Ritesh K Shukla is working as Assistant Professor at  Biological and Life Sciences, School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University. He did his master's in Forensic Sciences from Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra and PhD in Toxicology (extensively worked in the field of Nanomaterial Toxicology) from CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow (Work place) and Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi. His PhD work was focused on understanding the adverse effect of engineered nanoparticles through in vitro and in vivo approaches. 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 research expertise in diversified field of Toxicology (Genetic toxicology, Nanotoxicology and radiation toxicology) and Forensic Science (DNA Forensics). At Ahmedabad University, Ritesh intends to develop research in the field of Forensic Biotechnology, another diversified field of life science. Currently his research focused on to develop paper based affordable point of care detection device for body fluid identification. He also intends to develop novel method for blood detection that cannot be interfere subsequent DNA analysis.
 

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
 

BOOK CHAPTER

• Ritesh Kumar Shukla, Mahima Bajpayee and Alok Dhawan. Detection of DNA Damage in Different Organs of the Mouse. “The Comet Assay in Toxicology, 2nd Edition” Edited by Alok Dhawan and Diana Anderson. Published by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) 2016;164-176. Print ISBN: 978-1-78262-287-1; PDF eISBN: 978-1-78262-289-5; EPUB eISBN: 978-1-78262-915-3.
• Anil Kainthola, Ritesh K Shukla, Somesh Verma, Shruti Chauhan. Country made firearms- A Raw Deal. “Modern Trends in Forensic Science”. Edited by PK Janjua, Ramesh Chandra, Surendra Nath. Shree Publishers & Distributors, New Delhi. 2006; 226-231; ISBN- 8183290809

