Radha
Assistant Professor
MPhil Lovely Professional University, Pursuing PhD (Botany) Shoolini University
Radha is an Assistant Professor at the School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Shoolini University. With more than eight years of experience in teaching and research, she is dedicated to advancing plant science through research, field studies, and student mentoring. She is also in charge of the Herbarium and Drug Museum at the university, where she helps preserve plant specimens and supports research in biodiversity and medicinal plants.
Her research focuses on Plant Taxonomy, Phytochemistry, Plant Physiology, Ethnobotany, and Herbarium Management. She is particularly interested in documenting medicinal and ethnobotanical plants of the Himalayan region and studying their scientific and therapeutic potential.
Asst Prof Radha completed her MSc in Botany from Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University with distinction, followed by an MPhil in Botany from Lovely Professional University. She earned her PhD in Botany from Shoolini University, where her research strengthened her expertise in plant diversity and conservation.
Her work has received national and international recognition. In 2026, she was elected as a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London (FLS), one of the world's oldest and most respected scientific societies dedicated to natural history. She also became a Fellow Member and International Advisory Board Member of the Beyt Nahrin Mesopotamian Academy of Sciences and Arts. She has received the Young Scientist Award for her contributions to Ethnobotany and the Young Woman Scientist Award for excellence in Plant Science. In 2024, she received financial support from the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and SERB to present her work at the World Cotton Research Conference in Uzbekistan, where she also won first place in a craft-making competition based on cotton and traditional dress.
Before joining Shoolini University, Asst Prof Radha worked as a Project Assistant at the Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Shimla, where she contributed to biodiversity conservation and floristic surveys. She also served as a Trained Graduate Teacher, further strengthening her teaching experience.
As a research mentor, Asst Prof Radha has guided numerous MSc and PhD scholars working on ethnobotany, forage quality, medicinal plants, nutraceuticals, and biodiversity conservation in the Himalayan region. She helps young researchers develop strong scientific skills and meaningful research careers.
Asst Prof Radha has established research collaborations with leading international institutions, including East Carolina University, Stanford University, Clemson University, Texas Tech University, Kiel University, the Autonomous University of Mexico, and the University of Vigo, Spain.
Her teaching is a mix of classroom learning with field-based research, encouraging students to understand plant diversity, conservation, and the practical applications of botanical sciences. Through her research, teaching, and mentorship, she continues to contribute to Shoolini University's growing reputation as a leading research-driven institution.
Publications
Pandey, D.K., Dey, A., and Radha. (2016). A validated and densitometric HPTLC method for the simultaneous quantification of reserpine and ajmalicine in Rauvolfia serpentina and Rauvolfia tetraphylla. Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia. 26(5):553-557.
Radha, and Puri, S. (2018). Study of Ethnomedicinal Plants used by Migratory Shepherds in Renuka Forest Division of District Sirmour (H.P) Western Himalaya Biological Forum-An International Journal 4(2): 103-109.
Radha, Puri, S., and Kumar, S. (2018). Diversity and use of wild edible plants by migratory shepherds in the Himachal Pradesh of the Western Himalayas, India. Journal of Medicinal Plant Research. 12(30): 601-610.
Radha, Puri, S., Chandel, K., Pundir, A., Thakur, M.S., Chauhan, B., Simer, K., Dhiman, N.,Shivani, Thakur, Y.S., Kumar, S. (2019). Diversity of ethnomedicinal plants in Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary of district Sirmour of Himachal Pradesh, India. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science. 9(11): 048-053.
Radha, Puri, S., and Kumar, S. (2019). An ethnobotanical study of wild medicinal plants used by migratory shepherds-A tribal community of western Himalayas. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research. 12(4): 137-144.
Radha, Puri, S., Pundir. A. (2019). Survey of Wild Medicinal Plants used by Migratory Shepherds in Summer Hill of District Shimla in Himachal Pradesh. Bio Bulletin. 5(1): 18-24.
Radha and Puri, S. (2019). Assessment of wild medicinal plant used by migratory shepherds in alpine area of Rakchham-Chitkul Wild life Sanctuary of district Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh. Plant Archives. 19(1): 418-429.
