Dr. Jigna G. Tank
Saurashtra University, India
Biography
I, Jigna G. Tank had obtained M.Sc (Plant Sciences) in 2007 followed by M. Phil. (Plant Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering) in 2008 with distinction and Ph.D in Plant Sciences in 2013. I simultaneously worked as a project assistant in the major research project “Centre for Advanced Studies in Plant Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering” (CPBGE). In this project, I learnt basic techniques of plant research. I also learnt technique to generate and purifiy polyclonal antibodies against hapten-conjugate. After that, I joined as a Junior Research Fellow in Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission, Govt. of Gujarat supported major research project were I worked for isolation and identification of plant pathogenic bacteria using molecular techniques. From my Ph.D. work entitled “Effect of cell growth regulators at molecular level on proliferation and differentiation in plants,” I have published two review articles and four research papers in journals of international repute with average impact factor of 2.5. I learnt various techniques like phytochemical screening, plant hormone isolation and estimation and molecular technique like DNA & RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis, PCR and Real Time PCR during my Ph.D research.
Subsequently, I had joined Gujarat Biodiversity Gene Bank (BioGene) project at Government of Gujarat to continue post doctoral research, where I have learned molecular techniques like plant DNA barcoding and techniques for seed banking and testing. From June, 2014, I am working as Assistant Professor at Department of Biosciences, Saurashtra University, Rajkot. After joining as Assistant Professor I received UGC start up grant on Biodiesel production from forest seeds. In this project I standardized biodiesel production from non-edible forest seeds. Since my department is a Center for Advanced studies on Biodiversity and Bioresource utilization at Arid zone region, I am working on forest produced plant metabolites and its utilization as biotechnological and pharmaceutical products. I had also received minor research grant from SRISTI-BIRAC supported by DBT, New Delhi and IQAC cell, Saurashtra University for development of new product / protocol for grass root innovation. Recently, I was awarded with DBT foldscope project in which I studied accumulation and histochemical localization of plant secondary metabolites in plant cells.
My present research work is on plant stress physiology, hormone signalling, regulation of plant cell division and differentiation, function of cyclin dependent kinase (CDK), cle peptides and other cellular proteins function in production of secondary metabolites and providing stress resistance to plants. At present, I am guiding three Ph.D and six M.Sc Dissertation students. on various aspects of plant sciences.
Abstract
Abstract : An insight on Biodiesel production from forest seeds