Awards

About Dr. Rahul Sharma

The late Dr. Rahul Sharma  was an accomplished fungal taxonomist who made outstanding contributions to the study of fungal biodiversity, taxonomy, and molecular systematics. With over fifteen years of postdoctoral research experience, his work focused extensively on keratinophilic fungi—exploring their diversity, ecological significance, and biotechnological potential. He carried out extensive explorations across Central and Western India, significantly enriching the National Fungal Culture Collection of India (NFCCI). Dr. Sharma conducted advanced research at Humboldt University, Berlin, and maintained close scientific collaborations with eminent mycologists, including Prof. Yvonne Gräser, Prof. Sybren de Hoog, and Prof. Pedro Crous in Germany and the Netherlands. Dr. Sharma’s scientific rigor, and commitment to research earned him wide respect in the mycological community. He described three new fungal genera and several new species, with his findings published in reputed international journals such as Persoonia, IMA Fungus, Frontiers in Microbiology, and Mycosphere. He authored over twenty-five research papers, including seventeen in high-impact international journals, and contributed a book chapter in the book titled Molecular Detection of Human Fungal Pathogens, edited by Dongyou Liu, published by CRC Press (Taylor & Francis, USA). His research excellence was recognized through numerous fellowships and awards, including the CSIR Senior Research Associateship, the DST Young Scientist Fellowship, the DAAD Fellowship (Germany), and the G.P. Agarwal Award from the Society for Basic and Applied Mycology. Born in 1976, Dr. Sharma earned his Ph.D. in Botany (Mycology) from Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur (M.P.) and pursued postdoctoral research at several premier institutes, including the Institute for Microbiology and Hygiene, Humboldt University (Berlin, Germany), R.D. University (Jabalpur), Agharkar Research Institute (Pune), and the National Centre for Microbial Resource (NCMR), NCCS (Pune). He also served as a reviewer for several international journals and was an active member of professional bodies such as the Indian Mycological Society (IMS), the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), and the Society for Basic and Applied Mycology (SBAM). Through his dedication and pioneering contributions, Dr. Rahul Sharma leaves behind a legacy that continues to inspire and guide future generations in the fields of fungal taxonomy, biodiversity exploration, and microbial conservation.

Award Instituted by: Professor N.D. Sharma, Formerly from JN Agriculture University (JNKVV), Jabalpur, MP, India