Dr. Prakash M Halami is a Chief Scientist; Professor-AcSIR and Head, Microbiology &
Fermentation Technology department as well as Head, Dept. of Food Protectants and
Infestation Control (Additional charge) also, a Nodal officer, CFTRI Covid-19 testing centre
at the CSIR-Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, India. He has nearly
THREE decades of R & D experience besides HRD activities.
He is also serving as- Expert Advisor, Akshya Patra Research Lab; Benguluru
Member, Technical Committee, Food Safety standard Authority of India, New Delhi
Convener and Member, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi & is representing
several committees at Institute level.
Dr Halami started his research journey by pursuing his postgraduate degree in Molecular
biology and Biotechnology from National Centre for Plant Biotechnology, PUSA institute,
IARI; New Delhi, doctorate in Biotechnology from the University of Mysore. Also obtained
advance training in Biotechnology from Kobey University, Japan; Doctoral degree research
at the University of Frankfurt, Germany & Post-doctoral research in USA at the University of
Minnesota, as a Raman Research fellow. His laboratory investigates the mechanism of food-
grade metabolite production by microorganisms using classical Microbiology approaches and
by using tools of genomics. His research activities also include deciphering mechanism &
transferability of antibiotic resistance genes in probiotic, development of defined starter
cultures, molecular taxonomy etc. His research on antibiotic resistance has been recognized
by WHO- India office by inducting him in preparation of National Action Plan on AMR as
well he was also associated with FAO, India office for the evaluation of ICMR/ICAR
projects on AMR.
He has so far guided 80-Post graduate dissertation students and eleven-doctoral students. He has
115-publications in peer-reviewed international journals, where four Indian patents have been
granted to his credential. He has presented 175-papers at national and international conferences,
winning 22- best paper awards. He is an editor of J Food Science & Technology (I).
Awards: Two times CSIR-CFTRI foundation day award, as a best Scientist for the year-2013
and 2019; International travel grant awards from four different agencies viz ICMR New Delhi,
Indian National Science Academy, SERB-DST New Delhi and also CSIR New Delhi, FAST-
Track Young Scientist project of DST New Delhi. Recipient of Lalji Godhoo Smarak Nidhi
award of AFST (India) for the year 2013. CSIR-DAAD exchange of academics for year- 2009
and 2015. He has been elected as a fellow of Indian Academy of Microbiological Science-2016
(Formally FAMI), fellow of Indian Association of Applied Microbiologists-2016; Fellow,
National Academy of Biological Sciences (NABS), Fellow, Royal Society of Biology, Fellow,
Biotech Research Society, India and also awarded with Best Scientist award of NABS-2018,
and Senior Scientist award (National level) by Microbiologists Society India.
During last ten years, He has been quite active in delivering the seminars and lectures wherein,
he has given nearly 75 lectures both in national and international platforms including nearly 15
webinars