Dr. Pawan Kumar Kanaujia: Assistant Professor at Mahayogi Gorakhnath University Gorakhpur, India
Dr. Pawan Kumar Kanaujia is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Mahayogi Gorakhnath University, Gorakhpur, India. With a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Delhi, his expertise lies in microbial pathogenesis, iron acquisition systems, and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. He has accumulated over 8 years of teaching and research experience, combining academic leadership with applied research in infectious diseases, microbial biotechnology, and translational health sciences. Dr. Kanaujia has contributed significantly to understanding iron homeostasis in pathogenic bacteria, particularly Yersinia enterocolitica, and his work has been published in reputed journals with over 2,200 citations.
Online Profiles
Dr. Abhijit Sarkar has a growing academic impact as reflected in his Google Scholar metrics. He has accumulated 2331 citations in total, with 1562 citations since 2020. His h-index stands at 8 overall and 6 since 2020, while his i10-index is 6 overall and 4 since 2020, highlighting his consistent contributions to plant science research and recognition by the wider scientific community.
Dr. Kanaujia maintains an active academic presence across multiple research platforms. His Google Scholar profile reflects 12 publications with a citation count exceeding 2,200, an h-index of 8, and an i10-index of 5. He is also featured on Publons, ORCID, ResearchGate, and Frontiers Loop, where his peer-review contributions and editorial work highlight his engagement with the global scientific community. These platforms collectively showcase his role as a researcher, reviewer, and academic mentor.
Education
Dr. Kanaujia received his Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Delhi in 2015, where his doctoral research focused on the detection and analysis of iron-acquisition related genes and proteins in Yersinia enterocolitica biovar 1A. Prior to this, he completed his M.Sc. in Biotechnology from V.B.S. Purvanchal University, Jaunpur, in 2005, and a B.Sc. in Zoology, Botany, and Chemistry from D.D.U. Gorakhpur University in 2003. His educational foundation reflects a strong interdisciplinary background in biological and chemical sciences, shaping his transition into microbiological and biotechnological research.
Research Focus
His research primarily investigates microbial pathogenesis with a special emphasis on bacterial iron acquisition, storage systems, and their role in virulence. He is particularly interested in the proteomic and genomic analysis of iron-regulated proteins, antimicrobial resistance genes, and molecular drug targets in pathogenic bacteria. In addition, his work extends to applied microbiology, including microbial biotechnology for bioremediation, climate change impacts on microbial ecosystems, and sustainable approaches to health and food security.
Experience
Currently, Dr. Kanaujia serves as an Assistant Professor at Mahayogi Gorakhnath University (since October 2022). Previously, he held multiple teaching positions at HIMT Group of Institutions, Greater Noida, and guest faculty positions at the University of Delhi. He has also worked in industry-linked research as a project lead at AptaBharat Innovation Pvt. Ltd., incubated at THSTI, NCR Biotech Cluster, Faridabad. His research journey includes serving as an ICMR Research Associate, where he contributed to projects on bacterioferritin characterization in Yersinia enterocolitica. Altogether, his career reflects a balance of teaching, applied research, and translational microbiology.
Research Timeline & Activities
2010–2015 – Doctoral research at University of Delhi on iron homeostasis mechanisms in Y. enterocolitica.
2016–2018 – ICMR Research Associate, focusing on molecular characterization of bacterioferritin and potential drug targets.
2018–2019 – Guest Faculty, University of Delhi, engaging in teaching and student mentoring.
2019–2021 – Assistant Professor at HIMT Group of Institutions, Greater Noida, expanding his teaching and research portfolio.
2021 – Project Lead at AptaBharat Innovation Pvt. Ltd., working on translational health projects in collaboration with THSTI.
2021–2022 – Assistant Professor at HIMT Group of Institutions, Greater Noida.
2022–Present – Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Mahayogi Gorakhnath University.
During this journey, he has presented oral and poster contributions at national conferences, submitted 33 bacterial iron-acquisition genes to GenBank, and actively engaged in peer reviewing and editorial activities.
