Sugandh Singh, Agriculture, Best Innovator Award

Miss. Sugandh Singh: Research Associate at University of Hyderabad, India

Dr. Sugandh Singh is a dedicated and interdisciplinary researcher in the field of biotechnology, with a specialization in cancer biology, natural product pharmacology, and metabolomics. Currently serving as a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Hyderabad, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise in molecular and biochemical techniques, natural product-based drug discovery, and statistical data analysis. With a Ph.D. in Biotechnology and numerous high-impact publications, Dr. Singh’s work bridges experimental biology with translational research. Her research is marked by a strong focus on understanding the anticancer potential of Himalayan medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds using state-of-the-art analytical platforms. She is committed to contributing to innovative and sustainable health solutions through academic excellence, collaborative research, and knowledge dissemination.

Online Profiles

Scopus Profile

Dr. Sugandh Singh is listed on Scopus with the author ID 57214305968, affiliated with Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India. As of the latest update, she has 6 published documents indexed in Scopus, which have collectively received 39 citations from 37 unique documents, reflecting the relevance and interdisciplinary nature of her research. Her current h-index is 4, indicating a growing scholarly impact in the fields of phytochemistry, cancer biology, and metabolomics. She continues to contribute actively to high-impact journals and maintains an ORCID profile to ensure integration of her research outputs across databases.

Education

Dr. Singh holds a strong academic background, having completed her Ph.D. in Biotechnology (2018–2023) from the University School of Biotechnology, GGSIPU, New Delhi, where she investigated the biochemical and antiproliferative properties of Hippophae species from the Indian Himalayas. Prior to that, she earned her M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Banasthali Vidyapith, Rajasthan (2013–2015), where she developed core knowledge in molecular biology, plant sciences, and immunological techniques. Her foundational undergraduate degree is a B.Sc. in Instrumentation (2010–2013) from the University of Delhi’s Bhaskaracharya College, which gave her strong technical grounding in analytical instrumentation. Her school education was completed under the CBSE board, with excellent academic standing.

Research Focus

Dr. Singh’s research is centered around exploring the biochemical and therapeutic potential of plant-based compounds in cancer treatment, especially breast cancer. Her ongoing postdoctoral work investigates the anticancer efficacy of Rhodiola rosea, red sandalwood, and other medicinal plants using in vitro models, along with elucidating molecular mechanisms such as hypoxia-driven phenotypic plasticity regulated by RNF2. Her Ph.D. work involved GC-MS and NMR-based metabolomic profiling of Seabuckthorn species to identify antioxidant and antiproliferative metabolites. She is particularly interested in integrating traditional medicinal knowledge with modern biotechnological approaches to identify lead compounds for pharmaceutical development. Her work spans phytochemistry, functional genomics, molecular oncology, and statistical modeling of biological data.

Experience

Over the years, Dr. Singh has built a rich portfolio of academic and research experience across reputed Indian institutions. She is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate (2023–2025) at the University of Hyderabad, where she works on three cancer-related projects. Prior to this, she worked as a Senior Research Fellow at ICAR–IARI, New Delhi, where she engaged in plant-based research and nematode management studies. She also has teaching experience at D.N. Lal Sharda Private ITI, where she taught biological sciences to undergraduate students. During her M.Sc., she carried out a dissertation at JNU’s Advanced Instrumentation Research Facility, focusing on nanoplatform development for cancer detection. Her early training includes a hands-on internship in microbiology at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, where she performed diagnostic tests such as CSF, urine, and blood cultures.

Research Timeline & Activities

Dr. Singh’s research timeline reflects consistent growth from basic biomedical techniques to advanced molecular biology and translational cancer research. From 2010 to 2013, she gained exposure to instrumentation and analytical science during her undergraduate years. Between 2013 and 2015, her postgraduate studies focused on plant and microbial biotechnology. Her doctoral research (2018–2023) advanced into metabolomics, where she applied GC-MS and NMR to study bioactive compounds in Seabuckthorn. In her postdoctoral phase starting 2023, she expanded into cancer biology, focusing on breast cancer models, hypoxia pathways, and therapeutic screening. Throughout her career, she has been actively involved in more than ten national and international conferences, research symposia, and workshops, and has contributed to collaborative, interdisciplinary projects involving biochemistry, botany, and plant sciences.

