Suman Chandra, PhD Suman Chandra earned his MS degree in Physics, MPhil in Environmental Plant Physiology, and PhD in Plant Physiology from the High Altitude Plant Physiology Research Center at HNB Garhwal University, India. He worked at the High Altitude Plant Physiology Research Center and GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment in India between 1992 and 2000. In 2001, Dr. Chandra joined the University of Mississippi, where he currently holds the positions of Principal Scientist at the National Center for Natural Products Research and Research Professor of BioMolecular Sciences at the School of Pharmacy. With over 30 years of experience in medicinal plant research, Dr. Chandra’s areas of interest include conservation, cultivation, and enhancement of medicinal plants, as well as studying the effects of climate change on the physiology and secondary metabolites of medicinally important plants. He has authored more than 100 publications, delivered over 100 presentations, and has two books in his credit.
Hemant Lata, PhD Hemant Lata earned her PhD in Plant Physiology from the High Altitude Plant Physiology Research Center at HNB Garhwal University, India. She received her MS in Biotechnology from Guru Nanak Dev University, India, and BS in Botany (Hons.) from the University of Delhi, India. She completed her Post-Doctoral training at the Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Cytogenetics in the Department of Botany at the University of Delhi. In 2000, she joined The University of Mississippi as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate and was promoted to a research faculty position in December 2003. Currently, Dr. Lata serves as a Principal Scientist at the National Center for Natural Products Research and Research Professor in BioMolecular Sciences at the School of Pharmacy. She has developed, and published micropropagation protocols for several high value medicinal plants. With over 30 years of experience in plant biotechnology, her research focus on screening, micropropagation, conservation, and multiplication of medicinal plants. Dr. Lata has authored more than 100 publications and edited two books on medicinally important plants.