Sanjeeva Nayaka

Nayaka was introduced to research during his graduation period. He was a volunteer in a project ‘Western Ghats Biodiversity Inventory Programme’ under the supervision of Dr. G.K. Bhat at Sri JCBM College, Sringeri. This programme was coordinated by Prof. Madhav Gadgil, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He was awarded with Summer Research Fellowship of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore to study the lichens of Bangalore under Prof. Madhav Gadgil. Here he was introduced to field of Lichenology by his senior Late Dr. Hans Raj Negi to collect, identify and preserve lichens. After his post-graduation Dr. Nayaka moved to Lucknow to pursue his career in lichenology under the guidance of Dr. D.K. Upreti at CSIR-NBRI. Initially he worked as Project Assistant in All India Coordinated Project on Taxonomy, sponsored by Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, New Delhi. During this period, he explored lichens of Himachal Pradesh. Later in the year 2001 he was appointed as Scientist at CSIR-NBRI.[4]

Nayaka revised the genus Lecanora s. l. for his doctoral thesis at CSIR-NBRI under the supervision of Dr. D.K. Upreti and obtained Ph.D. degree from Dr. RML Awadh University, Faizabad.[5] His research interest includes taxonomy, biomonitoring and bioprospecting of lichens.[6] Apart from Lecanora he has revised taxa such as Buellia, Lecidea, Phyllopsora and Rinodina from India. So far, he has described 28 lichen species new to science and reported over 110 species as new distributional record for India. Dr. Nayaka had travelled throughout India and published lichen floristic accounts for several regions. His major work involves studies on lichens of Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Eastern Ghats. Some of the protected area surveyed by him includes Achanakmar – Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve, Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, Gowind Wildlife Sanctuary, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, and Marine National Park. He has visited Antarctica twice for studying the lichens and their ecophysiology.[7] He has handled eight research project as Principal Investigator and he is co-Investigator in more than 25 project.[1] Nayaka has published more than 200 research articles in peer reviewed journals and books. He has participated in several national and international conferences and published about 180 abstracts. He has authored or edited three books: A field Guide to the common Lichens of Corbett Tiger Reserve,[8] Lichens of Uttar Pradesh,[9] and Plant Diversity of Uttar Pradesh (Including Algae and Fungi).[10]

• Fellow of Linnean Society, London (2021)
• Fellow of Mycological Society of India
• Fellow of International Society for Environmental Botanist (ISEB), India
• Life member of International Association for Lichenology[4]