Awards & Honors

Dr. Sugandh Singh has been recognized for her academic and research excellence through several awards and honors. She secured the 3rd prize at the National Conference on Seabuckthorn Association of India held at the University of Delhi, showcasing her impactful work on phytochemical research. She also received a 3rd position award in a competitive quiz event at Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences. Her abstracts and posters have been accepted at prestigious national and international conferences, where she delivered both oral and poster presentations. These recognitions reflect her scientific communication skills, innovative research mindset, and dedication to academic excellence.

Top Noted Publication

Among her notable publications, one that stands out is: Singh, S. and Sharma, P.C. (2021). “Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) profiling reveals substantial metabolome diversity in Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) berries originating from different geographical regions in the Indian Himalayas.” Phytochemical Analysis, https://doi.org/10.1002/pca.3081. This high-impact study employed GC-MS-based metabolomics to characterize the phytochemical composition of Himalayan Seabuckthorn berries and established key links between regional growth conditions and therapeutic potential. It contributes significantly to the field of plant-based metabolomics and is widely cited by researchers working on nutraceuticals and natural therapeutics.

Title: Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) and ¹H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)-Based Profiling and Phytochemical Screening Revealed Industrially Important Metabolites in Wild Seabuckthorn (Hippophae salicifolia D.Don) Berries
Journal: Food Analytical Methods
Year: 2025
Indexing: Scopus
Document Type: Article
Author: Dr. Sugandh Singh (Scopus ID: 57214305968)

Strengths for the Best Innovator Award

1. Pioneering Research on Medicinal Plants for Cancer Therapy

Dr. Sugandh Singh has made innovative contributions to cancer research by investigating underexplored medicinal plants such as Rhodiola rosea, red sandalwood, and Seabuckthorn. Her work bridges ethnobotanical knowledge with cutting-edge biochemical techniques to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Her interdisciplinary approach—merging natural product pharmacology with cancer biology—has the potential to revolutionize low-toxicity, plant-based treatments for aggressive cancers like breast cancer.

2. Advanced Use of Metabolomics for Phytochemical Discovery

Her work is distinguished by the sophisticated application of GC-MS and NMR-based metabolomics to decode the phytochemical complexity of Himalayan plants. Dr. Singh’s methodological innovation allows for high-throughput screening of bioactive metabolites and sets a new standard for quality and reproducibility in natural product research. This technical mastery has opened new avenues in the fields of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and precision herbal medicine.

3. Integration of Traditional Knowledge with Modern Biotech Tools

A key strength lies in her ability to translate traditional plant-based remedies into scientifically validated therapeutic agents. By combining ancient Ayurvedic knowledge with rigorous lab-based validation—such as in vitro cancer assays, gene expression analysis under hypoxia, and compound characterization—Dr. Singh exemplifies how innovation can emerge from cultural heritage when coupled with scientific rigor.

4. Strong Track Record of Research Productivity & Impact

With 6 publications indexed in Scopus, over 39 citations, and an h-index of 4, Dr. Singh’s research is already gaining attention in global scientific circles. Her work has been published in reputed journals like Phytochemical Analysis and Food Analytical Methods. In addition, her presence in national and international conferences reflects her commitment to science communication and collaboration, essential traits for any innovator aiming for real-world impact.

5. Leadership in Collaborative and Cross-Disciplinary Projects

Throughout her career, Dr. Singh has taken initiative in collaborative projects that span plant sciences, biochemistry, microbiology, and cancer research. Her role in multiple funded postdoctoral research projects at the University of Hyderabad and her earlier work at ICAR–IARI demonstrate her leadership in managing complex research workflows. Her teaching and mentoring experience also show her ability to inspire and guide the next generation of researchers and innovators.