Dr. Amaraja Joshi
Associate Professor, Microbiology
Overview
Dr. Amaraja Joshi earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology from Savitribai Phule Pune University in 2008, following her M.Sc. (1998) and B.Sc. (1996) in Microbiology from Shivaji University, Kolhapur. She has joined Microbial Culture Collection (MCC) former name of National Centre for Microbial Resource, NCMR-NCCS, Pune in 2009 as a Scientist. Dr. Joshi has worked for 16+ years (2009-2025) at NCMR-NCCS, Pune where she has been actively involved in microbial ecology, taxonomy and diversity studies, with a particular focus on extremophiles-alkaliphiles, psychrophiles, and thermophiles-isolated from unique ecosystems such as Lonar Lake, Pangong Lake, and geothermal hot springs. Apart from research she serves as a curator for the general deposition and phenotypic characterization services, and developed SOPs for long term preservation of microbes. Dr. has taught undergraduate, postgraduate (Master’s), and Ph.D. students, successfully trained and mentored 24 M.Sc. students for their dissertation work, and has actively conducted numerous workshops and delivered expert talks. Her research interest includes microbial genomics, genome-based taxonomy, and microbial sequencing. She is deeply engaged in the biomanufacturing of industrially significant biomolecules such as antibiotics, alkaline enzymes, exopolysaccharides, and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). She has authored several book chapters and research papers in high-impact international journals, describing over 10 novel species and contributing significantly to microbial systematics through the reclassification of seven genera and one family. Dr. Joshi’s work aims to address complex scientific questions through advanced microbial research and to contribute to the development of sustainable biotechnological solutions.
Qualifications
- M.Sc. in Microbiology , Shivaji University, Kolhapur, India (1996-1998)
- Ph. D. in Microbiology , Savitribai Phule Pune University (2002-2008)
Experience
Teaching: 4+ years
Industry: 3 months
Research: 16+ years
Career Highlights
Technical Skills
- Microbial culturing and identification
- Genome sequencing and analysis tools
- PHB production and characterization techniques
- Bioinformatics and statistical analysis
- Molecular biology techniques
Publications
- Amaraja Joshi1*, Sonia Thite, Devika Godbole et al. (2025) Genomic insights into Marinospirillum alkalitolerans sp. nov., a novel PHB producing bacterium from an Indian impact crater, and an emended description of family Oceanospirillaceae. 118, 53 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-024-02059-4
- Sonia Thite, Devika Godbole, Mahima Debnath, Agrima Bhatt, Amit Yadav, Tushar Lodha, Neetha Joseph, Kiran Kirdat, Dibyajyoti Boruah, Roohani Sharma & Amaraja Joshi* (2024) Alkalimonas mucilaginosa sp. nov. and Alkalimonas cellulosilytica sp. nov. isolated from alkaline Lonar lake, India. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 117, 88 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-024-01986-6
- SSonia Thite, Kamakshi Tarwadge, Purva Mengade, Tushar Lodha, Neetha Joseph, Lucky Thakkar & Amaraja Joshi* (2023) Alkalihalobacterium chitinilyticum sp. nov.: an alkaliphilic chitin degrading bacterial strain isolated from Lonar Lake, India, with potential biotechnological applications. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 116, 1103–1112 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-023-01872-7
- Amaraja Joshi1*, Sonia Thite1, Tushar Lodha1, Neetha Joseph1, Purva Mengade1 (2023) Genomic insights of an alkaliphilic bacterium Halalkalibacter alkaliphilus sp. nov. Isolated from an Indian Soda Lake. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-023-01816-1
- Nar Singh Chauhan2, Neetha Joseph1, Shraddha Shaligram1, Nikita Chavan1, Amaraja Joshi1, Dhiraj Dhotre1, Tushar Lodha1,Yogesh Shouche (2022) Paenibacillus oleatilyticus sp. nov., isolated from soil. Archives of Microbiology 204:516
- Amaraja Joshi*, Sonia Thite, Prachi Karodi, Neetha Joseph and Tushar Lodha (2021) Alkalihalobacterium elongatum gen. nov. sp. nov.: An Antibiotic-Producing Bacterium Isolated From Lonar Lake and Reclassification of the Genus Alkalihalobacillus Into Seven Novel Genera. Front. Microbiol. 12:722369. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.722369
- Joshi A*, Thite S, Dhotre D, Moorthy M, Joseph N, Ramana VV, Shouche Y (2020) Nitrincola tapanii sp. nov., a novel alkaliphilic bacterium from An Indian Soda Lake. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 70(2):1106–1111.
- Behera P, Mahapatra M, Seuylemezian A, Vaishampayan P, Ramana VV, Joseph N, Joshi A, Shouche Y, Suar M, Pattnaik AK (2018) Taxonomic description and draft genome of Pseudomonas sediminis sp. nov., isolated from the rhizospheric sediment of Phragmites karka. Journal of Microbiology 56 (7): 458-466.
