Profiles
Dr. Himanshu Rai

Dr. Himanshu Rai

Director of Plant Sciences

Email: himanshurai08@yahoo.com
Field of Interest
Taxonomy, Diversity, Ecophysiology, Bioprospection, Phytonanoparticles and Ecosystem services of lichens; Biomonitoring of ambient air pollution; Climate change studies using lichenometry.
Academic and Social Profiles
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Academic Background
  1. Ph.D.  2008-2014  Botany  HNB Garhwal University (A Central University), Srinagar, Garhwal, Uttarakhand
  2. M.Sc.  1999-2002  Botany  University of Lucknow, Lucknow, U.P., India
Experience
  1. Lichenology consultant (GCRF funded project) from Apr. 2021 to Jun. 2022 at TERI School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi, India
  2. Principal Investigator (UCOST funded project) from Jul. 2012 to Apr. 2015 at Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology, Uttarakhand, India
Awards / Prizes
  • Fellow of Indian Lichenologist Society (2022), Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
  • Oral Presentation - Third Award (2019), CAS-Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Uttar Pradesh, India
  • Best Poster Presentation Award (2017), CAS-Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Uttar Pradesh, India.
  • Young Scientist Award for Best Oral Presentation (2010), Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology, Uttarakhand, India.
Research Project(s) Handled
  • Development of macrolichen based biomonitoring models along with various habitat and land use gradients in Uttarakhand. Funded by Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology, Uttarakhand, India.
Books / Book Chapters
Book - Edited
  1. Rai H and Upreti DK (Eds.) (2014) Terricolous Lichens in India, Volume 1: Diversity Patterns and Distribution Ecology. Springer, New York, p. 98. (ISBN eB:978-1-4614-8736-4/ Print: 978-1-4614-8735-7). doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8736-4 
  2. Rai H and Upreti DK (Eds.) (2014) Terricolous Lichens in India, Volume 2: Morphotaxonomic Studies. Springer, New York, p. 313. (ISBN eBook: 978-1-4939-0360-3, ISBN Hardcover: 978-1-4939-0359-7). doi: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1007/978-1-4939-0360-3
Book - Chapters
  1. Rai H and Gupta RK (2022) Lichenized fungi, a primary bioindicator/biomonitor for bio-mitigation of excessive ambient air nitrogen deposition worldwide. In Samuel J, Kumar A, Singh J (eds.) Relationship between microbes and the environment for sustainable ecosystem services, volume 1, Microbial Products for Sustainable Ecosystem Services, Elsevier Inc., pp.267-301. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-89938-3.00013-X
  2. Nayaka S and Rai H (2022) Antarctic Lichen Response to Climate Change: Evidence from Natural Gradients and Temperature Enchantment Experiments. In N. Khare (ed.), Assessing the Antarctic Environment from a Climate Change Perspective, Earth and Environmental Sciences Library, Springer Nature Switzerland, pp. 235-253. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87078-2_14
  3. Chatterjee S, Das M, Rai H, Singh D, Preeti K and Pandey V (2022) Gangetic Plains of India: High on the Water and Air Pollution Map. In: Kumar, M., Dhyani, S., Kalra, N. (eds) Forest Dynamics and Conservation. Springer, Singapore, pp. 83-106.doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-0071-6_4
  4. Rai H, Khare R, Upreti DK and Nayaka S (2014) Terricolous Lichens of India: An Introduction to field collection and taxonomic Investigations. In H Rai and DK Upreti (Eds.), Terricolous Lichens in India, Volume 2: Morphotaxonomic Studies, Springer, New York, pp. 1-16. doi: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1007/978-1-4939-0360-3_1. (ISBN Print: 978-1-4939-0359-7, ISBN Online: 978-1-4939-0360-3)
