Nauni researcher presents paper at Serbia workshop

Avantika Sharma, a post-graduate student of the soil science and water management course at Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni, has highlighted the role of fermented organic manure in enhancing soil microbial diversity during an international workshop held recently in Serbia. The University of Belgrade, established in 1808, hosted the workshop, titled “From genomic analysis to functional models in microbiomes and synthetic consortia”, earlier this month.

The five-day intensive event — BiomeFUN, organised by the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) in collaboration with Delft University of Technology, Netherlands — brought together 80 researchers, academics, and PhD students from across the world.

Participants were selected based on their academic achievements and demonstrated interest in bioinformatics, microbiology, and environmental research.

Avantika was awarded a partial grant by the FEMS, which facilitated her presenting a poster on “Enriching soil microbiomes through fermented organic manure for soil health sustainability and metagenomic exploration”.

Her research emphasised the role of fermented organic manure in enhancing soil microbial diversity, improving soil health, and providing insights through metagenomic studies.

She showcased her findings, gained exposure to advanced research methodologies, and interacted with global experts in microbiology and environmental sciences.

Notably, the Nauni university signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2023 with the faculty of biology at the University of Belgrade.

The MoU provides a framework for academic collaboration, joint research programmes, workshops, and training initiatives aimed at advancing scientific knowledge in molecular biology, sustainable agriculture, and environmental sciences.

Avantika is among the grant holders who benefitted from the academic partnership.