Dr. Richa Singh

Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology · SIES College of Arts, Science and Commerce (Autonomous), Mumbai

Dr. Richa Singh

Assistant Professor

Department of Biotechnology

SIES College of Arts, Science and Commerce (Autonomous), Mumbai

Hi, I’m Richa.

I’m an educator and researcher in biotechnology at SIES College of Arts, Science & Commerce in Mumbai. Classrooms and labs have been my happy place for close to a decade now, whether I’m explaining a concept, designing an experiment, or watching a student present their first research finding.

My research grew out of a simple fascination: can tiny living things help us build tiny powerful things? That question led me to my doctoral work in bionanotechnology. I began by coaxing bacteria like Acinetobacter into making silver, gold and selenium nanoparticles, and the work has since grown into antimicrobial and anticancer applications, pulling dyes out of wastewater with agricultural waste, and designing adsorbents that can capture microplastics.

If you ask what I’m proud of, though, it’s the students: the postgraduate dissertations I’ve guided, the undergraduates I’ve walked through their first projects, and the NPTEL mentees I’ve cheered on, several of whom finished as national toppers. I teach across nanotechnology, immunology, cytogenetics, biostatistics and research methodology, and I genuinely enjoy making these subjects feel less intimidating and more exciting than their names suggest.

I’m always happy to connect, whether you’re a student looking for guidance, a researcher exploring a collaboration, or simply someone curious about the nano world.

Research

My work runs across three threads:

Biogenic nanomaterials Using Acinetobacter and other biological materials to synthesise silver, gold and selenium nanoparticles, tested against drug-resistant bacteria, biofilms, tuberculosis and cancer cell lines.

Cleaning up water Biosorbents made from agricultural waste that strip textile dyes out of water, and nanomaterials that may capture microplastics.

Survey-based research Analyzing data collected from target groups, on wide range of themes such as online professional courses, hybrid learning, consumer perception of food contact materials, etc.

28 publications (25 journal articles, 3 book chapters)

3,000+ citations

19 h-index

19 i10-index

11 projects guided (4 PG, 7 UG)

Figures as of August 2026. Citation metrics from Google Scholar.

Appointments

2017 – present Assistant Professor Department of Biotechnology, SIES College of Arts, Science & Commerce (Autonomous), Sion (W), Mumbai

2016 – 2017 Assistant Professor Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science, Fort, Mumbai

Ongoing Visiting Faculty Departments of Biotechnology and Biophysics, University of Mumbai; Centre of Excellence in Basic Sciences (UM-DAE-CEBS), Mumbai

Education

2017 Ph.D. Biotechnology Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune

2010 M.Sc. Biotechnology University of Mumbai

2008 B.Sc. (Hons.) Biotechnology Panjab University

Recognitions & awards

Recognised Ph.D. guide in Biotechnology, University of Mumbai
Dr. A. J. Desai / Dr. L. H. Hiranandani Award for best paper presentation, 33rd Annual Conference of the Mumbai Hematology Group
Roll of Honour (Academics), 3rd position in the University
Consistently top-performing mentor, SWAYAM-NPTEL courses

Fellowships

CSIR-UGC NET, Life Sciences (2010)
ICMR Junior Research Fellowship (2010)

Professional services

Journal reviewer: Frontiers in Microbiology; Frontiers in Biotechnology & Bioengineering
Invited speaker at workshops on the CSIR-UGC NET examination, research methodology and research data analysis
Adjudicator for research paper and poster presentation competitions at various academic institutions

Collaborations

Collaborative projects with the Indian Women Scientists’ Association, Mumbai and Department of Physics, University of Mumbai
Ph.D. work carried out with Prof. B. A. Chopade’s group, Savitribai Phule Pune University