1. Krupa Kansara, Pal Patel, Ritesh K Shukla, Alok Pandya, Rishi Shanker, Ashutosh Kumar, Alok Dhawan. Synthesis of biocompatible iron oxide nanoparticles as a drug delivery vehicle, International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2018, 13, 79-82. (IF:4.3)
2. Pal Patel, Krupa Kansara, Ragini Singh, Ritesh K Shukla, Sanjay Singh, Alok Dhawan, Ashutosh Kumar. Cellular internalization and antioxidant activity of cerium oxide nanoparticles in human monocytic leukemia cells, International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2018, 13, 39-41. (IF:4.3)
3. Harsh Dave, Neha Bhandari, Bhavya Mod, Ritesh Shukla and Alok Pandya, Multifunctional silver-cellulose nanocomposite as a promising plasmonic sensing platform, Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2018 18(8), 5461-5469 (IF: 2.62)
4. Ilham F Osman, Mojgan Najafzadeh,  Vyom Sharma, Ritesh K. Shukla, B.K. Jacob, Alok Dhawan, and Diana Anderson. TiO2 NPs induce DNA damage in lymphocytes from healthy individuals and patients with respiratory disease - An Ex Vivo/In Vitro Study. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2018,18(1), 544-555. (IF: 2.62)
5. Malgorzata Kurzawa-Zegota, Vyom Sharma, Mojgan Najafzadeh, P. Dominic Reynolds, Justin P. Davies, Ritesh K. Shukla, Alok Dhawan, and Diana Anderson. Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Induce DNA Damage in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes from Polyposis coli, Colon Cancer Patients and Healthy Individuals: AnEx Vivo/In Vitro Study. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2017, 17(12), 9274–9285. (IF: 2.62)
6. R. Purohit, S. Vallabani, R. K. Shukla, A. Kumar, S. Singh. ‘Effect of Gold Nanoparticle Size and Surface Coating on Human Red Blood Cells” Bioinspired, Biomimetic and Nanobiomaterials, 2016. 5 (3), 121-131.
7. AS Karakoti, R Shukla, R Shanker, S Singh. Surface functionalization of quantum dots for biological applications. “Advances in colloid and interface science”2015, 215, 28-45 (IF: 8.6)
8. K Kansara, P Patel, D Shah, RK Shukla, S Singh, A Kumar, A Dhawan. TiO2 nanoparticles induce DNA double strand breaks and cell cycle arrest in human alveolar cells. “Environmental and molecular mutagenesis”. 2015, 56 (2), 204-217. (IF: 2.55)
9. Ritesh K Shukla#, Ashutosh Kumar#, N.V. Srikanth Vallabani, Alok K Pandey and Alok Dhawan. Titanium dioxide nanoparticle induced oxidative stress triggers DNA damage and hepatic injury in mice “Nanomedicine”  2014, 9(9), 1423-1434 (IF: 5.26) # equal contributor
10. Ritesh K Shukla#, Ashutosh Kumar#, Deepak Gurbani, Alok K Pandey, Shashi Singh and Alok Dhawan. TiO2 nanoparticles induce oxidative DNA damage and apoptosis in human liver cells “Nanotoxicology” 2013, 7(1), 48-60. (IF: 7.84) # equal contributor
11. Ritesh K Shukla, Vyom Sharma, Alok K Pandey, Shashi Singh, Sarwat Sultana and Alok Dhawan. ROS-mediated genotoxicity induced by titanium dioxide nanoparticles in human epidermal cells. “Toxicology in Vitro” 2011, 25, 231-241. (IF: 2.77)
12. This article featured as TOP MOST CITED ARTICLE of the journal Toxicology in Vitro (in 2016)
13. (This article also featured in the book “Sunscreen Biohazards” ed. by Dr. Elizabeth Plourde http://www.sunscreensbiohazard.com/)
14. Ritesh K Shukla, Ashutosh Kumar, Alok K Pandey, Shashi Singh and Alok Dhawan. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles induce oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis in human keratinocyte cells “Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology” 2011, 7, 100. (IF: 2.6)
15. Deepak Gurbani, Ritesh K Shukla, Alok K Pandey and Alok Dhawan. Stable metal oxide nanoparticle formulation for toxicity studies “Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology” 2011, 7, 104. (IF: 2.6)
16. N.V. Srikanth Vallabani, Sandeep Mittal, Ritesh K Shukla, Alok K Pandey, Sanjay R Dhakate, Renu Pasricha and Alok Dhawan. Toxicity of Graphene in normal human lung cells (BEAS 2B) “Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology” 2011, 7, 106. (IF: 2.6)
17. Simantini Nayak, Biswarup Satpati, Ritesh K. Shukla, Alok Dhawan, Sarama Bhattacharjee and Yatendra S. Chaudhary. Facile synthesis of nanostructured hydroxyapatite–titania bio-implant scaffolds with different morphologies: their bioactivity and corrosion behavior. “Journal of Material Chemistry” 2010, 20, 4949-4954. (IF: 5.01)
18. Vyom Sharma, Ritesh K Shukla, Neha Saxena, Devendra Parmar, Mukul Das and Alok Dhawan. DNA damaging potential of zinc oxide nanoparticles in human epidermal cells. “Toxicology Letters” 2009, 185, 211-218. (IF: 3.58)
19. The article featured in the European Commission document “Science for Environment Policy – Nanomaterials, Issue 12, page 4, April 2009”.

1. 20.Alok Pandya and Ritesh K Shukla*. New Perspective of Nanotechnology: Role in Preventive Forensic. Egyptian Journal of  Forensic Science 2018 (Accepted)
2. 18. Ritesh k Shukla*. An Introduction to the Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis Assay: A Technique Resolving Issues in Forensic Science. Egyptian Journal of Forensic Science 2018, 8(1): 1-7.
3. 19. Ritesh K Shukla*. Forensic Application of Comet Assay: An Emerging Technique. Forensic Sciences Research 2017, 2 (4): 180-184.
4. 20. Ritesh K. Shukla*, Anand S. Lodha, Subal Das. Stature Estimation from Footprint: A Study on Central Indian Population. European Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2017, 4(2), 1-9.
5. 21. Ritesh K Shukla*. Forensic Biotechnology: Application of Flow Cytometry in Legal Medicine. International Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2016. 1(1): 000103.
6. 22. Anand S Lodha, Alok Pandya, Ritesh K Shukla*. Nanotechnology: An Applied and Robust Approach for Forensic Investigation. Forensic Research & Criminology International Journal, 2016 2 (1), 00044.
7. 23. Ritesh K Shukla*. Occupational Exposure of Nanoparticles in Forensic Science: A Need of Safe Use. International Journal of Forensic Science and Pathology,2013 1, 301, 1-6. (IF: 1.37)

