Mr. Soumik Dey Roy: Assistant Professor at Department of Agriculture, Brainware University, Barasat, Kolkata - 700125, India
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Title / Designation: Mr.
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Name: Soumik Dey Roy
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Current Role / Designation: Assistant Professor
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Organization / Institution: Department of Agriculture, Brainware University, Barasat, Kolkata – 700125
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Country: India
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Subject Track: Agriculture
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Key Area of Expertise: Agricultural Entomology
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Award Category: Best Innovator Award
Soumik Dey Roy is an Assistant Professor of Agriculture with specialization in Agricultural Entomology, currently pursuing his Ph.D. at Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati University. He has developed a strong academic profile integrating teaching, field-based research, scholarly publishing, and editorial responsibilities. His work focuses on advancing sustainable and eco-friendly pest management strategies through ecological, biological, and technological interventions, while actively contributing to undergraduate education and research capacity building.
Online Profile
He maintains a robust academic and professional presence through publications in national and international peer-reviewed journals, edited books, and reputed academic publishers such as Springer Nature, Wiley, Elsevier (Academic Press), and CABI. His research outputs are indexed in SCOPUS and Web of Science, and he actively contributes as an editor, reviewer, and subject expert for multiple journals. He also engages in science communication through popular articles and web platforms to disseminate research-based agricultural knowledge.
Since 2021, his research publications have received 14 citations, with 13 citations recorded in recent years, reflecting growing scholarly visibility. He currently holds an h-index of 2, indicating emerging research impact within the fields of agricultural entomology and sustainable pest management.
Education
He is currently enrolled in a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program in Agricultural Entomology at Visva-Barati University, where he secured an excellent GPA of 8.89/10 in coursework. He completed his Master of Science in Agriculture with specialization in Agricultural Entomology from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya with an OGPA of 8.94/10, followed by a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Agriculture from the same university with an OGPA of 8.22/10. In addition, he qualified the UGC-NET examination in Environmental Sciences in 2024 with a high percentile score of 98.64, reflecting strong interdisciplinary academic competence.
Research Focus
His research interests broadly encompass arthropod ecology, insect morphology, and plant–arthropod interactions, with a strong emphasis on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and biological control approaches. He actively works on entomopathogenic nematodes, bio-efficacy evaluation of pesticides, insecticide dose-response dynamics, and plant parasitic nematode ecology and management. His emerging research areas include ecological and landscape engineering, smart agriculture, and the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning for sustainable crop protection.
Experience
He has been serving as Assistant Professor in the Department of Agriculture at Brainware University, Kolkata, since January 2025, following earlier appointments as Contractual and Visiting Assistant Professor at the same institution. He has substantial experience in delivering theory and practical courses under ICAR Fifth and Sixth Deans’ Committee curricula, supervising laboratory and field experiments, mentoring undergraduate research projects, and contributing to academic planning and quality assurance activities.
Research Timeline & Activities
His research career formally began during his postgraduate studies with extensive field experimentation on groundnut agro-ecosystems during the Rabi season of 2021–22. Since 2023, he has maintained a consistent research output with publications in reputed journals, book chapters, edited volumes, and patents. Alongside research, he remains actively involved in peer review, editorial board responsibilities, faculty development programs, rural agricultural extension (RAWE), experiential learning initiatives, and interdisciplinary research collaborations.
Awards & Honors
He has received academic recognition through qualification of the UGC-NET examination, selection for editorial and associate editor roles in multiple national and international journals, and life or annual memberships in professional scientific societies such as the Entomological Society of India. His innovative research contributions have resulted in several Indian patent publications related to pest management technologies, agricultural machinery, biotechnology, and AI-based advisory systems.
Top Noted Publication
His most notable publications include high-impact review and research articles in journals such as CABI Reviews, Indian Journal of Entomology, Agricultural Engineering International (CIGR Journal), and other SCOPUS and Web of Science indexed outlets. These works address critical issues in sustainable pest management, entomopathogenic nematodes, insecticide hormesis, crop–pest interactions, and eco-friendly agricultural practices, contributing meaningfully to both applied and theoretical entomology.
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Ray, J., Ghosh, P. K., Banik, S., Duary, S., Pramanik, M., Dey Roy, S., & Roy, S. (2024).
Exploring Agriculture in the Age of Drones: A Comprehensive Review. African Journal of Biological Sciences, 6(3), 216–229.
Citations: 3 -
Mahata, K. S., Mochary, S., Dey Roy, S., & Mohanta, R. (2025).
Development and testing of self-propelled type rotary forage harvester. Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Journal, 27(1), 72–84.
Citations: 2 -
Dey Roy, S., & Mukhopadhyay, A. K. (2025).
Harnessing Hormesis: Exploring Insecticide Dose-response Dynamics for Sustainable Pest Management. Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoology, 46(4), 12–28.
