Dr. Rijia A | Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

The Gandhigram rural Institute- Deemed to be university, India

Author Profile

• Orcid Profile

🌱 Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Rijia A. began her academic journey with a strong inclination toward biological sciences, particularly in Microbiology. Her passion for medicinal natural products and fungi-based therapeutic solutions guided her through her academic milestones. She completed her M.Sc. in Microbiology from The Gandhigram Rural Institute – Deemed to be University, Dindigul, with an outstanding CGPA of 86.26%, securing First Rank and a Gold Medal 🥇 in 2018.

Eager to explore the world of natural healing and bioactive agents, she continued her research pursuits by enrolling in a PhD program in Microbiology at the same institution. Her doctoral work focused on a multidisciplinary approach involving molecular docking🧬, in vitro, in vivo, and in silico studies, solidifying her command over both experimental and computational techniques.

🧪 Professional Endeavors

Dr. Rijia’s research journey spans over four productive years (2021–2025) as a Research Scholar at the Gandhigram Rural Institute. Her PhD thesis titled “Comprehensive Analysis of Bioactive Compounds in Wild Mushrooms and Evaluation of Medicinal Properties in Ganoderma applanatum through In Vitro, In Vivo and In Silico Approaches” exemplifies her contribution to medicinal mycology 🍄, focusing on the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer potential of Ganoderma applanatum, a wild mushroom species.

In addition to her academic research, she also worked as a QA Executive at Subramania Aqua Mills, Palakkad (2018–2019), where she was responsible for chemical and microbiological analysis of drinking water and implementing quality assurance standards—showcasing her foundational industry experience.

Dr. Rijia also pursued internships and hands-on training, including her time at CTBI Malappuram, where she studied child nutrition and industrial quality control, and the Centre for Bioscience and Nanoscience Research (CBNR), Coimbatore, where she was trained in advanced molecular biology techniques, PCR, and spectroscopic analysis 🔬.

🧫 Contributions and Research Focus

Dr. Rijia’s expertise lies in bioactive compounds, natural product pharmacology, and computational biology. She has employed bioinformatics tools, molecular docking, and ADMET simulations to investigate the therapeutic profiles of wild mushroom-derived compounds.

Her work on Ganoderma applanatum includes:

• Antioxidant and antimicrobial assessments.

• Cytotoxicity assays on human carcinoma cell lines (in vitro).

• Rodent model evaluations (in vivo).

• In silico docking and ADMET pharmacokinetics for COVID-19 therapeutic prospects 🦠.

She has contributed to peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals like Pharmaceuticals, Bioorganic Chemistry, and Food Chemistry Advances. Her articles are not only methodologically sound but also reveal novel insights into fungal pharmacology, adding substantial value to microbiological and pharmacognosy research.

🏅 Accolades and Recognition

Dr. Rijia’s academic excellence was first marked by her Gold Medal in postgraduate studies. Her international recognition continued with published research papers in indexed journals, including:

1. Pharmaceuticals (I.F. 4.3)

2. Bioorganic Chemistry (I.F. 4.5)

3. Food Chemistry Advances (Elsevier journal)

She also presented her findings at various scientific conferences:

• International Conference on Transdisciplinary Research in Life Sciences, Kristu Jayanti College, where her paper on apoptotic effects of Ganoderma applanatum was published with ISBN: 978-81-964630-9-4.

• National Conference on Marine Conservation and Bio-sustainability, Vivekananda College.

Additionally, she participated in a DST-STUTI funded training programme at Osmania University, which emphasized the use of advanced R&D equipment in environmental sciences 🌍.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Dr. Rijia’s contributions extend beyond academic publications. Her work emphasizes the medicinal relevance of mushrooms, paving the way for future research into fungus-based drug development, especially in anticancer and antiviral domains.

Her multifaceted approach combining wet lab techniques with computational modeling stands out, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, where she evaluated Ganoderma-based inhibitors for the 6LU7 protein, a key COVID-19 target.

Her research has inspired peers and emerging scholars to explore the synergy of microbiology and bioinformatics in drug discovery and health science. Her legacy lies in encouraging eco-sustainable, fungal-based therapeutics, bridging ancient medicinal knowledge with modern science.

🔮 Legacy and Future Contributions

Looking forward, Dr. Rijia aims to contribute to the global scientific community by expanding her research into medicinal mushrooms, natural drug design, and AI-integrated bioinformatics for accelerated compound discovery. She envisions developing safe, plant- and fungus-based alternatives to synthetic drugs, especially targeting antibiotic resistance, cancer, and emerging viral diseases.

Her upcoming work, currently under peer review in The Microbe, explores Ganoderma applanatum-derived compounds as antiviral agents against COVID-19, showcasing her ongoing commitment to translational research and public health innovation.

With her diverse experience, technical skills, and relentless passion for microbiology and therapeutic research 💊, Dr. Rijia A. is poised to be a valuable contributor to the future of natural product-based medicine.