- Amaraja Joshi*, Sonia Thite, Girish Kulkarni, Dhiraj Dhotre, Neetha Joseph, Venkata Ramana V, Ashish Polkade, Yogesh Shouche (2016) Nitrincola alkalisediminis sp. nov., an alkaliphilic bacterium isolated from an alkaline lake. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, 66, 1254–1259. (Impact Factor: 2.46). Citations: 20
- Ashish V. Polkade, V. Venkata Ramana, Amaraja Joshi, Larrisa Pardesi and Yogesh S. Shouche (2015) Rufibacter immobilis sp. nov., isolated from a high-altitude saline lake. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 65, 1592–1597.
- Suchitra B. Borgave, Amaraja A. Joshi, Anita S. Kelkar and Pradnya P. Kanekar (2012) Screening of alkaliphilic halothermophilic bacteria and alkalithermophilic actinomycetes isolated from Alkaline Soda lake of Lonar, India for Antimicrobial activity International journal of pharma and bio sciences Oct; 3(4): (B) 258 – 274.
- Amaraja Abhay Joshi* & Pradnya Pralhad Kanekar (2011) Production of exopolysaccharide by Vagococcus carniphilus MCM B-1018 isolated from alkaline Lonar Lake, India. Annals of microbiology 61 (4), 733-740.
- Joshi AA, Kanekar PP, Sarnaik S, Kelkar AS, Shouche YS, Vani A V, Borgave SS (2008) Cultivable Bacterial Diversity of Alkaline Lonar Lake, India. Microbial Ecology 55, 163-172.
- A. A. Joshi, P. P. Kanekar, A.S. Kelkar, S.S. Sarnaik, Y. Shouche and Aijaz Wani (2007) Moderately halophilic, alkalitolerant Halomonas campisalis MCM B-365 from Lonar lake, India. Journal of Basic Microbiology 47: 213-221.
- P.P.Kanekar, A. A. Joshi, A.S. Kelkar, , S. B. Borgave, S.S. Sarnaik (2008) alkaline Lonar lake, India –A treasure of Alkaliphilic and halophilic Bacteria. Sengupta M. and Dalwani R. (eds.) Proceedings of Taal 2007: The 12th World Lake conference: 1765-1774.
Book Chapters
- Kulkarni S, Dhakar K, Joshi A. Alkaliphiles: Diversity and Bioprospection. Microb Divers Genomic Era. Academic Press; 2019. p. 239–263.
- Amaraja Joshi, Kamlesh Jangid, Neetha Joseph. Differentiating methods for the identification of closely related species under Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis clades. BISMiS-2016 A SOUVENIR: 17–30.
- Madhurima Ghosh, Kamlesh Jangid, Amaraja Joshi and Shaon Ray Chaudhuri AS. A Polyphasic Approach of Species Identification for Genus Bacillus. Life Science Recent Innovations & Research. International Research Publication House; 2016. p.227–255.
- Kanekar PP, Joshi AA, Kulkarni SO, Borgave SB, Sarnaik SS, Nilegaonkar SS, Kelkar AS, Thombre RS. Biotechnological potential of alkaliphilic microorganisms. Biotechnol Bioinforma Adv Appl Bioenergy, Bioremediation Biopharm Res. CRC Press; 2014; 249.
- Kanekar P, Joshi A, Kelkar A, Borgave S, Sarnaik S. Alkaline Lonar lake, India – A treasure of Alkaliphilic and Halophilic bacteria. Proc Taal 2007 World Lake Conf. 2008. p. 1765–1774.
- Joshi AA, Kanekar PP, Sarnaik S, Kelkar A. Bacterial diversity of Lonar lake ecosystem. Biodivers Lonar crater Anamaya, New Delhi. 2005; 71–75.
Invited talks
- Invited as an panelist for the Panel Discussion at MIT WPU, Pune for annual industry institute interaction program “SYNTROPY 2025” on 17th April 2025 for discussion on ‘Sustainable Engineering: Bridging Conventional Practices with Emerging Technologies.’
- Invited as resource person for a webinar by SAGE University Bhopal on “Microbial Identification by API, BIOLOG and VITEK on 17th September 2022.
- Invited as Guest Lecture on: “Research Opportunities in Life Sciences” organized by Department of Microbiology Yashavantrao Chavan Institute of Science, Satara in association with Rayat Institute of Research and Development, on 25h August 2022.
- Invited as guest speaker on the topic Alkaliphilic bacteria from Lonar lake: A potential source of antibiotics” at International conference on “Advances in bioactive molecules “organized by SRTMU Nanded on 7th April 2022.
- Invited as Guest Lecture on: “Research Opportunities in Life Sciences” organized by Department of Microbiology, Rajarshi Shahu Mahavidyalaya (Autonomous), Latur on 28 th September, 2021.
- Invited as resource person for the National webinar on “Recent trends of research in life sciences”, organized by Yashavantrao Chavan Institute of Science, Satara in association with Rayat Institute of Research and Development, on 27th May 2021.
