Dr. Ashish Dwivedi graduated from CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR), Lucknow, India, specializing in Photobiology and Phototoxicology. He further honed his expertise through post-doctoral fellowships at the Israel Institute of Technology, Colorado University, USA, and Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. Leveraging his outstanding research experience, Dr. Dwivedi returned to his parent research organization, CSIR-IITR, where he currently serves as a scientist in the System Toxicology & Health Risk Assessment Group. With a decade-long research career, Dr. Dwivedi has established himself as a pioneer in the field of phototoxicity and photosafety, particularly focusing on the photosafety of cosmetics ingredients such as fragrances, essential oils, preservatives, and hair dyes. Beyond his laboratory work, he is dedicated to advancing contemporary science education, mentoring postgraduate and PhD students, researchers, and university teachers.Dr. Dwivedi's research has yielded numerous publications in high-impact journals. He is an active member of various scientific societies, including the Society of Toxicology (USA), the American Society for Photobiology (USA), the Indian Photobiology Society (India), and the Society of Toxicology (India), reflecting his significant contributions to the scientific community. He has been awarded a prestigious fellowship from SERB-SIRE to work as a Visiting Professor at Michigan State University, USA.Professor A.B. Pant, a seasoned toxicologist with over three decades of active research experience, is currently the Senior Principal Scientist at CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research in Lucknow. He also holds the title of Professor at the Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research, an institution of national importance established by the Act of Parliament, Government of India. Renowned in the scientific community, Professor Pant's groundbreaking research focuses on the application of human stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in developmental neurotoxicity. He has established numerous in vitro model systems as alternatives to laboratory animals for biomedical research, founding the discipline of "In-Vitro Toxicology" in India. His dedication extends to educating postgraduate and PhD students, researchers, and university teachers in contemporary science. As a lead Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) inspector for the Government of India, Professor Pant serves as an expert for several regulatory bodies, including the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), National GLP Compliance Monitoring Authority (NGCMA), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of Science and Technology (DST), and Pharmacovigilance.Professor Pant's contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Vigyan Ratna Award (2010) from CST UP, the Shakuntala Amir Chand Prize (2007) from ICMR, the National Bioscience Award (2012) from DBT, the Prof. KT Shetty Memorial Oration Award (2017) from the Indian Academy of Neurosciences, the Toxicology Promotion Award (2018) from the National Academy of Sciences, and the STOX/ASAW Gold Medal from STOX India. He is an elected Fellow of several prestigious organizations, including the Academy of Toxicological Sciences (USA), the Society of Toxicology (India), the Indian Academy of Neurosciences, the Academy of Sciences for Animal Welfare (India), and the Academy of Environmental Biology (India). Recognized globally, Professor Pant is listed in the ‘European and United Kingdom Register of Toxicologists’ and has been awarded an honorary DSc degree by HNB Medical Education University in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. Professor Pant serves as Chairman and Member of various national and international committees and boards of government institutes and bodies. He is also a member of the editorial board of several esteemed scientific journals, underscoring his prominent role in advancing the field of toxicology.Shakti Vinay Shukla is a distinguished leader in the Indian aroma industry, currently serving as the Director of the Fragrance & Flavour Development Centre (FFDC) in Kannauj. He earned his BSc (Hons.) in Chemistry in 1988 and MSc in Organic Chemistry in 1990 from Banaras Hindu University. In 1992, he joined FFDC Kannauj as a Scientific Assistant and ascended to the position of Principal Director in 2012. Trained both in India and abroad, he has been instrumental in establishing the fragrance and flavour division at FFDC, developing over 300 fragrances and flavours. He has significantly contributed to skill development, conceiving and conducting various training programs, including the pioneering one-year course in Aroma and its Management and a PG Diploma in Aroma Technology. These programs were developed in collaboration with FRI University, Dehradun, and Mewar University, Chittorgarh, and included the first NSQF compliant courses approved by the National Skill Development Authority, Government of India. He has also been involved in international training, providing expertise to participants from Rwanda, Egypt, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Senegal. His contributions have been recognized with several awards, including the Young Scientist Award by the Council of Science & Technology, UP Ratna Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Essential Oil Association of India. He has represented India in various international forums, such as the International Fragranze Show in Italy and consultancy visits to Kyrgyzstan and Rwanda. His affiliations include membership in numerous advisory and executive committees, including the Bureau of Indian Standards and the CSIR-Aroma and Floriculture Missions. Under his leadership, FFDC Kannauj has achieved self-sustainability, marking a significant milestone in the institution's history. His dedication and expertise continue to drive advancements in the aroma industry both nationally and internationally.Dr. Ruchi Pandey earned her PhD in Chemistry from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi; CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow. Dr. Pandey is a distinguished researcher and educator specializing in Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology. With over six years of research experience, Dr. Pandey has significantly contributed to the scientific community through innovative experimental techniques and analytical methods. Her work is highly regarded, with numerous peer-reviewed research articles published in esteemed international journals. At the National Cancer Center (NCC) in South Korea, she researched copy number variation in systemic lupus erythematosus. As a Senior Research Scholar and PhD Scholar, Dr. Pandey developed cost-effective methods for heavy metal removal from groundwater and studied bioremediation using agro-waste materials. Dr. Pandey has presented her research at numerous conferences and workshops and has been recognized with several awards, including the Snehlata Banerjee Gold Medal (2014). Her ongoing contributions continue to make a significant impact in both the scientific and educational communities.