Awards & Honors
Awarded ICMR Research Associate Fellowship (2016–2018) for his project on bacterioferritin.
Recognized as Editorial Board Member for international journals including Advanced Chemicobiology Research.
Served as reviewer for prestigious journals including Frontiers in Microbiology, International Journal of Infectious Diseases, and Biology Methods & Protocols.
Life Member of The Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI) and former member of ASM and ESCMID.
Invited speaker and presenter at several national conferences, highlighting his contributions to microbial pathogenesis and proteomics.
Top-Noted Publications
MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry: an emerging technology for microbial identification and diagnosis – N. Singhal, M. Kumar, P.K. Kanaujia, J.S. Virdi, Frontiers in Microbiology 6, 791 (2015). Citations: 2046.
Tylophorine, a phenanthraindolizidine alkaloid isolated from Tylophora indica exerts antiangiogenic and antitumor activity by targeting vascular endothelial growth… – S. Saraswati, P.K. Kanaujia, S. Kumar, R. Kumar, A.A. Alhaider, Molecular Cancer 12 (1), 82 (2013). Citations: 104.
Distribution and molecular characterization of genes encoding CTX-M and AmpC β-lactamases in Escherichia coli isolated from an Indian urban aquatic environment – P. Bajaj, N.S. Singh, P.K. Kanaujia, J.S. Virdi, Science of the Total Environment 505, 350–356 (2015). Citations: 86.
Quinolone co-resistance in ESBL- or AmpC-producing Escherichia coli from an Indian urban aquatic environment and their public health implications – P. Bajaj, P.K. Kanaujia, N.S. Singh, S. Sharma, S. Kumar, J.S. Virdi, Environmental Science and Pollution Research 23 (2), 1954–1959 (2016). Citations: 41.
Proteomic analysis of Yersinia enterocolitica biovar 1A under iron-rich and iron-poor conditions indicate existence of efficiently regulated mechanisms of iron homeostasis – P.K. Kanaujia, P. Bajaj, S. Kumar, N. Singhal, J.S. Virdi, Journal of Proteomics 124, 39–49 (2015). Citations: 15.
Analysis of iron acquisition and storage-related genes in clinical and non-clinical strains of Yersinia enterocolitica biovar 1A – P.K. Kanaujia, P. Bajaj, J.S. Virdi, APMIS 123 (10), 858–866 (2015). Citations: 11.
Strength for the Public Health Award
1. Antimicrobial Resistance Research
Dr. Kanaujia has made significant contributions to the study of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in pathogenic bacteria, particularly Escherichia coli. His highly cited works on ESBL-, AmpC-, and quinolone-resistant strains in Indian aquatic environments highlight the public health risks of environmental reservoirs of AMR genes, addressing one of the most urgent global health challenges.
2. Microbial Pathogenesis & Iron Acquisition Mechanisms
Through his doctoral and postdoctoral research on Yersinia enterocolitica, he has elucidated iron homeostasis and bacterial virulence mechanisms, providing crucial insights into how pathogens survive and thrive in host environments. These studies pave the way for identifying novel molecular drug targets for infectious disease management.
3. Translational and Applied Microbiology
As Project Lead at AptaBharat Innovation Pvt. Ltd., he engaged in translational health research, linking laboratory findings with biotechnology-based solutions for diagnostics and treatment. His ability to translate molecular microbiology into real-world health innovations demonstrates a strong bridge between research and public health applications.
4. Diagnostic Innovation & Technology Contribution
His co-authored work on MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry as a tool for microbial identification (cited over 2000 times) has had a global impact on clinical microbiology laboratories. This pioneering research supports faster and more accurate diagnosis of infectious diseases, ultimately improving patient outcomes and strengthening public health systems.
5. Academic Leadership & Capacity Building
With over 8 years of teaching and mentoring experience, Dr. Kanaujia has trained students in microbial biotechnology, pathogenesis, and health sciences. His role as a reviewer, editorial board member, and conference speaker further emphasizes his dedication to capacity building, scientific dissemination, and strengthening public health awareness through education and knowledge exchange.