1. 24. Saba Shahin, Vineet Prakash Singh,  Ritesh K. Shukla,  Alok Dhawan, Ravi Kumar Gangwar, Surya Pal Singh, Chandramohini Chaturvedi. 2.45 GHz Microwave Irradiation Induced Oxidative Stress affects Implantation or Pregnancy in mice, Mus musculus. Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 2013 169 (5), 1727-1751(IF: 1.89)
2. 25. C. M. Chaturvedi, V. P. Singh, P. Singh, P. Basu, M. Singaravel, R. K. Shukla, A. Dhawan, A. K. Pati, R. K. Gangwar and S. P. Singh. 2.45GHz (CW) Microwave irradiation alters circadian organization, spatial memory, DNA structure in the brain cells and blood cell counts of male mice, mus musculus. “Progress In Electromagnetics Research B”, 2011 29, 23-42. (IF: 3.74)
3. 26. V.P. Singh, P. Singh, R.K.Shukla, A. Dhawan, R.K. Gangwar, S.P. Singh and C.M. Chaturvedi,. 2.45 GHz low level CW microwave radiation affects embryo implantation sites and single strand DNA damage in brain cell of mice, Mus musculus. IEEE Xplore Proceedings, 2009.pp 379-382.

• Ritesh K Shukla. Comet Assay: A Versatile tool for DNA Forensics. Journal of Xi’an Jiaotong University (Medical Sciences) Proceedings of the 3rdConference of Silk Road Forensic Consortium, 2018, 39, 10.
• Ritesh K Shukla, Ashutosh Kumar, NV Srikanth Vallabani, Sanjay Singh, Alok Dhawan; TiO2 NPs induced hepatic injury in mammals: a mechanistic approach.Molecular Cytogenetics 2014, 7(1), 82. 
• Krupa Kansara, Pal Patel, Darshini Shah, NV Srikanth Vallabani, Ritesh K Shukla, Sanjay Singh, Ashutosh Kumar, Alok Dhawan; TiO2 nanoparticles induce cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in human alveolar cells. Molecular Cytogenetics 2014, 7(1), 77. 
• Ragini Singh, Ritesh K. Shukla, Ashutosh Kumar, Alok Dhawan, Sanjay Singh; PEGylated nanoceria protect human epidermal cells from reactive oxygen species.Molecular Cytogenetics 2014, 7(1), 78.
• NV Srikanth Vallabani, Ritesh K Shukla, Dinesh Konka, Ashutosh Kumar, Sanjay Singh, Alok Dhawan; TiO2 nanoparticles induced micronucleus formation in human liver (HepG2) cells: comparison of conventional and flow cytometry based methods. Molecular Cytogenetics 2014, 7(1), 79.
• Pal Patel, Krupa Kansara, Darshini Shah, NV Srikanth Vallabani, Ritesh K Shukla, Sanjay Singh, Alok Dhawan, Ashutosh Kumar; Cytotoxicity assessment of ZnO nanoparticles on human epidermal cells. Molecular Cytogenetics 2014, 7(1), 81.
• Rahul Purohit, NV Srikanth Vallabani, Ritesh K Shukla, Ashutosh Kumar, Alok Dhawan, Sanjay Singh; BSA coated gold nanoparticles exhibit size dependent interaction with lung cancer (A549) cells. Molecular Cytogenetics 2014, 7(1), 83.
• Ritesh K. Shukla, Vyom Sharma, Devendra Parmar and Alok Dhawan: In vitro Genotoxicity of TiO2 Nanoparticles in Human Skin Epithelial Cells (A431).Nanotoxicology 2008, 2 (S1), 80.
• Vyom Sharma, Ritesh K Shukla, Neha Saxena, Devendra Parmar, Mukul Das and Alok Dhawan: Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Induce Cytotoxicity and DNA Damage in Human Skin Epithelial Cell Line. Nanotoxicology 2008, 2 (S1), 83.

