Research Interests: Nanobiotechnology (Forensic Nanotechnology, Forensic Biotechnology), Toxicology (Nanotoxicology), DNA Forensics, Food Forensics, Point Of Care/Detection Diagnostic Devices.
Dr. Ritesh K. Shukla is working as an Associate professor in Biological and Life Sciences at the School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University. He had joined Ahmedabad University in 2014 as Assistant Professor. His research career began in 2006 when he joined "CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research", Lucknow, India as UGC-JRF where he completed his tenure as UGC-SRF in 2011.
He received his doctorate degree in Toxicology (Nanomaterial Toxicology) in 2013 from Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi for the work he did at CSIR-IITR, Lucknow. He received a master's degree in Forensic Science from Dr BR Ambedkar University, Agra in 2005.
Before joining Ahmedabad University, he served as Assistant Professor at the Institute of Forensic Science, Nagpur and Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, a Central University, Bilaspur.
Ritesh has co-authored more than 40 research articles in International peer reviewed Journal and 20 book chapters. He has edited 3 books, one on Forensic Nanotechnology published by NOVA Science Publishers, New-York, US in 2019, second on Nanotoxicity published by Elsevier in 2020 and third on Forensic Microscopy published by CRC Press in 2022. He received Early Career Research Award from Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India in 2016 for Forensic Biology research Project. Moreover, 1 Indian Patent (granted in 2023) for developing nano-based lateral flow device for blood detection/identification is also in his credit.He has research expertise in diversified field of Toxicology (Genetic toxicology, Nanotoxicology and radiation toxicology) and Forensic Science (Forensic Nanotechnology, Food Forensic and DNA Forensics).
His name was featured among the world’s top 2% of researchers by Stanford University for the year 2022 for Legal and Forensic Medicine, Pharmacology and Pharmacy, and Clinical Medicine.
He is the member of Board of Studies (BOS) for the Forensic Science subject at RTM University, Nagpur.
He is the member of many prestigious scientific society in the field of forensic like Silk Road Forensic Consortium, China (Founded by Professor Henry C. Lee) and “International society for Forensic Genetics” (ISFG). He has given many invited talks in the National and International Conferences organized in India and abroad.
Ritesh interested to focus his area of research on Nanobiotechnology, Forensic Biotechnology, Toxicology, DNA Forensics, Point of Care/detection Diagnostic Devices.
Nanobiotechnology/Point of care/detection devices
In the forensic investigation “on field” detection of body fluids is a challenging task. With the motto of Life science strengthen to solving crime our research group engages to develop “on field” affordable point of detection device for body fluid identification. Such type of technological innovation may helpful to speed up the investigation process & overcome the burden of crime cases in the laboratories.
Biotechnology/ DNA Forensics
Focused on to develop a method for body fluid detection that can be used further for DNA analysis, even after going through the initial screening test. This procedure used together could potentially change the way that forensic investigations are carried out, enabling body detection at the crime-scene itself and thereby considerably reducing the time involved in the process. Moreover, it will work to prevent significant DNA degradation and so will preserve scarce body fluid samples for further analysis.
Our research group is also focused on to assess the biochemical & molecular marker for aging of biological stain. The ability to Estimate the time since deposition (aging) of biological stains found at a crime scene could be an invaluable evidence for investigators to establish the time frame, when the crime has been committed. In this area of research, the degradation rate of macromolecules at different environmental condition can be correlated with aging of biological stains.
Toxicology
Nanotoxicology- Focused to assess the toxicity of nanomaterials on in vitro model (normal and cancer cell lines).
Food Toxicology- Food safety is a challenging aspect in developing country like India. To enhance the texture, taste or stability synthetic dyes, chemicals and other additives are intentionally or unintentionally added into the food products. These additives which are known as adulterants frequently creep up not just in our local products, but even in packaged/branded products. These rampant instances of adulteration and contamination in essential foods can be a potential source of disease infection or toxic poisoning. Our research group is not only focused to detect such type of adulterants but also assess their effect on biomolecules.
RESEARCH GRANTS
Funding Agency: DST-SERB (Early Career Research), Govt of India.