Citations: 2 -
Dey Roy, S., Singh, S., Jagdev, G., Kumari, N., & Kapare, S. (2024).
Major and minor insect pests of Glycine max L. and their management. International Journal of Entomology Research, 9(11), 69–75.
Citations: 2* -
Dey Roy, S., & Mukhopadhyay, A. K. (2024).
Population Dynamics of Major Sucking Pests Infesting Rabi Groundnut in West Bengal. Indian Journal of Entomology, 86(4), 1296–1298.
Citations: 2
Article Details
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Article Title: Effect of weather variables and guild interactions in the seasonal patterns of arthropod fauna in Solanum melongena agro-ecosystem
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Journal: International Journal of Tropical Insect Science (Springer Nature)
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Publication Year: 2026
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Article Type: Research Article
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Article Publication Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42690-025-01739-6
The research article titled “Effect of weather variables and guild interactions in the seasonal patterns of arthropod fauna in Solanum melongena agro-ecosystem” was published on 19 January 2026 in the International Journal of Tropical Insect Science. The study was conducted at the Central Research Farm, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Gayeshpur, West Bengal, and is based on extensive field observations across 11 consecutive cropping seasons between 2021 and 2023. It documents the diversity and seasonal dynamics of 73 arthropod species associated with eggplant cultivation, categorized into functional ecological guilds, with detailed analysis of climatic influences and inter-species interactions.
Novelty
The novelty of this study lies in its long-term, multi-seasonal assessment of arthropod community structure within a brinjal agro-ecosystem under varying climatic conditions. Unlike short-term or single-season studies, this research integrates weather variables with guild-based interaction analysis, revealing complex antagonistic, complementary, and mutualistic relationships among pests, predators, and ants. The simultaneous evaluation of climate drivers and trophic interactions provides new ecological insights into how abiotic and biotic factors collectively shape pest population dynamics.
Scientific Impact
This study contributes significantly to the field of agricultural entomology by advancing the understanding of climate-mediated arthropod population regulation in horticultural systems. By quantifying correlations between weather parameters and key pest and predator species, the research strengthens ecological forecasting approaches for pest outbreaks. The guild-interaction framework adopted in the study offers a robust model for future agro-ecological research aimed at enhancing resilience in crop protection under climate variability.
Practical and Applied Impact
The findings have strong applied relevance for developing adaptive and sustainable pest management strategies in eggplant cultivation. Insights into seasonal pest pressure, predator effectiveness, and ant–aphid mutualism can inform precise timing of interventions and conservation of natural enemies. By emphasizing ecological interactions rather than chemical dependency, the study supports integrated pest management (IPM) approaches aligned with climate-smart agriculture and long-term crop sustainability.
Strength for the Best Innovator Award
1. Long-Term, Multi-Seasonal Data Collection
Strength: The study spans 11 consecutive cropping seasons, capturing inter-annual variability in arthropod populations and weather conditions.
Innovation: Most studies are short-term; this multi-season approach provides robust, high-resolution insights into temporal dynamics and improves predictive accuracy.
Impact: Enables reliable identification of trends and seasonal peaks, crucial for adaptive pest management and ecological modeling.
2. Integration of Weather Variables with Guild Interactions
Strength: The study links abiotic factors (temperature, rainfall, humidity) with biotic interactions among pests, predators, and ants.
Innovation: Combines climate science and community ecology, revealing how environmental conditions mediate trophic interactions.
Impact: Provides a predictive framework for anticipating pest outbreaks under climate variability, supporting climate-smart agriculture.
3. Functional Guild-Based Analysis of Arthropod Communities
Strength: Arthropods are categorized into functional guilds (herbivores, predators, parasitoids, mutualists), rather than just taxonomic groups.
Innovation: Enables a mechanistic understanding of ecosystem interactions, including antagonistic, complementary, and mutualistic relationships.
Impact: Offers a practical tool for IPM planning, allowing farmers to leverage natural predator-prey dynamics instead of relying solely on chemicals.
4. Application to Sustainable and Adaptive Pest Management
Strength: Findings provide actionable guidance on timing interventions, conserving beneficial species, and reducing chemical inputs.
Innovation: Moves beyond descriptive ecology to applied solutions, directly benefiting agricultural sustainability.
Impact: Supports eco-friendly IPM strategies, increasing crop resilience and long-term productivity under changing climatic conditions.
5. Contribution to Ecological Forecasting and Agro-Entomology
Strength: Establishes quantitative links between climatic variables and key pest/predator species.
Innovation: Offers a scientifically rigorous model for predicting arthropod population dynamics, which can be adapted to other crops and regions.
Impact: Advances precision agriculture, enabling farmers and policymakers to implement proactive, data-driven pest management.