Dr. Sanjai Saxena
FOUNDER / CSO (Chief Scientific Officer)
Sanjai, is an accomplished academic and researcher with two decades of experience in bio-tech research and development. He has embarked upon his journey as an innovator turned entrepreneur with a pursuit to address the ever-arising unanswered agricultural and pharmaceutical sector needs. He continually focuses on exploring and exploiting novel biomolecules drawn from biological systems and their interactions in nature, particularly plant-microbe interactions. Sanjai holds a bachelor’s degree, honours in Botany (University of Delhi), Masters and Ph.D. degrees in Life Sciences/ Biological Sciences (spl. Biotechnology) from Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), India. He has served as a Research Scientist, Thapar Centre for Industrial Research & Development (TCIRD), Patiala (now at Avantha Centre for Research and Development, Yamunanagar, Haryana), prior to taking up a faculty position in Biotechnology, currently as a Professor at Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala. Prof. Saxena holds in his credits Indian and US patent for developing biopesticides and novel bioactive compounds derived from plants and microbes; several peer reviewed research publications, articles, book and research reports etc.
Driven with the motto, ”Minor Observations lead to Major Research Discoveries”, his applied-research and innovation journey helped him achieve of Bharat Jyoti Award (2012), Eminent Microbiologist Award (2014), Challenge for Change 2018 (Innovation award, Govt. of Rajasthan); DST-Lockheed Martin-Tata Trusts – India Innovation Growth Program 2.0 award (2018). Previously held administrative positions such as Deputy Coordinator of STEP (Science & Technology Entrepreneurs Park), Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology and Coordinator TIFAC- Centre of Relevance and Excellence (CORE) in Agro and Industrial Biotechnology, additionally empowered him to come-up with a start-up, AGPHARM BIOINNOVATIONS LLP.
As a CEO, he is overall responsible for executing the functions of his start-up besides being Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) in directing research, seeking research/ start-up- research grants for developing products and technological solutions with his scientific team and developing the patent portfolio of the start-up.