Radha, and Puri, S. (2019).Survey of ethnomedicinal plants used by migratory shepherd’s in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. Plant Archives. 19(1): 477-482.
Radha, and Puri, S., (2019). Phytochemical analysis of ethanolic extracts of leaves of some selected medicinal plants used by tribal community of Sangla valley, District Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. Plant Archives. 19(1): 397-403.
Radha, and Puri, S. (2019). Study of wild medicinal plants used by tribal migratory shepherds in hills of Shimla District, Himachal Pradesh. Plant Archives. 19(1): 785-790.
Radha, Puri, S., and Kumar, V. (2019). Phytochemical Screening of Medicinal Plants Used by Tribal Migratory Shepherds in Western Himalaya. Annals of Biology. 35(1): 11-14.
Radha, Puri, S., and Kumar, V. (2019). Phytochemical Screening of Wild Medicinal Plants Used by Tribal Migratory Shepherds in Pabbar Valley, Western Himalaya. Annals of Agri-Bio Research. 24(1): 36-39.
Radha, Puri, S., and Pundir. A., (2019). Review on Ethnomedicinal Plant: Trillium govanianum Wall. Ex D. Don. International Journal of Theoretical & Applied Sciences. 11(2): 04-09.
Chauhan, P., Sharma, M., Radha, and Puri. S. (2019). Phytochemical Screening of Acorus calamus Linn. and Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Annals of Agri-Bio Research. 24(1): 33-35.
Pundir, A., Thakur, M.S., Mehta, V., Kumar, B., and Radha. (2019). Studies on Use of Waste Plastic: A Review International Journal of Therapeutical and Applied Sciences. 11(1): 48-51.
Mehta, V., Thakur, M.S., Pundir, A., and Radha (2019). “Waste Paper Sludge Ash as Supplementary Material for Cement”. Annals of Agri Bio Research.
Radha, and Puri, S. (2019). Phytochemical Screening of Selected Medicinal Plants Used by Migratory Shepherds in Sangla Valley of District Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. Annals of Agri Bio Research. 24(1): 29-32.
Radha, and S. Puri. (2020). Ethnoveterinary medicinal uses of some plant species by the migratory shepherds of the western Himalaya. Plant Archives Vol. 20, (AIAAS-2020), 29-31.
Radha, S., Puri, S. and Saha, S. (2020). Documenting traditional wisdom before they are forgotten: a study on the ethnoveterinary uses of mountain plants among the Trans-Himalayan migratory shepherds in the Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, India. Reprinting:
Radha, Puri, S., Janjua, S, Srivastava, S., and Negi, V. (2020). Some commonly used wild ethnoveterinary medicinal plants by migratory shepherds in Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary of district Sirmaur in Himachal Pradesh, India. Plant Archives. 20:136-138.
Thakur, M., Khosla, P.K., Puri, S., and Radha (2020). Documentation of commonly used ethnomedicinal plants in Shikari Devi Wildlife Sanctuary of Himachal Pradesh, India. Plant Archives. 20 (AIAAS-2020) 139-141, ISSN 0972-5210.
Mehta, V., Priyanka, Thakur, M.S., Kumar, B., Pundir, A., Kwok-wing Chau and Radha (2020). Partial replacement of fine aggregates with recycled glass in portland pozzolanacement. Plant Archives. 20, (AIAAS-2020), 198-205. ISSN 0972- 5210.
Radha and Puri, S. (2020). Ethnoveterinary medicinal uses of some plant species by the migratory shepherds of the western Himalaya. Plant Archives. 20: 29-31.
Kumari, M., Radha, Puri ,S., Chauhan, P., Sudiksha, Thakur, S., Pubral, A.K., Srivastava, S, and Janjua, S. (2020). Ethnobotanical survey of commonly used wild medicinal plants in high hills of Dhami in district Shimla of Himachal Pradesh, India. Plant Archives. 20:133-135.169.
Kumar, B., Pundir, A., Mehta, V., Priyanka, Singh, B.P., Solanki, and Radha. (2020). A review paper on plastic, it's variety, current scenario and it's waste management. Plant Archives. 20, (AIAAS-2020), 53-56.