  5. Rai H, Khare R, Upreti DK and Ahti T (2014) Terricolous Lichens of India: Taxonomic Keys and Description. In: H Rai and DK Upreti (Eds.), Terricolous Lichens in India, Volume 2: Morphotaxonomic Studies, Springer New York, pp. 17-294. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0360-3_2 . (ISBN Print: 978-1-4939-0359-7, ISBN Online: 978-1-4939-0360-3)
  6. Rai H, Khare R and Upreti DK (2014) Lichenological studies in India with reference to terricolous lichens. In: H Rai and DK Upreti (Eds.), Terricolous Lichens in India, Volume 1: Diversity Patterns and Distribution Ecology, Springer, New York, pp. 1-20. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8736-4_1 . (ISBN Print: 978-1-4614-8735-7, ISBN Online: 978-1-4614-8736-4)
  7. Rosentreter R, Rai H and Upreti DK (2014) Distribution Ecology of Soil Crust Lichens in India: A comparative assessment with global patterns. In: H Rai and DK Upreti (Eds.), Terricolous Lichens in India, Volume 1: Diversity Patterns and Distribution Ecology, Springer, New York, pp. 21-31. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8736-4_2. (ISBN Print: 978-1-4614-8735-7, ISBN Online: 978-1-4614-8736-4)
  8. Baniya CB, Rai H and Upreti DK (2014) Terricolous lichens in Himalayas: Patterns of species richness along elevation gradient. In: H Rai and DK Upreti (Eds.), Terricolous Lichens in India, Volume 1: Diversity Patterns and Distribution Ecology, Springer, New York, pp. 33-52. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8736-4_3 . (ISBN Print: 978-1-4614-8735-7, ISBN Online: 978-1-4614-8736-4)
  9. Řídká T, Peksa O, Rai H, Upreti DK and Å kaloud P (2014) Photobiont diversity in Indian Cladonia lichens, with special emphasis on the geographical patterns. In: H Rai and DK Upreti (Eds.), Terricolous Lichens in India, Volume 1: Diversity Patterns and Distribution Ecology, Springer, New York, pp. 53-71. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8736-4_4. (ISBN Print: 978-1-4614-8735-7, ISBN Online: 978-1-4614-8736-4)
  10. Anna V, Dymytrova L, Rai H and Upreti DK (2014) Photobiont Diversity of Soil Crust Lichens Along Substrate Ecology and Altitudinal Gradients in Himalayas: A Case Study from Garhwal Himalaya. In: H Rai and DK Upreti (Eds.), Terricolous Lichens in India, Volume 1: Diversity Patterns and Distribution Ecology, Springer, New York, pp. 73-87. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8736-4_5. (ISBN Print: 978-1-4614-8735-7, ISBN Online: 978-1-4614-8736-4)
Journal Articles

  1. Rai H, Gupta RK, Verma D, Gupta S, Mitra D, Das Mohapatra PK, Al-Meshal AS, Sami R, Ashour AA and Shafie A (2022). Assessment of Antimicrobial Activity of Lichenic Compounds Isolated from Menegazzia terebrata (Hoffm.) A. Massal. Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy, 16(3): 418-423. doi: https://doi.org/10.1166/jbmb.2022.2201
  2. Ellis CJ, Steadman CE, Vieno M, Chatterjee S, Jones MR, Negi S, Pandey BP, Rai H, Tshering D, Weerakoon G, Wolseley P, Reay D, Sharma S and Sutton M (2022). Estimating nitrogen risk to Himalayan forests using thresholds for lichen bioindicators. Biological Conservation, 265: 109401. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109401
  3. Rai H, Khare R, Upadhyay D, Gupta RK, Ade AB, Singh S and Upreti DK (2021) Lichen communities as a multiscale correlative indicator of elevational and land use-land cover gradients in the Himalayas. Preprint. Doi: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1100727/v1
  4. Nag P, Rai H, Gupta RK and Upreti DK (2020). Lichenized fungal family Physciaceae (Ascomycota) as an indicator of ambient air heavy metal pollution in a temperate forest of western Himalaya, India. Shodh Sarita, 7(28): 190-193.doi: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.15129204.v2
  5. Rai H, Khare R, Gupta S, Upreti DK, Gupta RK, Behera BC and Sharma PK (2020). Lichen Colonization on Unusual Man-Made Substratum in Western Himalaya. National Academy of Science Letters, 43: 371-374. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-019-00869-z, (Print ISSN:0250-541X; Online ISSN: 2250-1754)
