Dr. Vishal Thakur is a senior project fellow at ONGC Energy Centre in Delhi, India. He has over 10 years of experience in biotechnology research. His work focuses on using microbes to produce enzymes, lipids, and biofuels. He holds a Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Panjab University and has published several papers in his field. His skills include isolating and screening microbes, enzyme production and purification, fermentation process development, and applications of biomolecules in industrial processes.

1. Dr. Vishal Thakur
Senior Project Fellow
ONGC Energy Centre
2nd Floor, Core-2, SCOPE Minar
Laxmi Nagar, Delhi-110092
Email: visbiotech@gmail.com
Mob : +91-8010426419/9779810922
Work Experience
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Energy Centre Delhi, New Delhi March 2016 - onwards
Senior Project Fellow at ONGC Energy Research Centre, New Delhi and Dehradun
Project aim: 1) Recovery of oil from oil well using microbial intervention
2) Yeast fermentation for oil/lipid production
3) Microbial fermentation for enzyme/s production, purification using column
chromatography and application for biofuels synthesis
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi October2014 - February 2016
Post Doctoral Fellow at Department of Chemical Engineering IIT Delhi, New Delhi
Worked on fermentation process development using QbD for production of Lucentis biosimilar
Indian Institute of Petroleum Dehradun, Dehradun, UK March 2007-July 2007
Intern Trainee
Project title: Biogas Production from Organic Waste
Education
Ph.D. in Biotechnology November 2009-May 2015
Panjab University- Chandigarh, India, 2015
Title of thesis, “Production, Purification, Characterization and Evaluation of Biocatalytic Potential of an
Organo-tolerant Lipase from an Extremophile”
M.Sc. in Biotechnology
H.N.B. Garhwal University – Srinagar, Uttarakhand, 2005-2007 July 2005-November 2007
B.Ed.
Himachal Pradesh University – Shimla, HP, 2005 July 2004-April 2005
B.Sc.
Himachal Pradesh University – Shimla, HP, 2004 July 2000-March 2004
Key Skills
 Sample collection, isolation, screening and purification of microbial culture from different
environmental sources
 Standardization of protocols for enzyme activity estimation from microbial sources
 Protein biochemistry (Non-aqueous and Aqueous enzymology)
 Standardization of downstream protocol, protein purification using preparative techniques (ion
exchange and gel filtration chromatography) and enzyme kinetics
 Applications of the biomolecules for catalyzing reaction for the production of commercially
important compounds and their analysis using analytical techniques (HPLC, GC-MS, LC-MS)
 Anaerobic culturing (facultative anaerobic specifically) of microorganisms
 Formulation and designing of medium using classical and statistical approach for recombinant
protein production in shake flask fermentation

2.  Scale up, process development and control for maximum production for therapeutic
proteins/enzymes from recombinant and wild bacterial cell lines
 Data compilation and maintenance of scientific outcomes, manuscript preparation and imparting
training to undergraduate students
Awards
 Awarded with foreign travel grant by Novo Nordisk and BIOPRO for attending BIOPRO World
Talent Campus 2015 organized by Technical University of Denmark and University of Copenhagen
and BIOPRO at Sorø (Denmark) (15th – 22nd August 2015).
 First prize in poster presentation entitled “Diversity in life: Odyssey for novel applications” in 7th
Chandigarh Science Congress CHASCON-2013. Organized by Panjab University, Chandigarh from
1st – 3rd March, 2013.
 Third prize in poster presentation entitled “Microbial diversity: Journey from nature to industry”
in National Conference on “Plant and microbial diversity, present scenario, threats and
conservation strategies” 2012. Organized by Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh
on 1st – 2nd March, 2012.
 Certificate of Appreciation from Department of Microbial Biotechnology for first prize in the poster
presentation held during Chandigarh Science Congress-2013 held on 1st – 3rd March, 2013 at
Panjab University, Chandigarh.
 Merit Certificate for best social service from SVN College of Education Tarkwari, (Session 2004-
2005) Hamirpur (HP).
Patent Filed
• Sharma R, Kaur J, Thakur V, Rana SK, Birkeland NK (2009). Lipase /esterase-catalyzed synthesis of
alkyl ester by transesterification. Application number 2562/DEL/2009; Date of filling:
10/12/2009. Publication date: 02/02/2014; RFE: 06/06/2014.
DOI: http://ipindiaservices.gov.in/publicsearch//
Papers Published
• Thakur V, Tewari R, Sharma R (2014). Evaluation of production parameters for maximum lipase
production by P. stutzeri MTCC 5618 and scale up in bioreactor. Chinese Journal of Biology.
• Sharma R, Thakur V, Sharma M, Birkeland NK (2013). Biocatalysis through thermostable lipases:
adding flavor to Chemistry. “Thermophilic Microbes in Environmental and Industrial
Biotechnology” (Eds. T. Satyanarayana, K. Yutaka and J. Littlechild), Springer, Netherlands pp 905-
926.
• Thakur V, Sharma R (2012). Microbial Biotechnology for sustainable development. “Exploring
Microbial diversity: Unveiling the reality”. (Eds. R.C. Sobti), Narendra Publishing House, Delhi,
India. pp 125-148. (Hard copy with PhD mentor)
• Sharma R, Thakur V, Sharma M (2011). Microbial diversity of forest and its role in sustainable
development. Journal of Basic and Applied Mycology 10 (I and II).
Paper Communicated
• Thakur V, Tewari R, Birkeland NK, Sharma R (2015). “Production and characterization of lipase
produced by newly isolated Pseudomonas stutzeri MTCC 5618 and evaluation of its biocatalytic
potential for methyl esters synthesis”. (Applied Biotechnology and Biochemistry)

