HomeAbout & academic CV

KRIPAL SINGH / ABOUT & ACADEMIC CV

About & academic CV

The person behind the research — the experiences, ideas, and people that have shaped my work.

Kripal Singh — Research, learning, and life beyond the page.

THE PERSON BEHIND THE RESEARCH

Curiosity brought me here.
Connection keeps me learning.

I am a Visiting Professor at the Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. My work connects biological invasions, plant community assembly, ecological restoration, and plant and soil ecology.

Plant and soil ecologist with more than 15 years of international research experience in biological invasions, plant community assembly, ecological restoration, and the recovery of biodiversity and soil ecosystem functioning. Research integrates field and greenhouse experiments, native seed-mixture design, species interactions, plant functional traits, and soil processes to identify mechanisms that shape invasion resistance and restoration outcomes. Experience in university teaching, graduate research mentoring, and interdisciplinary collaboration across India, South Africa, South Korea, and Brazil.

Outside the technical work, I enjoy reading, helping others, and learning. I value the ideas that come from working across disciplines and sharing knowledge with students and colleagues.

A FEW CHAPTERS IN THE JOURNEY

From outreach
to ecological restoration.

2005–2008
Teaching and outreach
Botany teaching and medicinal-plant outreach in India.
2014
Ph.D. in Botany
University of Lucknow; restoration of degraded sodic lands.
2021–2022
Research in South Africa
Postdoctoral Researcher, Durban University of Technology.
2022–2026
Research in South Korea
Research Professor, Gyeongkuk National University, September 2022–January 2026.
2026–present
A new chapter in Brazil
Visiting Professor at UFMG since February 2026.

ACADEMIC CV

The full
background.

Open a section to see the details.

Academic record updated from the supplied CV in October 2026. Fellowship decisions and overlapping appointments are retained as recorded.

Academic qualifications

B.Sc. Botany and Chemistry 2003 (1st): CSJM University Kanpur, India

M.Sc. Botany 2005 (1st): CSJM University Kanpur, India

Specialization: Plant Ecology and Environmental Pollution

Ph.D. Botany 2014 (Restoration Ecology): University of Lucknow, India

Thesis: Ecological Studies on Restoration Process of Degraded Sodic Lands Rehabilitated in Different Land Use Systems

Diploma in Computer Science (2003): National Institute of Technology, New Delhi

Professional career

Visiting Professor (02.2026-continue): Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Research Professor (09.2022-01.2026): Gyeongkuk National University, South Korea

Postdoctoral Researcher (11.2021-9.2022): Durban University of Technology, South Africa

Project Scientist (3.2019-10.2021): National Botanical Research Institute, India & United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Austria

CSIR-Pool Scientist (11.2016-3.2019): National Botanical Research Institute, India

Assistant Professor (08.2016-10.2017): Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, India.

Nehru Science Postdoctoral Fellow (07.2013-06.2016): Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, India

D.S. Kothari Postdoctoral Fellow (11.2012-06.2013): Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, India.

Senior Research Fellow: (04.2009-03.2012): National Botanical Research Institute, India

Project Assistant-II (08.2008-03.2009): National Botanical Research Institute, India

Project Assistant-I (05.2006-07.2008): National Botanical Research Institute, India

Lecturer (Botany): (07.2005-05.2006): Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Awadh University, India

Professional training

Trained in Production of medicinal and aromatic plants by www.cimap.res.in

Read more ↗

Trained in Next generation sequencing: data analysis and bioinformatics by www.au-kbc.org

Read more ↗

Trained in Application of Remote Sensing and GIS for natural resources by https://www.iirs.gov.in

Read more ↗

Trained in Science Communication and Film Making by https://vigyanprasar.gov.in

Read more ↗

Teaching

Botany (plant taxonomy, physiology, pathology) & Environment science (pollution and climate change)

Applied Geology (Rocks, and Earth Evolution)

Fundamentals of Restoration Ecology, Environmental Biology, Land Rehabilitation

Plant and Soil Ecology (Plant Invasion, Community Assembly, Soil Food Web)

Biological Invasions: Ecology, Evolution, Impacts and Management.

Awards and scholarships

CSIR-Senior Research Fellowship 2009. Fund USD 10618 $ for 3 Years

DR. D.S. Kothari Postdoctoral Fellowship 2012. Fund 4792 $ for 8 Months

CSIR-Senior Research Fellowship-Extended 2013. Fund 3498$ for 1 Year

CSIR-Nehru Science Postdoctoral Research Fellowship 2013. Fund 38338 $ for 3 Year

Prof. H. S. Srivastava Young Scientist Award 2013. Fund 1252 $ one time

Israel Government Scholarship 2014 (denied availing). Fund 9531$ for 8 Months

Irish Research Council, Postdoctoral Fellowship 2014 (denied)

Best Research Paper award 2013 (NBRI, Lucknow, India). 32 $ (one time)

Best Research Paper award 2014 (NBRI, Lucknow, India). 32 $ (one time)

CSIR-Pool Scientist (Senior Research Associate) Award 2016. Fund 37273 $ for 3 Years

DUT, South Africa Postdoctoral Scientist Fellowship 2021. Fund 11927 $ for 10 months

Open Doors Travel Grant by Society for Ecological Restoration, USA. 2023 Fund 1600$

SER-Microsoft project under SER Standards for Restoration, USA. 2024. Fund 80000$

Emerging Young Scientist Award, The Ecological Society of Korea.

