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About Me:

Prof. Sunil Khanna is currently Dean Planning & Faculty Affairs and also Professor of Biotechnology at NIIT University(NU), Neemrana, Rajasthan.

Sunil started his career as a Graduate Research Associate in Waite Agricultural Research Institute, University of Adelaide, South Australia in 1983 and then moved to work as a Research Fellow with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Cincinnati, Ohio in January 1984. In September 1985, he joined Tata Energy Research Institute as Area Convenor & Fellow and worked at that position till March 1992 to be promoted as Dean, Biotechnology in April 1992 till January 1996. He moved to Tata Energy and Resources Institute, U.S.A as Vice President in Feb 1996 till June 1998.

Sunil held various positions with Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (TIET) from October 2000 to July 2005—Dean, Resource Generation and Planning (2003 onwards), Executive Director, Science & Technology Enterpreneurs Park (STEP), Coordinator, Center for Relevance and Excellence (CORE), Head and Professor, Department of Biotechnology and Environmental Sciences.

In terms of his educational background, Sunil is a PhD (Biochemistry), 1983 from Waite Agricultural Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia. He did his Masters in 1978 from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India and completed his graduation in Botany [Hons] in 1976 from Delhi University.

His scientific interests have been and are in the fields of biotechnological applications of genetically modified microorganisms and using molecular approaches for bioremediation of petro hydrocarbon and pesticides leading to environment friendly technologies tested under field conditions. Further basic studies on lignocellulose(Lignin, cellulose and xylan) degradation led to the development of biomethanation technology for agricultural residues as well as fruit processing waste at household and community level, which has been demonstrated & implemented in the country. In NU he is now concentrating on bioenergy research especially biobutanol with different mesophilic and also extremophilic organisms using metabolic engineering to enhance the production.

Sunil is a member of a number of societies in India and abroad, and has also worked as Editor-in-Chief of the Indian Journal of Microbiology from 1993 to1996. He is a writer or coauthor of 59 refereed practice publications apart from 3 reviews in books, & 2 books and is ranked among the top most-cited researchers at NIIT University. Sunil’s other interests include reading fiction and contemporary books and he is also fond of pottery.

Publications

Books

1. Wealth from Waste . 1995. Eds. Sunil Khanna and Krishna Mohan. Tata Energy

Research Institute, New Delhi.  pp. 280.

