Innovative Research Award
Ayushi Gupta — ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, India
| Ayushi Gupta |
| Affiliation |
ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology |
| Country |
India |
| Google Scholar |
Px9iCDAAAAAJ |
| Documents |
11 |
| Citations |
380 |
| h-index |
6 |
| Subject Area |
Life Sciences |
| Event |
Botany Scientist Awards |
| Scopus ID |
57214222702 |
| ORCID |
0000-0002-3365-7987
|
Ayushi Gupta is a plant and life-science researcher whose work integrates molecular biology, epigenetics, insect–microbiome interactions, agricultural biotechnology, next-generation sequencing and computational biology. Her research trajectory spans experimental studies of insect adaptation and stress resilience, microbiome-associated phenotypes, epigenomic regulation and gene regulatory networks involved in maize development. Her training combines wet-laboratory experimentation with analysis of high-throughput sequencing datasets and structural bioinformatics, providing an interdisciplinary basis for investigating biological responses across molecular, cellular and organismal scales.[1][2]
Abstract
Ayushi Gupta is a life-science researcher working at the interface of plant biology, agricultural biotechnology, molecular genetics, epigenetics, microbiome science and computational biology. Her doctoral research examined mechanisms associated with rapid adaptation in the brown planthopper, including insect microbiome dynamics, epigenomic regulation and responses to environmental stresses. Her subsequent postdoctoral research at the University of Edinburgh investigated gene regulatory networks and boundary specifications underlying maize leaf development through an integrated approach involving genetics, next-generation sequencing, molecular biology, three-dimensional imaging and computational modelling. Her current research as a DST-INSPIRE Faculty member at the ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology extends this interdisciplinary foundation toward plant and insect molecular biology and biotechnology. Her documented research record includes peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, conference presentations, invited talks and research recognitions.
Keywords
Botany; plant biotechnology; agricultural sciences; plant–insect interactions; molecular biology; epigenetics; insect microbiome; gene expression; DNA–protein interactions; protein–protein interactions; next-generation sequencing; bioinformatics; computational biology; structural bioinformatics; insect–virus interactions; maize development; gene regulatory networks; stress adaptation; agricultural biotechnology.
Introduction
Ayushi Gupta’s academic development reflects a progression from botanical training into interdisciplinary molecular and computational research. She completed a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Botany at the University of Delhi, followed by an M.Sc. in Botany, where she received recognition for academic performance. Her doctoral training at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in New Delhi focused on experimental questions involving insect microbiomes and epigenetic mechanisms. This period established her expertise in cloning, biochemical assays, gene-expression analysis and high-throughput sequencing.
Her research subsequently expanded through a British Council Women in STEM Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Edinburgh. There, she investigated gene regulatory networks and developmental boundary specification in maize using complementary genetic, molecular, imaging and computational approaches. Since 2024, she has served as a DST-INSPIRE Faculty member at the ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology in Delhi, continuing research within plant and agricultural biotechnology.
Her publication record includes work addressing insect–microbiome relationships, epigenomic modifications and environmental adaptation. The research themes represented in these publications connect molecular mechanisms with broader questions of insect resilience, agricultural stress and biological adaptation.[3][4][5]
Research Profile
Ayushi Gupta’s research profile is characterized by the integration of experimental biology and computational analysis. Her laboratory experience includes cloning, biochemical assays, gene-expression studies and other molecular techniques, while her computational training encompasses analysis of sequencing datasets generated using Illumina, PacBio and Oxford Nanopore platforms. This combination enables her to connect experimentally observed phenotypes with genomic and epigenomic data.
A major component of her doctoral work involved the brown planthopper, an agriculturally important insect pest. Her research examined microbial community variation, epigenetic mechanisms and environmental influences associated with insect adaptation. Particular attention was given to methylation patterns, transposable elements, microbiome composition and responses to pesticide and nutritional stresses.
Her postdoctoral research broadened the scope toward plant developmental biology. At the University of Edinburgh, she contributed to investigations of maize leaf development, with emphasis on gene regulatory networks and developmental boundaries. The multidisciplinary framework incorporated genetics, next-generation sequencing, molecular biology, live or three-dimensional imaging and computational modelling, allowing developmental processes to be examined at multiple biological levels.
Her stated technical expertise additionally includes structural and functional analysis of genes and proteins, protein and DNA interactions, data analysis, SPSS and the Schrödinger molecular-modelling platform. She has also trained and supervised undergraduate students and has experience presenting scientific findings to academic and multidisciplinary audiences.
Research Contributions
Ayushi Gupta’s research contributions can be grouped into several interconnected areas. Her work on insect microbiomes has examined how microbial associations may influence host biology, resilience and adaptation. Her research has also addressed the role of epigenomic processes in environmentally responsive phenotypes, including responses of the brown planthopper to pesticides and nutritional stress.[3][5]
- Investigation of insect–microbiome interactions and their implications for host and microbial symbiont biology.
- Study of epigenomic modifications associated with rapid adaptation and stress resilience in insects.
- Analysis of next-generation sequencing datasets from Illumina, PacBio and Nanopore platforms.
- Research into gene regulatory networks and developmental boundary specification in maize.