Scientific activities

Member Scientific Committee: JIGYASA 2014, CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow

Member Scientific Committee: JIGYASA 2015, CSIR-CIMAP, Lucknow

Expert Science Village, India International Science Festival 2018, NBRI, Lucknow

Expert Flower Shows at CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow

Student supervision

Ph.D.

Dr. Pragya Trivedi: Structural and functional dynamics of microbial communities in salt-affected soils

Dr. Pawan Maddhesiya: Aromatic grasses based engineered ecosystem for restoration of

marginal lands and enhanced carbon sequestration

Dr. Kuldeep Bauddh: A comparative study on tolerance mechanism and phytoremediation potential of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) and Castor (Ricinus communis L.) in nickel and cadmium contaminated soil

Masters

Sandeep Sharma: Reclamation of salt-affected soils using fly ash and farm-yard manure

Ashish Mishra: Understanding the relationship between soil properties and litter chemistry in three forest communities in tropical forest ecosystem

Nandini Gautam: Clonal multiplication Psidium guajava L. using cutting under controlled conditions

Nivedita Mishra: Reducing damages in Betelvine using ACC-deaminase containing microbes

Jangho Lee: Seed density and priority effects determine biotic resistance of restored native plant communities to invasion

Dahui Jeong: Growth forms and fitness rather than limiting similarity and diversity effect determine biotic resistance to invasive Solidago altissima

Conference abstracts

Kripal Singh, Gaurav Singh, R.K. Upadhyay, Shanta Mehrotra. 2007. “Biodiversity of Medicinal Plants, its uses & Sustainable development (Hindi)”. Souvenir, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute R.I. p. 60.

Kripal Singh, Gaurav Singh, Shanta Mehrotra. 2007. “Revitalization of traditional system of medicine for better health” Souvenir, APSI, Muzafarnagar, p. 104.

Kripal Singh, Gaurav Singh, S.K. Tewari, Shanta Mehrotra. 2007. “Standardization of Herbal Products for Better Health (Hindi)” Souvenir, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, p. 53.

Kripal Singh, N.N. Gautam, Bajrang Singh. 2010. “Rehabilitation of barren sodic lands under agroecosystem in Gangetic plains of India” Souvenir, National Institute of Ecology, New Delhi, India

Kripal Singh, K.P. Tripathi, N.N. Gautam, B. Singh, T.S. Rahi. 2010. Community characteristics, biomass accumulation and soil properties in a rehabilitated forest on sodic land in north India. Souvenir, International Conference of Plant and Environmental Pollution, ISEB, Lucknow, p. 38

T.S. Rahi, B. Singh, L. Bahadur, V. Dixit, Kripal Singh, N.N. Gautam. 2010. Soil amelioration through afforestation on degraded sodic soils. Souvenir, International Conference of Plant and Environmental Pollution, ISEB, Lucknow, p. 106

T.S. Rahi, B. Singh, L. Bahadur, V. Dixit, R.S. Katiyar, U.V. Pathre, Kripal Singh, N.N. Gautam. 2010. Prospects and retrospect of Jatropha curcas plantation on sodic lands in Uttar Pradesh. Souvenir, International Conference of Plant and Environmental Pollution, ISEB, Lucknow, p. 195

Ganesh Shukla, Kripal Singh, Bajrang Singh. 2009. Promising sources of biofuel production in India, Souvenir, National Conference on biofules: Potential and Challenges. Tropical Forest Research Institute, ICFRE, Jabalpur, p. 3

Selected presentations

Biodiversity of medicinal plants, their use and sustainable development. 2007. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow.

Revitalization of traditional system of medicine for better health. 2007. Conference organized by Advances in Plant Sciences India, Muzafarnagar.

Rehabilitation of barren sodic lands under agroecosystem in Gangetic plains of India. 2010. National Seminar Organized by National Institute of Ecology, New Delhi.

Rehabilitation of degraded sodic land through agroforestry and monoculture plantations. 2014. World Congress on Agroforestry, Delhi India.

Restoration Ecology: Need of the hour. At University Grant Commissions, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Refresher Course for Assistant Professors of different subjects. Organized by University of Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India. 2022

Restoration of degraded lands through afforestation, bioenergy crops and perennial grasses. At Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bangalore, India. 2022.

Inclusion of reference ecosystems in restoration governance. SER World Conference 2023, Darwin, Australia

Enhancing biotic resistance of native plant communities to invasion: Role of native seed densities and priority effects, BES2024 (11-13 December 2024,) in Liverpool, UK.

Ecological Suitability of Mixed Forests in Restoring Degraded Lands. Annual Meeting of he Association of Tropical Biodiversity Conservation (ATBC-2026), June 29th 2026, China.

SHARING SCIENCE

Learning together.
Beyond the laboratory.

Alongside research, I have helped organise science outreach, including JIGYASA activities, flower shows, and the 2018 Science Village programme at the National Botanical Research Institute in Lucknow.

At Science Village, students interacted with scientists, visited laboratories and garden facilities, and took part in experiments, sky watching, and foldscope activities.

Meet the wider academic community →