1. Biotechnological approaches for sustainable development, Eds. M.S. Reddy and S. Khanna, Allied Publishers, pp. 422.

Publications
From 2005 to now

1. Enhanced biosurfactant production through cloning of three genes and role of esterase in biosurfactant release.Kamaljeet Kaur Sekhon, Sunil Khanna and Swaranjit Singh Cameotra. Microbial Cell Factories 2011, 10:49. – Impact factor 4.54.
2. Pyrene Degradation by Bacillus pumilus Isolated from Crude Oil Contaminated Soil Purnima Khanna, Dinesh Goyal and Sunil Khanna. (2011).Polycyclic AromaticCompounds. 31(1):1-15 – Impact factor 0.8
3. Pyrene Biodegradation by Bacillus sp. Isolated from Coal-tar Contaminated Soil. Purnima Khanna, Dinesh Goyal and Sunil Khanna. (2010). Bioremediation Journal – In Press – Impact factor: 2.1
4. Purification and characterization of thermostable monomeric chloroplastic Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase from Chenopodium murale.Sabarinath Sundaram, Sunil Khanna and Renu Khanna-Chopra( 2009) Physiology and  Molecular Biology of Plants.15(3) : 199-209.Impact factor 0.556.
5. Diversity of 16S rRNA and dioxygenase genes detected in coal-tar-contaminated site undergoing active bioremediation. Mohit Kumar and Sunil Khanna (2009) Journal of Applied Microbiology 108(4): 1252 - 1262 – Impact Factor:2.21
6. Decolorization of Direct Red 28 by mixed bacterial culture in an Up Flow Immobilized Bioreactor. Bella Devassy Tony, Dinesh Goyal, Sunil Khanna. 2009. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology 36(7) : 955-960-– Impact Factor:2.09
7. Decolorization of textile azo dyes by aerobic bacterial consortium. Bella Devassy Tony, Dinesh Goyal, Khanna  Sunil. 2009. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation – 63: 462-469. -– Impact Factor:1.37
8. Microbial degradation and In situ bioremediation of Chlorpyrifos contaminated soil. C. Vidya Lakshmi, Mohit Kumar, and Khanna S, 2009. New Horizons in Biotechnology. Eds. Ashok Pandey, Christian Larroche, Carlos Ricardo Soccon and Claude-Gilles Dussap.Asia Tech Publishers Inc.New Delhi. Pp 310-319.
9. Influence of Diversified cropping pattern on microbial activity and population dynamics in agricultural soils.Machiavell, N. Tejoprakash and Sunil Khanna, 2008.Research on Crop-3 :593-598. -– Impact Factor:0.37
10. Biodegradation Of Chlorpyrifos In Soil By Enriched. Vidya C Lakshmi, Mohit Kumar and  Khanna, Sunil. 2009.Current Microbiology – 58: 35-38. -– Impact Factor:1.33
11. Biotransformation of Chlorpyrifos and bioremediation of contaminated soils. C. Vidya Lakshmi, Mohit Kumar, and Khanna Sunil, 2008. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation –62, 204-209. -– Impact Factor:1.37
12. Microbial Biodiversity and In situ Bioremediation of Endosulfan contaminated soil. Mohit Kumar, C. Vidya Lakshmi and Khanna Sunil, 2008, Indian Journal of Microbiology – 48, 128-133.Impact factor 0.753
13. In situ Bioremediation of Chloropyrifos contaminated soil  in  In situ and On site Bioremediation. C. Vidya Lakshmi, Mohit Kumar, and Khanna Sunil, 2007 Eds A R Gavaskar and C F Silver. Beattle Press, Columbus pp 161-169
14. Biodegradation and bioremediation of endosulfan contaminated soil, Mohit Kumar, C. Vidya Lakshmi and Khanna Sunil, 2007, Bioresource Technology – 99(8) :3116-3122.(Elsiver). -– Impact Factor:4.46
15. A computer model for Municipal Solid Waste treatment in developing countries. Jain A., Kaur, Harsasngeet and Khanna, Sunil , 2005, Environmental Science & Technology, 39 (10): 3732-3735. -– Impact Factor:4.45.