At Division Level
Integrated MSc Programme:

• Microscopy & Imaging
• Electron Microscopy
• Cell Biology
• Environmental Science
• Toxicology
• Cytogenetics

• Genetics
• Immunology
• Applied Biotechnology
• Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

• Fingerprint Science & Solving crime 
• Clues Never Lie

Editor

• International Journal of forensic sciences (IJFS) (ISSN: 2573-1734), Medwin Publishers
• Journal of Forensic Science and Criminal Investigation (JFSCI) (ISSN: 2476-1311), Juniper Publishers

• American Journal of Bioterrorism, Biosecurity and Biodefence. (Austin group of Publication)
• Austin Journal of Forensic Science and Criminology. (Austin group of Publication)

• Nanotoxicology (Taylor & Francis), Mutagenesis (Oxford Journal), Mutation Research – Reviews (Elsevier), Mutation Research - Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis (Elsevier), Journal of Nanoparticle Research, The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India, Section B: Biological Sciences, (Springer), Environmental Molecular Mutagenesis (Wiley), Biomed Research International (Hindwi).

• Comet Assay: A Versatile tool for DNA Forensics in The 3rd Conference of Silk Road Forensic Consortium, at Yantai, China, September 17-18, 2018.
• Genotoxicity Assessment of Blood Enhancement Chemicals using Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis Method: Future Perspective in National conference on Future perspective of Forensic Science in India, at Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, March 9-10, 2017.
• Significance of Flow Cytometry based micronucleus assay in nanomaterial genotoxicity study in 18th Indo-US Flow Cytometry Workshop” Flow Cytometry in Nanomaterial Toxicology, at CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research Lucknow, February 22-24, 2017.
• Cellular and Molecular responses of Engineered nanomaterials in Mammalian system in International Conference on Electron Microscopy organized by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Mumbai and West Zone Chapter EMSI on July 8-10, 2015 in Mumbai.
• TiO2 Nanoparticles in Biomedical Application in International Conference on Translational Nanomedicine (T-NANO 2014), December 15-17, 201
• Ingredients in Cosmetic Products: Safety & Regulation” in 3rd Asia Safety Experts Workshop organized by Proctor & Gamble (P&G) on November 13, 2014 in Singapore.
• In vitro genotoxicity assessment of Metal oxide nanoparticles in INDO-UK Seminar : Environmental Impact and Hazard Identification  of Engineered Nanomaterials organized by Institute of Life Sciences, Ahmedabad University  on  February 24-26, 2014.

• All India Basis selection to attend the STEM Teacher Training Workshop on Research Based Pedagogical Tools held at Pt Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh on October 6-9, 2017. Workshop was jointly organized by IISER Pune (under the edges of Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission for Teachers and Training Program) and British Council.

Academic:

• Excellence in Teaching Award 2017 for outstanding contribution to teaching and learning at Ahmedabad University on 8th Foundation day of the University on February, 25, 2017.

• National UGC-NET examination (June 2005) qualified in March 2006 and got Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) for pursuing Ph.D.

• Best Paper Award – for the paper entitled “DNA Damaging Potential of Blood Enhancement Chemicals may hinder further DNA Analysis” in International conference on Advances in Forensic DNA Technology, at Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, February 22-24, 2018.
• Best Paper Award – for the paper entitled “Genotoxicity Assessment of Blood Enhancement Chemicals using Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis Method: Future Perspective in National conference on Future perspective of Forensic Science in India, at Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, March 9-10, 2017.
• Best Poster Award –for the poster entitled “Silver-cellulose nano-composite as a disposable and promising plasmonic sensing platform” coauthored with Harsh Dave, Bhavya Mod, Neha Bhandari, Alok Padya and Ritesh K Shukla, Presented in Gujarat Science Congress held at Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar Gujarat, 4 & 5 February 2017.
• Best Poster Award –for the poster entitled “Zinc oxide nanoparticles induce cytotoxicity and DNA damage in human skin epithelial cell line” coauthored with Vyom Sharma, Ritesh K Shukla, Neha Saxena, Devendra Parmar, Mukul Das and Alok Dhawan, presented at the International Conference on Nanomaterial Toxicology, Lucknow- February 5-7, 2008.