  6. Verma D, Rai H, Gupta S, Srivastava R, Pant K, Gupta RK, Pant B, Thapliyal A, Gupta S and Upreti DK (2020). Lichen as potential armamentarium against the SARS CoV-2 (COVID-19). International Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 12(4): 5329-5338. doi: https://doi.org/10.31838/ijpr/2020.12.04.707
  7. Rai H, Nayaka S, Upreti DK and Gupta RK (2019). A New Record of Canomaculina (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota) from Western Himalaya, India. National Academy Science Letters, 42, 429–431 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40009-018-0760-9, (Print ISSN:0250-541X; Online ISSN: 2250-1754)
  8. Rai H and Gupta RK (2019). Biogenic fabrication, characterization, and assessment of antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles of a high altitude Himalayan lichen - Cladonia rangiferina (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg. Tropical Plant Research, 6(2): 293-298. doi: https://doi.org/10.22271/tpr.2019.v6.i2.037
  9. Gupta S, Rai H, Upreti DK, Gupta RK and Sharma PK (2017). Lichenised fungi Phaeophyscia (Physciaceae, Ascomycota) as indicator of ambient air heavy metal deposition, along land use gradient in an alpine habitat of western Himalaya, India. Pollution Research, 36(1): 150-157. doi: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.17081708.v1
  10. Rai H, Nag P, Khare R, Upreti DK and Gupta RK (2016). Twenty-eight new records of lichenized fungi from Nepal: a signature of undiscovered biodiversity in central Himalaya. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences, 87: 1363-1376. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40011-015-0702-y (Electronic ISSN:2250-1746; Print ISSN:0369-8211).
  11. Gupta S, Rai H, Upreti DK, Sharma PK and Gupta RK (2016). New addition to the Lichen flora of Uttarakhand, India. Tropical Plant Research, 3(1), 224-229. doi: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.17081789.v1
  12. Rai H, Khare R, Baniya C, Upreti DK amd Gupta RK (2015). Elevational gradients of terricolous lichen species richness in the Western Himalaya. Biodiversity and Conservation, 24(5): 1155-1174. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10531-014-0848-6 (ISSN Online- 1572-9710, ISSN print: 0960-3115)
  13. Gupta S, Khare R, Rai H, Upreti DK, Gupta RK, Sharma PK, Srivastava K and Bhattacharya P (2014). Influence of macro-scale environmental variables on diversity and distribution pattern of lichens in Badrinath valley, Western Himalaya. Mycosphere, 5(1): 229-243. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5943/mycosphere/5/1/12 (ISSN Online: 2077-7019; Impact factor: 2)
  14. Kumar J, Rai H, Khare R, Upreti DK, Dhar P, Tayade AB, Chaurasia OP and Srivastava RB (2014). Elevational controls of lichen communities in Zanskar valley, Ladakh, a Trans Himalayan cold desert. Tropical Plant Research, 1(2): 48-54.doi: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.13550360.v2 (ISSN Online- 2349-1183, ISSN print: 2349-9265 2.065)
  15. Rai H, Upreti DK and Gupta R (2012). Diversity and distribution of terricolous lichens as indicator of habitat heterogeneity and grazing induced trampling in a temperate-alpine shrub and meadow. Biodiversity and Conservation, 21(1): 97-113. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10531-011-0168-z (ISSN Online- 1572-9710, ISSN print: 0960-3115)
  16. Rai H, Khare R, Nayaka S, Upreti DK and Gupta RK (2011). Lichen synusiae in East Antarctica (Schirmacher Oasis and Larsemann Hills): substratum and morphological preferences. Czech Polar Reports, 1(2): 65-77. doi: https://doi.org/10.5817/CPR2011-2-6 (ISSN Online: 1805-0697, ISSN Print: 1805-0689)
  17. Khare R, Rai H, Upreti DK and Dubey U (2010) Occurrence of a rare, crustose lichen, Ophioparma ventosa (Ophioparmaceae, lichenized Ascomycota), from alpine regions of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Feddes Repertorium, 121(5-6): 184-188. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fedr.201000029 (ISSN Print: 0014-8962, ISSN Online: 1522-239X)