Before 2005

1. Impact of fly ash addition in soil on heavy metal accumulation by Eucalyptus tereticornis, Suryan, S., Jala, S., Goyal, D., Singh, J., Vijayan, V., Nioding, A and Khanna, Sunil. 2004, Biotechnological approaches for sustainable development, Eds. M.S. Reddy and S. Khanna, Allied Publishers pp. 305-310.
2. Industrial Fly ash  as a soil amendment agent for raising forestry planatations. Goyal D, Kaur K, Garg R, Vijayan, V, Nanda, S K, Noiding A, Khanna S and Ramamurthy V. Fundamentals of Advanced Materials for Energy Conservation. D Chandra and R G Bautista 2003 (eds)  Academic Press.   Pp 251 – 265.
3. Cloning, Regulation, and Purification of cellulose-free xylanase from Bacillus circulans TERI-42. Asbah F. Qureshy, L A Khan; and Khanna Sunil. 2002. Indian J Microbiology 42: 35-41. Impact factor 0.753
4. Production of thermostable alkalitolerant xylanase from Bacillus circulans AB 16 grown on wheat straw. Dhillon, ,A; and Khanna, Sunil. 2001. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. 16(4): 325-327. -– Impact Factor:0.935
5. Expression of Bacillus circulans Teri-42 xylanase gene in Bacillus subtilis. Asbah F Qureshy; L A Khan; and Khanna, S. 2000. Enzyme Microbial Technology 27: 227-233. -– Impact Factor:2.37
6. Enhanced production, purification and characterization of a novel cellulase-poor thermostable, alkalitolerant xylanase from Bacillus circulans AB16. Dhillon, ,A; Gupta, J.K; and Khanna, S. 2000b. Process Biochemistry,35: 849-856. -– Impact Factor:2.41
7. Environmental decadence in India. Khanna. Sunil. 1999. In ” National Report 1994-1999.Asha Mathur (ed) Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi, India. pp.181-226.
8. A cellulase- poor thermostable alkalotolerant xylanase from Bacillus circulans AB 16 using rice straw and its application in biobleaching of eucalyptus pulp. Dhillon, ,A; Gupta, J.K; Jauhari, B.M., and Khanna, S. 2000a.  Bioresource Technology,73: 273-277. -– Impact Factor:4.46
9. Mineralization of [14C] octadecane by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus S19. Bajpai U; Kuhad R and Khanna Sunil. 1998. Canadian Journal of Microbiology. 44(7): 681-686. -– Impact Factor:1.16
10. Enzymes and Bioremediation .  Khanna  S; lal B; Chandra R; Rajan and Bajpai U. 1998. In “Enzyme Chemistry: Impact and Applications” 3^rd Edition , Suckling Colin  J, Pitt A and Gibson C(eds.)Chapman & Hall Ltd, Hampshire, England pp: 249-285.
11. Methane recovery from Industrial Wheat bran residue. Bardiya N, and Khanna, Sunil. 1998. . Bioenergy News. 2: 16-18.
12. Degradation of crude oil sludge and mineralization of PAHs by Alcaligenes odorans.  Rajan, S; Lal, B; and Khanna, Sunil.  1997.  Emerging Technologies in Hazardous Waste Management,  ISEB special Symposium of the American Chemical Society, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. September 15-17, 1997. p15-20.
13. Purification,  properties and cloning of esterases from   Acenitibacter calcoaceticus S 19. Shafi R; Ali Arif and Khanna Sunil. 1997. Indian J of Microbiology. 37: 59-64. . Impact factor 0.753
14. Long  term field study shows increased biomass production in tree legumes inoculated with Rhizobium.. Lal, B. and Khanna, Sunil. 1996.  Plant and Soil. 184 : 111-116. -– Impact Factor:2.38
15. Biomethanation of banana peel and pineapple processing waste. Bardiya, N., Somayaji, D. and Khanna, Sunil. 1996. Bioresource Technology. 58 : 73-76. -– Impact Factor:4.46
16. Mineralization of (¹⁴C) octacosane by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. Lal, B. and Khanna, Sunil. 1996. Canadian Journal of Microbiology. 42:  1225-1231. -– Impact Factor:1.16
17. Degradation of crude oil by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Alcaligenes odorans. Lal, B. and Khanna, Sunil. 1996.  Journal of Applied Bacteriology. 81: 355-362. -– Impact Factor:2.02
18. Modulation of protein profiles in Rhizobium under salt stress. Saxena, D., Amin, M.  Khanna, Sunil. 1996. Canadian Journal of Microbiology. 42: 617-620. -– Impact Factor:1.16
19. Methanogenesis. 1995. D Somayaji; MRVP Reddy; N Bardiya; K mohan and  Khanna Sunil. In  Wealth from Waste. Eds Khanna S and Mohan K.  P 95-114.
20. Biosurfactants – A Review. Shafi, R., Khanna, Sunil. 1995. Indian J. Microbiol.  35 (3): 165-184.
