Pradipta K. Mohapatra, Ph. D., Utkal University, Bhubaneswar and Post Doctoral Research at Rostock University, Germany, is currently a Reader in Botany at the P. G. Department of Botany, Utkal University. Dr Mohapatra was a Post Doctoral Research Fellow of Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Bonn, Germany. He has done extensive work on responses of photosynthetic apparatus under insecticides stress in leading institutes in Germany and has published many research papers in standard refered journals. He is teaching Microbiology and Environmental Biotechnology to the M. Sc. and M. Phil. students. His research interests include aquatic bioassay studies, microbial degradation of pesticides and biochemical basis of pesticide resistance in cyanobacteria. He has reputation for his expertise in analysis of pesticide toxicity using chlorophyll fluorescence signals. He has 54 research publications. In addition Dr Mohapatra has published two books and edited four research proceedings. His Textbook of Biotechnology has been well received by the faculty as well as student community.