08/10/2025
Tribute to Late Prof. Jyoti Prakash Tamang as Ph.D. Supervisor.
By Dr. Rajen Chettri
Assistant Professor
Department of Botany
S. G. S. C., Chakung
Soreng District
Sikkim
I, Dr. Rajen Chettri, had the privilege of completing my doctoral research under the esteemed supervision of the late Professor Jyoti Prakash Tamang—an internationally renowned authority in the field of food microbiology, with a particular focus on ethnic fermented foods. My Ph.D. thesis, titled “Microbiological Evaluation of Turangbai and Bekang, Ethnic Fermented Soybean Foods of North-East India,” was awarded by the University of North Bengal in 2014.
Under Prof. Tamang’s expert mentorship, my research centered on the isolation, identification, and characterization of Bacillus spp. from traditional fermented soybean products of Northeast India. His unwavering commitment to scientific rigor, coupled with his deep understanding of microbial ecosystems in indigenous food systems, played a pivotal role in shaping my academic development and research trajectory.
Our collaborative work resulted in several high-impact publications in respected international journals such as Frontiers in Microbiology, International Journal of Food Microbiology, and the Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research. These contributions not only enriched the scientific understanding of fermented food microbiota but also highlighted the cultural and biotechnological significance of traditional knowledge systems.
Prof. Tamang’s mentorship was a catalyst in fostering my enduring interest in applied microbiology. His guidance extended beyond the Ph.D. program, encouraging my post-doctoral research on poly-γ-glutamic acid (PGA), funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, at Sikkim University. This work further expanded our contributions to microbial biotechnology and resulted in several impactful publications.
The values, work ethic, and scientific curiosity instilled by Prof. Tamang continue to guide my career as a researcher, educator, and academic administrator. His legacy lives on through the many students he mentored, and I remain deeply grateful to have been one of them. My academic journey and contributions in the field of microbiology are, in many ways, a reflection of his enduring influence and inspiration.