21. Ferulic acid metabolism by Alcaligenes paradoxus. Mohan, K. and Khanna, Sunil. 1994. Ind. J. Microbiol. 34 (4): 303-306. . Impact factor 0.753
22. Selection of tolerant Rhizobium isolate of Acacia nilotica. Lal, B. and Khanna, Sunil. 1994. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. 10 (6): 637-639. -– Impact Factor:0.934
23. Cloning of endoglucanase genes from Ruminococcus sp. 1994. Srivastava, S.K. and Khanna, Sunil. Indian Journal of Microbiology. 34(4): 265-271. . Impact factor 0.753
24. Biomethanation of rice and wheat straw. Somayaji, D. and Khanna, Sunil. 1994. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. 10 (5): 521-523. -– Impact Factor:0.934
25. Biomass enhancement of tree legumes by Rhizobium and Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae 1993. Tissue culture of forest tree species: Recent researches in India Ed. Dhawan, V. Ganapathy, D.M.  and Khurana, D.K. P 84-94.
26. Regulation, purification and properties of xylanase from Cellulomonas fimi 1993. Khanna, Sunil. and Gauri.  Enzyme Microbial Technology. 15: 990-995. -– Impact Factor:2.37
27. Glucose uptake by Cellulomonas fimi 1993.  Khanna, Sunil. World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology.  9: 559-561. -– Impact Factor:0.934
28. Degradation of veratraldehyde by Alcaligenes paradoxus.  1993. Mohan, K., and Khanna, Sunil. FEMS Microbial letters. 108: 361-366. -– Impact Factor:2.02
29. Renodulation and nitrogen fixing potential of Acacia nilotica  inoculated with Rhizobium isolates.  1992. Lal, B., and Khanna, Sunil. Can J. Microbiol. 39: 87-91. -– Impact Factor:1.16
30. Purification, characterization and cloning of an endo – 1,4-B-glucanase from Ruminococcus sp. 1991. Srivastava,S.K. and Khanna, Sunil.  Biotechnology Letters. 13: 907-912. -– Impact Factor:1.6
31. Does dual inoculation really help in increase of biomass in tree legumes.  B. Lal, Adholeya, A., Kapoor, A. and Khanna, Sunil. 1990.  Mycorrhizal symbiosis and plant growth Ed D.J. Bagyaraj and A. Manjunath, Bangalore, p.97-98.
32. Purification and characterization of endoglucanase of Cellulomonas fimi.  Srivastava S.K., Mohan M.K., Vijayagopal A., and Khanna, Sunil. 1990.  Indian J. Microbiology. 30: 279-285. Impact factor 0.753
33. Sporulation in Glomus mosseae under in vitro conditions.  Adholeya, A. and Khanna, Sunil. 1990. Curr. Trend Mycorrhizal Research Ed. B L Jalali. p53-55 Hissar.
34. VA mycorrhizae: an important component of tree farming.  Adholeya, A. and Khanna Sunil. 1989. J. of Trop Forestry. 5: 17-29.
35. Relationship of Nitrogenase activity to leghaemoglobin and Sugar content in nodules of Chickpea.  Cicer arietinum  L. Koundal, K.R., Khanna Sunil. and Sinha, S.K. 1987. Indian J. Expt. Biology. 25: 785-788. Impact factor 0.55.
36. Ammonia assimilation in Chlorobium vibrioforme f thiosulfatophilum. Khanna, Sunil and Nicholas, D.J.D. 1983a. Arch. Microbiol. 134: 98-103. -– Impact Factor:2.12
37. Substrate phosphorylation in Chlorobium vibrioforme f thiosulfatophilum.  Khanna, Sunil., and Nicholas, D.J.D. 1983b.  J. Gen. Microbiol. 129: 1365-1370. -– Impact Factor:2.12
38. Adenylation of glutamine synthetase in Chlorobium vibrioforme f thiosulfatophilum. Khanna, Sunil and Nicholas, D.J.D. 1982a.  FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 18: 173-175. -– Impact Factor:2.02
39. Utilization of tetrathionate and ³⁵S-labelled thiosulphate by washed cells of Chlorobium vibrioforme f thiosulfatophilum.  Khanna, Sunil. and Nicholas, D.J.D. 1982b.  J. Gen. Microbiol. 128: 1027-1034. -– Impact Factor:3.12
40. .Oxygen inhibition of the photoassimilation of CO₂ in Rhodopseudomonas capsulate. Khanna, Sunil., Kelley B.C. and Nicholas, D.J.D. 1981. Arch. Microbiol. 128: 421-423. -– Impact Factor:2.12
41. Contribution of dissolved dinitrogen in culture solutions to growth of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata. Kelley B.C., Khanna Sunil. and Nicholas, D.J.D. 1980.  Arch.  Microbiol. 127: 77-80.
42. The effects of carbon dioxide on nitrogenase related activities of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata. Khanna, Sunil., Kelley, B.C. and Nicholas, D.J.D. 1980. J. Gen. Microbiol. 119: 281-284. -– Impact Factor:3.12