- Integration of molecular biology, genetics, imaging and computational modelling in plant developmental research.
- Application of computational and structural bioinformatics approaches to gene and protein analysis.
- Development of interdisciplinary expertise connecting plant science, insect biology, microbiology, epigenetics and agricultural biotechnology.
Her conference and outreach activities further demonstrate engagement with the scientific community. She has presented research at plant protection, experimental biology and agricultural science meetings and has participated in scientific communication initiatives. Her documented presentations include work on insect microbiomes, epigenomic adaptation and maize gene regulatory networks.
Publications
Ayushi Gupta has reported a publication record comprising research articles and book chapters, with several works addressing insect–microbiome interactions and epigenetic adaptation. Her publication portfolio demonstrates continuity between her doctoral research and broader interests in biological resilience, environmental stress and molecular regulation. Bibliographic records supplied for this profile identify 11 documents and 380 citations in Google Scholar, with a reported h-index of 6; a separate Scopus summary supplied for the profile reports 8 documents, 259 citations and an h-index of 5. These figures may vary according to database coverage and indexing dates.[1][2]
A notable publication is the 2020 Frontiers in Microbiology article on the dynamics of insect–microbiome interactions and their influence on host and microbial symbiont biology. The article provides a framework for considering microbial associations as an important component of insect biology and adaptation.[3]
Her later work has addressed epigenetic processes in insect adaptation to environmental stress and heritable epigenomic modifications associated with stress resilience in the brown planthopper. These publications extend the research theme from microbial associations toward molecular mechanisms that may contribute to environmentally responsive phenotypes.[4][5]
Her book-chapter contributions include a chapter on insect–microbiome interaction dynamics published by Frontiers Media and a 2026 chapter addressing the role of insect microbiomes in resilience, plasticity and survival. Her record also includes eight research articles identified as first-author publications in the supplied professional profile, with additional manuscripts described as being in preparation or in the publication pipeline.
Research Impact
The scientific significance of Ayushi Gupta’s work lies in its interdisciplinary treatment of adaptation and biological resilience. By combining microbiome analysis, epigenetics, molecular biology and computational approaches, her research addresses mechanisms operating between genotype, molecular regulation, microbial association and environmental response. Such approaches are relevant to understanding agricultural pests and to developing more informed strategies for sustainable crop protection.
Her research has also generated communication beyond conventional journal publication. Work on transposon methylation and environment-guided microbial shifts was featured by Biopatrika in 2022, while her conference activities have included presentations at international and national scientific meetings. She has additionally contributed to science outreach through documentary participation, student-facing events and scientific networking activities.
The professional record supplied for this article documents several forms of recognition, including academic excellence awards, a gold medal in Botany, competitive research fellowships, the British Council Women in STEM Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship, the DST-INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship and the MK Bhan Young Researcher Fellowship. She has also received presentation-related recognition, including a Best Poster Award and a Best Rapid Oral Presentation Award.[1][2]
Award Suitability
For the Innovative Research Award within the Botany Scientist Awards context, Gupta presents a research profile aligned with interdisciplinary innovation in life sciences and plant-related research. Her suitability is supported by the combination of formal botanical training, molecular experimentation, high-throughput sequencing, computational biology, plant developmental research and insect–plant systems biology.
A further strength is the continuity between her research stages. Her doctoral work established expertise in insect microbiome and epigenetic research, while her postdoctoral fellowship expanded her capabilities into maize developmental genetics, imaging and computational modelling. Her current faculty position provides an institutional setting in which these skills can be applied to plant biotechnology and agricultural research.
The supplied record also demonstrates competitive academic recognition and active scientific engagement. Her receipt of national and international fellowships, research presentation awards, academic distinctions and outreach responsibilities provides contextual evidence of professional development. On the basis of the documented research themes, publication activity, interdisciplinary skills and recognition, her profile is relevant to an award emphasizing innovative research in botany and life sciences.[1][2]
Conclusion
Ayushi Gupta’s academic profile reflects an interdisciplinary approach to contemporary biological research, connecting botany and agricultural biotechnology with molecular biology, epigenetics, microbiome science, genomics and computational analysis. Her research on insect adaptation and maize developmental regulation demonstrates experience across both experimental and computational methodologies. Her publication record, scientific presentations, fellowships, awards and outreach activities collectively provide a substantial basis for considering her within the Innovative Research Award category of the Botany Scientist Awards.[1]
External Links
References
- Google Scholar. (n.d.). Google Scholar profile: Ayushi Gupta, Scholar ID Px9iCDAAAAAJ. https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Px9iCDAAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra
- Elsevier. (n.d.). Scopus author details: Ayushi Gupta, Author ID 57214222702. Scopus. https://www.scopus.com/pages/authors/57214222702
- Gupta, A., & Nair, S. (2020). Dynamics of insect–microbiome interaction influence host and microbial symbiont. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, 1357. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.01357
- Gupta, A., & Nair, S. (2025). Epigenetic processes in insect adaptation to environmental stress. Current Opinion in Insect Science, 67, 101294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2024.101294
- Gupta, A., & Nair, S. (2022). Heritable epigenomic modifications influence stress resilience and rapid adaptations in the brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens). International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(15), 8728. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23158728