cnirmala1@gmail.com

Dr. Nirmala Chongtham is a distinguished Professor at the Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, and a former Coordinator of the DST-Centre for Policy Research at the same university. With a postdoctoral fellowship in biotechnology and genetic engineering from the University of Hannover, Germany, she has a rich academic background, including collaborative work with renowned institutions such as Humboldt University and the Max Plank Institute. Over the last 24 years, Dr. Chongtham has focused her research on the nutritional and health benefits of bamboo shoots, making significant contributions to bamboo science.

She has been awarded numerous research grants from prestigious institutions, including the University Grants Commission and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India. Dr. Chongtham was instrumental in the formulation of policies for the sustainable development of the bamboo economy as the Convener of the Food and Beverage section of the Bamboo Development Mission, led by NITI Aayog and M-DoNER. She has successfully guided 24 Ph.D. scholars and published over 100 papers in national and international journals. In 2015, Dr. Chongtham was appointed as a World Bamboo Ambassador by the World Bamboo Organization, USA, and has continued in this capacity, chairing technical committees at World Bamboo Congresses across the globe.

As a widely respected expert, she has delivered keynote lectures and workshops worldwide, contributing to the advancement of bamboo as a sustainable resource in both food and medicine. Her ongoing research on the nutritional benefits of bamboo shoots, supported by grants from the Ned Jaquith Foundation and the American Bamboo Society, focuses on promoting bamboo for food security and economic development, particularly in rural areas. Dr. Chongtham is also the author of two books on bamboo, further establishing her as a global leader in this field.