Research Projects
Ongoing

1. Genetic Diversity of Organophosphorus Hydrolases and in situ Bioremediation of Chlorpyrifos contaminated sites. Department of Biotechnology (DBT) 2009 – 2012.
2. Biobutanol – The Fuel of the Future: Expression of Butanol coding genes in Lactobacillus.Department of Biotechnology (DBT) 2011 – 2014.

Completed

1. Metagenomic approach for the degradation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) – Pyrene, Department of Biotechnology (DBT) 2007 – 2010.
2. Decontamination and microbial diversity of HCH, p-nitro phenol and chlorpyrifos contaminated soils from dumping sites, Department of Biotechnology (DBT) 2004 – 2007.
3. Characterization and molecular analysis of some PAH (phenanthrene, pyrene, and benzo (a) pyrene degrading pathways by bacteria through metabolic engineering. Department of Biotechnology (DBT) 2003 – 2006.
4. Microbial Diversity for Sustainable Agriculture, UNDP  2002 – 2004
5. Development of Suitable Probes for Tracking the Organisms Released For Bioremediation of Soils Contaminated with Chlorinated and Nitro Pesticides, Department of Biotechnology (DBT) 2001 – 2004
6. Crop Rotation for Sustainable Agriculture, UNDP  2001 – 2002
7. Cellulase free thermophilic and alkalophilic xylanase for paper and pulp industry for Department of Biotechnology New Delhi: 1999- 2001.
8. Biotechnological Interventions in Enhanced Oil Recovery for Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC). India: 1999-2001.
9. Multi client studies on bioremediation in the petrochemical Industry   for Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Oil India, and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation LTD (ONGC). India. 1999-2000.
10. Role of salt tolerant Rhizobium in biomass production of tree legumes for Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, India: 1996-1999.
11. Molecular breeding of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degrading bacteria for Department of Biotechnology, India: 1996-1999.
12. Multi client studies on Waste Management in Hotels for Maurya Sheraton, Nirulas and others, India: 1995-1997.
13. An innovative bioprocess for the stabilization of and energy recovery from solid waste for  New Energy and Industrial Technology Development  Organization (NEDO), Japan; 1995-1998.
14. Assessment of current programs of biomethanation in the various laboratories, R&D Institutions and other agencies for the National Bio-energy Board, Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Sources, India; 1995-1996.
15. Biotechnological approach for microbial enhanced oil recovery for Department of Biotechnology, India: 1992-1996.
16. Methanogenesis from Agricultural by-products: Scale up studies for Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Sources, India: 1992-1996.
17. Application of natural and recombinant microorganisms to biosurfactant production, oil spill degradation and pollution control for Department of Biotechnology, India: 1992-1996.
18. Study of the relationship between pricing of agricultural inputs, farmer production strategies and environmental impacts. Ford Foundation, USA, 1993-1994.
19. Nitrogen fixation and Tissue culture of tree legumes for  wasteland development for  Commission of the European Communities, Brussels;  1988-1992.
20. Methanogenesis from Agricultural by-products for Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Sources, India: 1989-1992.
21. Tissue culture and nitrogen fixation of tree legumes for International Development Research Center, Canada: 1988-1992.
22. Tissue culture and Nitrogen fixation studies in Tree Legumes for Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Sources, India: 1986-1991.