- Invited as speaker in online mode, the topic “Research Opportunities in Life Sciences” the occasion of celebration an International Women’s Day 2021 by SCHOOL OF LIFE SCIENCES, Swami Ramanand Tirth Marathwada University, Nanded on Monday 08th March 2021.
- Invited as speaker for Webinar on “My Ph D. Journey” on 21st October 2020 under Nari Shakti Gourav by New English Schoool, Satara.
- Invited as speaker for Webinar on Role of National Centre for Microbial Resource, Pune in Identification and Preservation of Microbial Cultures on 14/06/2020 by Annakkili Amma Research Institute (AARI) AARI Bioscience Webinar Series- Session IX
- Invited as guest lecturer for One day Seminar on Recent methods in Microbial taxonomy by Yashavantrao Chavan Institute of Science, Satara in association with Rayat Institute of Research and Development, on 21 st October 2017.
- Invited as guest lecturer for Lecture Series on ‘Microbes in Bio prospecting’, on 30th December 2015, for B. Sc. and M. Sc. Microbiology students, under Microbiology Association, Department of Microbiology, Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Shivajinagar.
- Invited talk on “One-day interactive session on Microbe and Health” organized by Centre for Excellence, West Bengal University of Technology, Salt Lake, Sector 1 Kolkata on the topic: “Methods for differentiating Bacillus spp.” on Science Day, 28th Feb. 2015.
Conferences and Workshops
Oral/Poster Presentations
- Oral Paper Presentation of “On Bacterial diversity of Lonar Lake Ecosystem” at National Seminar on “Biodiversity of Lonar Crater” Lonar (Dist. Buldhana). Feb. 27-28, 2004. (Amaraja Joshi and Pradnya Kanekar)
- Oral paper presentation O 80 of the paper “production of exopolysaccharide (EPS) by an alkaliphilic bacterial strain of Vagococcus carniphilus from Lonar Lake, India at the International conference “Extremophiles 2008” at Cape Town, South Africa during 7-11 September 2008, abstract page no. 107. (Amaraja Joshi and Pradnya Kanekar)
- Oral paper presentation of “Microbial Exopolysaccharides” during National Seminar on Industrial Perspectives of Microbes in Industry and Biotechnology on January 29, 2007 at GR Damodaran College of Science, Coimbatore (Kanekar P.P. and Joshi A. A.)
Posters presented at conference/ seminars
- Poster presented on “Exploration of Thermophilic Bacillus sp. For Biodegradation Of Lubricating Oil” at “Thermophiles 2001” – International Conference on Biology and Biotechnology of Thermophilic Microbes. Dec. 3-7, 2001, New Delhi.
- Poster Presented on “Microbial Diversity of Lonar Lake Ecosystem and Biotechnological Potential of Haloalkaliphilic bacteria” in Lonar Mahotsav, organized by United Lonar Crater Association (ULCA), Lonar (Dist. Buldhana) February 24 – 25, 2006.
- Poster Presented on “Biotechnological potential of alkaliphilic bacteria from Lonar Lake”. Annual Conference of Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI), December 2006 at Bhopal.
- Poster presented on “Production of Exopolysaccharide (EPS) by Alkalitolerant bacterium Dietzia natronolimnaea isolated from Lonar Lake, India. 50th Annual Conference of Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI) December, 2009 at Pune.
Workshops/Training Conducted
- IISF-2024 (India International Science Fesitval-2024), IIT Guwahati from 29.10.2024 to 03.11. 2024
- IISF-2022 (India International Science Fesitval-2022), NIT Bhopal from 21-24th Jan 2023.
- Five Days workshop on Cultivation, Preservation and characterization of anaerobic bacteria on June 20th- to 24th 2022, NCMR-NCCS, Pune.
- One day hands on workshop on Microbial Identification by BIOLOG and Vitek on 25th April, 2019, NCMR-NCCS, Pune.
- Microbial Identification and Preservation from 8th January to 14 January 2018, NCMR-NCCS, Pune.
- Workshop on “Microbial Identification, Preservation and Genome analysis”, from 1st March 2017- 10th March 2017 at Microbial Culture Collection, Pune
- Two-day Workshop on Nomenclature of Archaea and Bacteria, Microbial Culture collection, Pune 9th & 10th September 2016.
- 3rd meeting of Bergey’s International Society for Microbial Systematics BISMiS 2016 from 12th -16th September 2016, Microbial culture Collection, Pune.
- Workshop on “Microbial Identification and Preservation”, from 1st January 2015- 5th Jan 2015, Microbial culture Collection, Pune.
- International symposium on “Microbes: Molecular Ecology and Systematics” 6th and 7th September 2012, YASHADA Auditorium, Baner Road, Pune.
- International Workshop on ‘Biodiversity Informatics & Microbial Culture Collection’,Bioinformatics Centre, University of Pune, 23-27 August 2004.
- National Workshop on “Knowledge Discovery in Life Sciences: Sequence Based Bioinformatics Approaches”, Bioinformatics Centre, University of Pune, 14 -17 December 2003.
