Rate My Professor Dhiraj Kumar

Dr. Dhiraj Kumar serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology at Hansraj College, University of Delhi, specializing in insect biology, gut microbiome, and biomaterials. He obtained his B.Sc. in 2003 from the University of Allahabad, M.Sc. in 2006 from B.B. Ambedkar University, Uttar Pradesh, and Ph.D. in 2014 from the same institution. His doctoral thesis examined the application of bio-foliar spray on different mulberry varieties and its influence on silkworm, Bombyx mori L. Kumar's professional career encompasses key appointments such as Dr. D.S. Kothari Postdoctoral Fellow at the School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University (2018-2021), Postdoctoral Fellow at School of Biology & Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, China (2015-2017), and Assistant Professor in the Department of Zoology at Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya (2013-2015). He has received notable awards and fellowships, including the Dr. D.S. Kothari Fellowship from UGC (2018), Chinese Government Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015), Outstanding Research Paper Presentation Award from the Silk Association of China (2016), CSIR-UGC-JRF/NET in Life Sciences (2011), UGC JRF/SRF (2009), and Young Scientist Award from the International Consortium of Contemporary Biologist (2011).

Kumar has edited several influential books published by Springer, such as Biomedical Application of Natural Proteins: an emerging era in biomedical science (2015), Trends in Insect Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (2018), Insect based natural products: chemistry and applications (2019), Introduction to Insect Biotechnology (2023), Silk Technology-I (2025), and Silk Technology-II (2025). His key publications include Bombyx mori bidensovirus infection alters the intestinal microflora of fifth instar silkworm larvae (Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 2020), Study of gut bacterial diversity of Bombyx mandarina and Bombyx mori through 16S rRNA gene sequencing (Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology, 2019), and Effects of transient high temperature treatment on silkworm, Bombyx mori intestinal flora (Scientific Reports, 2017). With 548 citations, an h-index of 13, i10-index of 17, and two patents (one granted), his research has advanced understanding in insect gut microbiomes and sericulture. Kumar teaches subjects including Insect Biology, Sericulture, Economic Zoology, and Animal Behaviour. He coordinates the Centre for Skill Enhancement and Seritechnology at Hansraj College, convenes the Srishti Chetna Zoological Society and Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam International Lecture Series, and contributes to institutional committees on animal ethics, NAAC, development, and G-20 programmes. He holds memberships in scientific bodies such as the Silk Association of India and the Asia Pacific Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering Society.