LAB NEWS & HIGHLIGHTS
Latest News
Prof. Dr. Vaibhav A. Mantri
Selected for Professor YSRK Sarma Memorial Award – 2026
Selected for the Professor YSRK Sarma Memorial Award – 2026 in Phycology, Cyanobacteria and Algal Biotechnology.
Publication of Edited Volume: Commercially Important Seaweed Resources and Their Cultivation
CSIR-CSMCRI announces the release of the international reference volume Commercially Important Seaweed Resources and Their Cultivation, edited by Prof. Dr. Vaibhav A. Mantri and published by CAB International (CABI), UK. With contributions from 66 leading phycologists across 20 countries, it covers macroalgal biodiversity, propagation, biosecurity, and industrial valorisation.
Prof. Dr. Vaibhav A. Mantri
Lecture on Edible Seaweed Cultivation at Gujarat Biotechnology University
Delivered a lecture on edible-seaweed cultivation and its nutraceutical potential for strengthening India’s bioeconomy.
Prof. Dr. Vaibhav A. Mantri
Media Coverage of Prof. V. Krishnamurthy Endowment Award
The award received at S.E.A.W.E.E.D.S. 2026 was featured in Saurashtra Samachar and Aajkaal Daily.
Prof. Dr. Vaibhav A. Mantri’s Team
AI-Based Seaweed ChatAgent Wins First Prize
The team’s AI-based Seaweed ChatAgent, developed with Ms. Aneri Khandodara, secured first prize at S.E.A.W.E.E.D.S. 2026.
Prof. Dr. Vaibhav A. Mantri Conferred the Prof. V. Krishnamurthy Endowment Award
CSIR-CSMCRI Chief Scientist and Chair of the Applied Phycology and Biotechnology Division, Prof. Dr. Vaibhav A. Mantri, was honoured with the prestigious Prof. V. Krishnamurthy Endowment Award at S.E.A.W.E.E.D.S. 2026 for over 25 years of seminal contributions to applied phycology, germplasm enhancement, and scalable seaweed mariculture protocols.
Prof. Dr. Vaibhav A. Mantri’s Team
Research Highlights Limited DNA Sequence Data for Indian Marine Macroalgae
Analysis by the team highlighted the limited availability of DNA sequence data for Indian marine macroalgal diversity.
Bhagirath Rakhasiya
Best Poster Presentation Award (2nd Prize) at ICPLS-2026
Received the Best Poster Presentation Award (2nd Prize) at ICPLS-2026 in January 2026.
Prof. Dr. Vaibhav A. Mantri
Panelist at Blue Bioeconomy Seminar for Viksit Gujarat @ 2047
Participated as a panelist in the GSBTM seminar on a roadmap to develop the Blue Bioeconomy for Viksit Gujarat @ 2047.
Aarti Bhojani
Best Paper Presentation Award at ICR 2026, Vadodara
Received the Best Paper Presentation Award at ICR 2026, Vadodara, in January 2026.
Dr. Kanchan Sambhwani
Emerging Researcher Award for Excellence in Algal Research
Honoured with the Emerging Researcher Award for Excellence in Algal Research at AAR 2025 in November 2025.
Bhagirath Rakhasiya
1st Rank for Presentation at Chembio 360
Secured 1st rank for presentation at Chembio 360 in October 2025.
Dr. Sachin G. Rathod
Research Paper on Seaweed and Coastal Communities
Research paper highlighting seaweed and coastal communities, September 2025.
Dr. Digvijay Singh Yadav
Best Oral Presentation Award at International Conference on Blue Economy – 2025
Recognised with the Best Oral Presentation Award at the International Conference on Blue Economy – 2025 in January 2025.
Dr. Sachin G. Rathod
Successfully Defended Ph.D.
Successfully defended his Ph.D. in October 2024.
Dr. Payal Bodar
Successfully Defended Ph.D.
Successfully defended her Ph.D. in October 2024.
Abantika Majumder
First Place in Poster Presentation at National Conference
Secured first place in poster presentation at the National Conference held at Bharathidasan University in October 2024.
Prof. Dr. Vaibhav A. Mantri
Appointed Editorial Board Member of Discover Oceans
Appointed to the Editorial Board of Discover Oceans, a Springer Nature journal.
Dr. Sachin G. Rathod
Time-Calibrated Phylogeny of Green Seaweed Ulva
Research on the time-calibrated phylogeny of the green seaweed Ulva, November 2023.
Dr. Pankaj Dawange
Research Scholarship at Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon
Awarded a research scholarship at Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Portugal, in June 2022.
ADDITIONAL LAB HIGHLIGHTS
Featured Updates
Release of Book: Biotechnological Interventions to Aid Commercial Seaweed Farming
Dr. Mangal Singh Rathore and Prof. Dr. Vaibhav A. Mantri of the Applied Phycology Division, CSIR-CSMCRI, have edited Biotechnological Interventions to Aid Commercial Seaweed Farming, published by Springer Nature Group, Singapore. The volume brings together 20 chapters by 65 global researchers on cultivation, strain development, and biotechnological solutions for commercial seaweed aquaculture.
Prof. Dr. Vaibhav A. Mantri Appointed Associate Editor of Applied Phycology
Prof. Dr. Vaibhav A. Mantri, Divisional Chair of Applied Phycology and Biotechnology at CSIR-CSMCRI, has been appointed Associate Editor of the peer-reviewed journal Applied Phycology, published by Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of the British Phycological Society. He will oversee the Aquaculture and Seaweed Cultivation section.
Expert Deliberations on Seaweed Farming in India at the IWMI-Tata Trusts National Conference
Prof. Dr. Vaibhav A. Mantri participated as an invited domain expert in the “Blue Boundaries” panel at the IWMI-Tata Trusts conference on Water, Energy, Climate and Livelihoods in India. His address examined the role of seaweed farming in strengthening coastal smallholder livelihoods and building climate-resilient marine agronomy systems.