiri, M. Nag, B. Dutta, T. Sarkar, S. Pati, D. Basu, Z. Abdul Kari, L.S. Wei, et al.
    Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10, 1005918 (2022)
    Citations: 94

  • Antibiofilm and Anti-Quorum Sensing Activities of Eugenol and Linalool from Ocimum tenuiflorum Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm
    D. Lahiri, M. Nag, B. Dutta, S. Dey, D. Mukherjee, S.J. Joshi, R.R. Ray
    Journal of Applied Microbiology, 131(6), 2821–2837 (2021)
    Citations: 88

  • Catechin as the Most Efficient Bioactive Compound from Azadirachta indica with Antibiofilm and Anti-Quorum Sensing Activities Against Dental Biofilm: An In Vitro and In Silico Study
    D. Lahiri, M. Nag, B. Dutta, I. Mukherjee, S. Ghosh, A. Dey, R. Banerjee, et al.
    Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 193(6), 1617–1630 (2021)
    Citations: 77

Strengths for Best Innovator Award

1. Pioneering Work in Antibiofilm and Antimicrobial Innovation

Bandita Dutta’s cutting-edge research on biofilm inhibition and eradication using bacteriocins, phytochemicals, and nanoformulations directly addresses the global crisis of antimicrobial resistance. Her innovative approach to integrating wet lab techniques with in silico modeling has yielded impactful solutions, making her a standout figure in translational antimicrobial research.

2. Excellence in High-Impact Research and Publication

With over 950 citations, an h-index of 13, and more than 30 publications, including several in top-tier journals like International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Frontiers in Bioengineering, and Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, she demonstrates sustained scholarly excellence and growing influence in microbiology and biotechnology.

3. Interdisciplinary and Translational Approach

Bandita bridges microbiology, bioinformatics, nanotechnology, and drug discovery, reflecting a uniquely interdisciplinary mindset. Her work on bacteriocin-mediated silver nanoconjugates and quantum dot delivery systems exemplifies her ability to translate molecular insights into real-world biomedical and environmental applications.

4. National & International Recognition

Her achievements have been recognized through prestigious awards including the DST-INSPIRE Fellowship, MAKAUT Achiever Award, UEM Young Alumnus Award, and multiple Best Oral Presentation Awards at national and international conferences. These honors reflect her growing impact and leadership as a young scientist on both academic and professional stages.

5. Commitment to Scientific Leadership and Collaboration

Beyond research, Bandita is actively engaged in scientific communication and collaboration, having participated in 15+ international conferences, authored 15+ book chapters, and contributed to multi-author consortiums. Her collaborative spirit, academic rigor, and vision for innovation position her as a future leader in global bioscience innovation.

Bandita Dutta, Engineering, Best Innovator Award