Research laboratory
The Dheeman Lab
A centre for cutting-edge research in plant-microbe interactions, sustainable agrobiology, and microbial biotechnology at MVN University, Palwal (NCR), Haryana.
Lab overview & mission
The Dheeman Laboratory is dedicated to advancing our understanding of beneficial plant-associated microorganisms and their applications in sustainable agriculture. Our work spans fundamental microbial ecology to translational biotechnology, bridging the gap between bench science and field application.
Our mission is to develop eco-friendly microbial solutions that reduce dependence on chemical inputs, enhance crop productivity, and promote soil health — contributing to food security in the face of climate change.
20+
Years of research
50+
Publications
6
Edited books
25+
NCBI sequences
Current research projects
PGPM-based biofertiliser consortia
OngoingDeveloping multi-strain plant growth-promoting microbial consortia for wheat and rice cultivation in the Indo-Gangetic plains, targeting nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilisation.
Endophytic microbiome of medicinal plants
OngoingCharacterising the endophytic bacterial and fungal communities of selected Himalayan medicinal plants and evaluating their bioactive compound production.
Climate-resilient soil microbiota
OngoingInvestigating how heat and drought stress reshape soil microbial communities and identifying stress-tolerant strains for use in climate-smart agriculture.
Rhizobacterial genomics & taxonomy
OngoingWhole-genome sequencing and comparative genomics of novel rhizobacterial isolates to establish phylogenetic relationships and identify functional gene clusters.
Lab team
Research scholars, students, and collaborators
Dr. Shrivardhan Dheeman
Associate Professor, Microbiology & Biotechnology, MVN University
Research Scholar (PhD)
Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and biofertiliser development
Research Scholar (PhD)
Endophytic microbiology of stress-tolerant crop plants
M.Sc. Dissertation Students
Rotating projects in microbial ecology, molecular biology, and biotechnology
B.Sc. Project Students
Introductory research projects in applied microbiology
Equipment & facilities
Core instrumentation and laboratory infrastructure
Molecular biology suite
PCR thermocyclers, gel electrophoresis systems, UV transilluminator, and nucleic acid quantification instruments.
Microbial culture facility
Laminar flow cabinets, BOD incubators, shaker incubators, autoclave, and anaerobic workstation for axenic culture work.
Microscopy unit
Phase-contrast and fluorescence microscopy for morphological characterisation and cell viability assays.
Biochemical analysis
Spectrophotometers, ELISA reader, and enzyme assay equipment for functional characterisation of microbial isolates.
Greenhouse & rhizotron
Controlled-environment plant growth facility for pot experiments, inoculation trials, and root observation studies.
Bioinformatics workstation
High-performance computing for sequence analysis, phylogenetic tree construction, and comparative genomics pipelines.
Funded projects
Microbial consortia for sustainable wheat production
DST-SERB2021–2024
Endophyte-mediated stress tolerance in crops
ICAR2022–2025
Genomic characterisation of novel PGPR isolates
DBT2023–2026
Biofertiliser formulation and field trials
MVN University Internal Grant2020–2022
Collaborations & partner institutions
G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology
Pantnagar, Uttarakhand
National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms (NBAIM)
Mau, Uttar Pradesh
Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University
Hisar, Haryana
Springer Nature Editorial Network
International
Frontiers in Microbiology
International
Lab gallery
A glimpse into our research environment
Join the lab
We welcome motivated students and researchers passionate about microbiology, biotechnology, and sustainable agriculture. Opportunities are available at PhD, M.Sc., and B.Sc. levels.
PhD positions
Fully supervised doctoral research in plant-microbe interactions, microbial genomics, or biofertiliser development. Candidates with CSIR-NET / GATE / DBT-JRF qualifications are encouraged to apply.
M.Sc. dissertation projects
Six-month dissertation projects aligned with ongoing lab research. Students from microbiology, biotechnology, and life sciences backgrounds are welcome.
Summer internships
Short-term research exposure for undergraduate students interested in hands-on laboratory experience in microbiology and molecular biology techniques.