  18. Gupta S, Bajpai O, Rai H, Upreti DK, Sharma PK and Gupta RK (2018). Untangling Quantitative Lichen Diversity in and Around Badrinath Holy Pilgrimage of Western Himalaya, India. Journal of Graphic Era University, 6(1): 36-46. doi: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.13550363.v2
  19. Gupta S, Khare R, Bajpai O, Rai H, Upreti DK, Gupta RK and Sharma PK (2016). Lichen as bioindicator for monitoring environmental status in Western Himalaya, India. International Journal of Environment, 5(2): 1-15. doi: https://doi.org/10.3126/ije.v5i2.15001
  20. Rai H, Khare R, Gupta RK and Upreti DK (2012). Terricolous lichens as indicator of anthropogenic disturbances in a high altitude grassland in Garhwal (Western Himalaya), India. Botanica Orientalis, 8:16-23. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5554. (ISSN: 1726-6858)
  21. Nag P, Rai H, Upreti DK, Nayaka S and Gupta RK (2012). Epiphytic lichens as indicator of land-use pattern and forest harvesting in a community forest in west Nepal. Botanica Orientalis, 8: 24-32. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5555 (ISSN: 1726-6858)
  22. Kumar J, Khare R, Rai H, Upreti DK, Tayade A, Hota S, Chaurasia OP, Srivastava RB (2012). Diversity of lichens along altitudinal and land use gradients in the Trans Himalayan cold desert of Ladakh. Nature and Science, 10(4):1-9. doi: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.17081864.v1 (ISSN: 1545-0740).
  23. Nag P, Rai H, Upreti DK and Gupta RK (2012) Lichens: Indicators of Changing Planet. Voice, 3(3): 111-115. doi: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.17081864.v1 (ISSN: 1545-0740).
  24. Tiwari P, Rai H, Upreti DK, Trivedi S and Shukla P (2011). Assessment of antifungal activity of some Himalayan foliose lichens against plant pathogenic fungi. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 2(06): 841-846. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2011.26099 (ISSN Print: 2158-2742, ISSN Online: 2158-2750)
  25. Tiwari P, Rai H, Upreti DK, Trivedi S and Shukla P (2011). Antifungal Activity of a Common Himalayan Foliose Lichen Parmotrema tinctorum (Despr. ex Nyl.) Hale. Nature and Science 9(9): 167-171.doi: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.17081894.v1 (ISSN: 1545-0740).
  26. Rai H, Gupta RK, Upreti DK and Nag P (2010). Terricolous Lichens in Chopta-Tungnath regions of Garhwal Himalayas. Journal of Graphic Era University, 2(1): 135-148.
  27. Rai H, Upreti DK and Nag P (2010). Climate Warming Studies in Alpine Habitats of Indian Himalaya, using Lichen based Passive Temperature-enhancing System. Nature and Science, 8(12): 104-106.doi: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.12199652.v1 (ISSN: 1545-0740)

Workshop / Training Programme Attended
  1. AICTE-Faculty Development Programme on “Synthetic Biology”. Bharathiar University during 14 - 18 Dec. 2020. 
  2. Workshop on Molecular Systematics of Lichens. Indian Lichenological Society (ILS) at CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow on 26 Jan. 2018.  
  3. National workshop on Application of Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) in Biodiversity Research. TERI University, New Delhi, India during 19-21 Feb. 2016.
  4. National workshop on Taxonomy, ex-situ conservation, and Bioprospection of fungi. National fungal culture collection of India [WDCM 932], MACS’ Agharkar research institute, Pune during 26 Nov. - 10 Dec. 2012.
  5. Workshop on Methods and Approaches in Plant Systematics. CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow during 5-14 Dec. 2011.
  6. Certificate course on SPSS statistical software package. DOEACC Society, Chandigarh center, India during 4 Apr. - 8 July 2009.
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