Project Title: Design and development of multiplex assay integrated nanodevice for rapid 'on field' identification of body fluids
Project Grant: INR 42.71 Lakh
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Agency: DBT, Govt of India
Project Title: NanoTOF: Toxicological Evaluation & Risk Assessment on Nanomaterials in Food
Project Grant: INR 76 Lakh
Role: Co-Investigator
PATENT
Tile of the Invention: A Nano Based lateral flow Immunoassay Kit for evaluation of glycophorin-A in blood.
Patent Number: 462697
Application Number: 202021011469
Date of Filing Application: 17-03-2020
Publication Date : 22/05/2020
(The Patent Office Journal No. 21/2020 Dated 22/05/2020 19462) Available at: https://www.ipindia.gov.in/writereaddata/Portal/IPOJournal/1_4868_1/Part-1.pdf
Date of Grant: 27-10-2023
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS
EDITED BOOKS (Indexed in SCOPUS)
Forensic Microscopy-Truth under the Lenses Edited by Ritesh K Shukla, Neeti Kapoor and Ashish Badiye. Publisher: Taylor and Francis, 2022. ISBN 9781032283289 https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.4324/9781003120995/forensic-microscopy-ritesh-shukla-neeti-kapoor-ashish-badiye
Nanotoxicity: Prevention and Antibacterial Applications of Nanomaterials, 1st Edition, Edited by Susai Rajendran, Anita Mukherjee, Tuan Anh Nguyen, Chandraiah Godugu, Ritesh Shukla. Publisher: Elsevier, 2020, ISBN:9780128199435 (Citation:21) https://www.elsevier.com/books/nanotoxicity/rajendran/978-0-12-819943-5
Introduction of Forensic Nanotechnology as Future Armor, Edited by Ritesh K Shukla and Alok Pandya. Publisher: Nova Science Publisher, NY, USA, 2019. ISBN 978-1-53616-040-6, https://novapublishers.com/shop/introduction-of-forensic-nanotechnology-as-future-armour/
BOOK CHAPTER (Twenty)
RESEARCH ARTICLES
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2011
2010
2009
CONFERENCE FULL PAPER IN INTERNATIONAL PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL
ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
Courses taught
With Innovative Pedagogy
New Developed Course
Other Course
ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES AT THE UNIVERSITY
ROLE IN STUDENTS’ ACTIVITIES AT THE SCHOOL & UNIVERSITY LEVEL
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY
Member, Board of Studies (BOS) Forensic Science at Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, Nagpur April 2023- Till date. External Examiner for Forensic Science and Toxicology (National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar; Government Institute of Forensic Science, Nagpur; Government Institute of Forensic Science, Mumbai; Gujarat University, Ahmedabad; Bundelkhand University, Jhansi; Modi University, Luxmangarh)
REVIEWER & EDITORIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Reviewer
Worked as a recognised reviewer for Elsevier (Forensic Science International, Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, Mutation Research – Reviews, Mutation Research - Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis, Journal of Nanoparticle Research, Colloids and Surfaces B- Biointerfaces)
Springer (Chromatographia, The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India, Section B: Biological Science, Egyptian Journal of Forensic Science)
Nanotoxicology (Taylor & Francis), Mutagenesis (Oxford Journal), Environmental Molecular Mutagenesis (Wiley), Biomed Research International (Hindawi), Medicine, Science and Law (SAGE).
Editorial Board Member
Current Forensic Science (ISSN: 2666-4852), Bentham Science
INVITED TALK
International (Abroad):
International (India):
National:
University:
MEMBERSHIPS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES
Faculty Development Program
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
Academic:
Research:
Forensic Excellence Award in the 4th International Forensic Science Conference 2023, jointly organized by SIFS, India and Clue 4 Evidence in New Delhi, on December 1-3, 2023.
Fellowship:
Paper/poster:
In my lab students are engaged in various research projects related to the following interdisciplinary area of research
If your research interest broadly lie any of the above mentioned area please write to me. Currently, I am accepting applications from.
PhD candidates: ARE YOU BELIVE IN INNOVATION? ARE YOU READY TO ACCEPT CHALLENGING RESEARCH TASK? ARE YOU INTERESTED TO STRENGTHEN FORENSIC SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY THROUGH RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT?
If you are, and if you are passionate and motivated to do a PhD, do write to me. Please look at Ahmedabad University website for PhD application procedures.
Postdoctoral Fellows: If you are interested in the projects in the lab or would like to collaborate on a project, do write to me. I can help in finding an extramural funding (DS Kothari, N-PDF, ..) to support your proposal.