3. Oral Presentations
• Thakur V, Sharma R. (2014). “Kinetic characterization of concentrated lipase from Pseudomonas
stutzeri MTCC 5618: A preparation of potential candidate for industry”. Organized by Panjab
University, Chandigarh In CHASCON.
• Thakur V, Sharma R. (2013). “Biocatalysis: Paving the way for industrial applications”. Organized
by Panjab University, Chandigarh In CHASCON.
Poster Presented
• Thakur V, Batra J, Rathore AS (2015). Effect of operating conditions on production of lucentis
(ranibizumab) in E. coli BL21 (DE3). BIOPRO World Talent Campus 2015 organized by Technical
University of Denmark and University of Copenhagen and BIOPRO at Sorø (Denmark) (15th –
22nd August 2015).
• Sharma R, Thakur V, Sharma S (2013). Diversity in life: Odyssey for novel applications. 7th
CHASCON organized by Panjab University, Chandigarh (1st – 3rd March, 2013).
• Thakur V, Tewari R, Sharma R (2012). The sparkling role of Pseudomonas stutzeri MTCC 5618 in
green chemistry. 6th CHASCON Panjab University, Chandigarh (26th – 28th, February, 2012).
• Sharma R, Thakur V, Sharma S (2012). Microbial diversity: journey from nature to industry.
National Conference organized by, Department of Botany, PU, Chandigarh (1st – 2nd March,
2012).
• Thakur V, Birkeland NK, Rana SK, Tewari R, Sharma R (2011). Biocatalytic prowess of lipase in
non-aqueous media. 52ed AMI conference at Panjab University, Chandigarh (3rd -6th November,
2011)
National and International Conferences Attended
• Chandigarh Science Congress 2014 at Panjab University, Chandigarh (26th - 28th February,
2014).
• Chandigarh Science Congress 2013 at Panjab University, Chandigarh (1th - 3th March, 2013)
• Chandigarh Science Congress 2012 at Panjab University, Chandigarh (26th - 28th February,
2012).
• National Conference on “Plant and Microbial biodiversity, present scenario, threats and
conservation strategies” at Panjab University, Chandigarh (1th - 2th March, 2012).
• Conference on Microbial Biotechnology at Panjab University, Chandigarh (11th - 12th January,
2011).
• International Conference on Microbial Biotechnology for Sustainable Development at Panjab
University, Chandigarh (3th - 6th November, 2011).
• Biotechnica Chandigarh at Panjab University, Chandigarh (16th - 18th November, 2010)
Courses, Symposium and Workshop Attended
• Attended BIOPRO World Talent Campus at Sorø (Denmark) organized by Technical University of
Denmark, the University of Copenhagen and BIOPRO (15th – 22nd August, 2015)
• Attended ASM virtual workshop on “Art of Science Communication” organized by Department of
Microbiology, Panjab University, Chandigarh (4th December, 2013).

4. • Attended “Life Science Day” organized by Centre for Microbial Biotechnology, Panjab University,
Chandigarh (14th September, 2012).
• National symposium on “Frontiers in Biotechnology” organized by Department of Biotechnology,
Panjab University, Chandigarh (17nth February, 2011).
• National symposium on “Current Perspectives in Biotechnology” organized by Department of
Biotechnology, Panjab University, Chandigarh (BIOTECNIKA-2011).
• National symposium on “Microbes in Industry and Health” Department of Microbiology, Panjab
University, Chandigarh (Sponsored by: UGC-SAP) (4th March, 2011).
• AMI-ASM workshop on “Scientific Writing and Publication” held at Panjab University, Chandigarh
(3rd November, 2011).
Personal Information
● Father’s Name: Sh. Hem Raj
● Date of Birth: 25th April, 1982
● Sex: Male
● Marital Status: Unmarried
● Languages Known: Hindi, English
Declaration
I hereby declare that all the information given above is true to the best of my knowledge and I hold the
responsibility of its authenticity.
Dated: March, 2016 Signature
Place: New Delhi