Dr Poonam Singh - Nee Nigam

Overview

Dr Poonam Singh Nigam is a Research Active Academic {Citations: 44590, i10-index: 203, h-index: 77, ref Google Scholar} and accumulated PlumX Data: Usage 33439, Captures 34353, Social Media 1079, and Mentions 74.

She has been honoured as "Distinguished Scientist 2025" by the International Forum on Industrial Bioprocesses-International Bioprocessing Association, for her ongoing contributions 1990-2025 with international collaborators for Research and Dissemination in Industrial Bioprocessing.

Poonam was awarded Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in 2020 by Ulster University, UK; her DSc thesis included her Post-doctoral Research outputs (1985-2019), from her Supervision of Doctoral, Postdoctoral & Visiting Overseas Researchers, research in funded-projects, activities & engagement with international scientific societies and journals, and dissemination of research outputs from several global collaborations. She holds a PhD in Industrial Microbiology (1985) funded with the award of Junior & Senior Research doctoral Fellowships from the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research of India.

She was a Postdoctoral Researcher in an R&D lab of Suddeutsche Company in Germany (1985-1988), then was appointed as a Senior Research Officer in Biotechnology at Ulster University in 1989. In continuation to her full-time research job, she joined as a full-time research-active academic in Biotechnology at Ulster University in 1996.

Affiliations

Poonam received Chartered Biologist status in 1992 from the Institute of Biology (currently known as the Royal Society of Biology).

She is an Alumna of Ulster University U.K., with award of two degrees: Postgraduate Certificate in University Teaching (PGCUT) in 1998; and Doctor of Science (DSc) in 2020.

Poonam is affiliated with several scientific societies & Academies; as:

1. Senior Fellow in The Higher Education Academy UK (SFHEA)
2. Fellow of the Centre of Higher Education Research & Practice UK (FCHERP)
3. Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology UK (FRSB)
4. Fellow and Life Member of the International Forum on Industrial Bioprocesses-International Bioprocessing Association France (FIFIBioP-IBA)
5. Fellow of Academy of Microbiological Sciences (FAcMSc)
6. Fellow & Life member of Biotechnology Research Society India (FBRSI)

Research Interests

Microbial-Biotechnology, Industrial & Applied Microbiology, Fermentation Technology, in the area of Enzymes for Industries & Diagnostics; Biotransformations; Bioprocessing; Food-Fermentation & Probiotics; Bioremediation of Food, Sugar, Distillery, Brewery and agricultural residues/By-products for Circular Bioeconomy.

Research Outputs

One EU Patent, Four Biotechnology Reference books, more than 300 peer-reviewed papers, Research-informed chapters in Biotechnology-books, and Research-informed Review Articles in International Scientific Journals.

Global Collaborations

Poonam has several active research collaborations with international Research Institutes in Australia, Brazil, Greece, Ireland, Cyprus, Italy, Taiwan and India. PhD students supervised by her now working in several countries incl US, Canada, Europe and India.

Research Awards

Poonam has a sustained track record of FUNDS £1,256,700.00 through 17 awards from prestigious funders, including Royal Society, British Council, UNESCO, Higher Education Academy, Association of Commonwealth Universities, Department of International Development, CEC/ERDF, IRTU-START (The Industrial Research and Technology Unit) , CEC-IRTU Networking Prog, Department of Environment CEC/ERDF-Env Protec, European Social Fund, Randox Pharmaceutical company, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Ministry of Education India.

She was a key contributor to several other research projects: £416,279.00 funded by International Fund for Ireland, and Randox Pharmaceutical company; and £92,100.00 from the EU INCO-DC program for International cooperation of UK university with a University in a Developing country India.

UK Academy of Sciences (Royal Society) nominated her twice under Bilateral International Exchange Program as a British Scientist visiting Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and its affiliated Higher Education and Research institutes. The Royal Society also funded her four visits to delegate to International conferences.

Teaching Experience

Industrial and Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Topics in modules designed based on her Research expertise for courses at Undergraduate & Postgraduate levels.

Administrative Roles

Course Director Biotechnology Postgraduate program (2000-2024); Course Director Food Biotechnology, a Postgraduate joint Dual-Degree Trans-National Program with two Greek Universities (2000-2013), Module coordinator over 16 Taught modules at Undergraduate and Postgraduate levels (1996-present).

Research Opportunities