A researcher in his/her laboratory is not a mere technician: they are also a child confronting natural phenomena that impress them as though they were fairy tales.
By Marie Curie
By Marie Curie
Hi, I am Rubeka, A Prime Minister Research Fellow at School of Agro and Rural Technology, IIT Guwahati.
Ms. Rubeka (born and bought up in Delhi, India) is a doctoral student at School of Agro and Rural Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), Assam, India, since July 2020. She received her bachelor's degree in Food Technology from Lady Irwin College, university of Delhi, India in 2017. Thereafter, did M.Tech from Jamia Hamdard University in food Technology. She was conferred with the prestigious Prime Minister's Research Fellowship to pursue doctoral studies in the Interdisciplinary areas of Science and Engineering (IDSE) in May 2021 under the joint supervision of Professor Latha Rangan (Professor and Ex. HoD of Biosciences and Bioengineering Department) and Dr. Siddhartha Singha (Assistant professor and DPPC School of agro and Rural Technology). Before joining for PhD, Ms. Rubeka gained some corporate and research experience as Assistant Manager- Research and Marketing at Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture (ICFA), Delhi India and as Senior research fellow at Agriculture Extension division in Indian Agriculture Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), New Delhi, India. She was also the recipient of the prestigious DBT- BIRAC SIIP Fellowship 2020. Broadly, Rubeka does research in the core areas of Food Technology combined with Agriculture and Biotechnology. She is currently working on pigmented rice varieties of North East India (Specifically Black rice of Assam and Manipur). Her research interest lies in applying state-of-the-art techniques from food engineering, upcycling and valorisation, development of new products from underutilized and unknown varieties of India. Her current research work includes characterization of pigmented rice, genetic and processing studies. Rubeka has published and co-authored in various international and national journals and book chapters in reputed publishing houses. She has qualified NET by UGC (twice) and ICAR-ASRB Net 2021. She also possesses a good understanding of agri-entrepreneurship, food safety laws and implementation and SOP development for millet-based products. Previously, Rubeka has also worked on projects related to Fortification, Trans fats, Space Food and New-product development.
Domain Interdisciplinary Food Technology, Biosciences and Bioengineering, Rural Technology)
07/2020-Present
CPI(course work : 9.0/10
School of Agro and Rural Technology, IIT Guwahati,
Assam, India
Domain Food Technology
07/2017-05/2019
CPI(course work : 9.43/10
Department of Food Technology, School of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Technology, Jamia Hamdard
Domain Food Technology
07/2013-05/2017
Percentage : 81%
Department of Food Technology, Lady College, University of Delhi, South Campus, Irwin New Delhi,
05/2013
Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, No.1 Molarband, New Delhi
05/2011
Satyawati Sood Arya Girls S. Sec School, New Delhi
Post Senior Research Fellow
08/2019-09/2020
Project funded by NASF
Collaborated amongst ICAR IARI (Lead by), ICAR IASRI, OUAT and ATARI
Post M.Tech Project Researcher
01/2019-04/2019
Partnering institutes: Jamia Hamdard and ICAR-IIMR ICFA
Post Assistant Manager Research and Marketing & Project Trainee
06/2019 08/2019
Project Trainee 05-2018-07 2018
Thesis title (tentative): Exploring the diversity of Black Rice of Assam for processing and value addition
Black rice (Oryza sativa L.- Zizania aqatica), a pigmented aromatic specialty rice popular in Asia, has a unique flavor and the volatile chemistry of which is being studied by many countries. Black rice is intensely colored due to anthocyanins found in the surface cells of the grain. China accounts for 62% of black rice production in the world followed by Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and Philippines. Black rice is very distinct from white, brown and parboiled rice in terms of aroma, nutrition and the physicochemical properties. It has unique color which is primarily due to anthocyanins and a peculiar nutty flavor. It is extremely rich in phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanins and shows higher antioxidant activity when compared to white and other pigmented rice varieties. The higher protein and anthocyanin content increases its nutritional and antioxidant properties. All of these in combination offers tremendous health benefits. The North Eastern Region (NER) of India comprises of eight states- Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. These regions are known for its rich biodiversity but as compared to other parts of the country NER is less explored for its potential in multi-sectoral development and efficient utilization of the resources available. In north east India only, there are more than 10,000 varieties of rice out of which many of them are pigmented and needs to be studied for its ethnobiology, usage and deserved shelf stand. Manipuri Chakhao (black rice variety) has been studied by few and have received geographical indication (GI) tag as well but Assam being the second largest north eastern states which produces black rice there are gaps in the research studies due to which there are gaps in the value chain of black rice which still needs to be addressed.
Assam has a huge potential to be a major producer and exporter of black rice but is unable to furnish its capability at fullest due to lack of repository of available black rice varieties, processing studies and awareness in farmers.
Therefore, the goal of this thesis research work is to understand of the chemistry of black rice and its potential of value addition and processing will allow the revival of many north eastern black rice varieties that has commercial potential.
Ms. Rubeka is currently a regular Ph.D student at School of Agro and Rural Technology, IIT Guwahati. She received the Prime Minister’s Research Fellowship in the session May 2021. She had her M.Tech in Food Technology from Jamia Hamdard in 2019 and B.Tech in Food Technology from Lady Irwin college, University of Delhi in 2017. Before joining Ph.D at IITG, she worked for 1.5 years in ICAR- Indian Agriculture Research Institute as SRF and Indian Chamber of Food and Agriculture as Assistant manager- research and marketing. She got awarded by Hon. Agriculture Minister (Present) N.S Tomar at IARI for representing her division, MoFPI and AFSTI for her presentations. She also was the highest scorer in her M.Tech thesis presentation.
Dr. Siddhartha Singha is a Food & Bioprocess Engineer by training and working in the area of food and bio processing for the last thirteen years. Currently he is working as Assistant Professor at School of Agro and Rural Technology at IIT Guwahati. He has work experience in NIFTEM-Ministry of Food Processing Industries, GoI and in Industries like Pepsico Holdings, Bridge2Tech. He is active to bring the culture of innovation in Policy making, Institution building, human resource development and research especially in the area of food & nutritional security. He is part of various Government programs like RuTAG, NetProFan- FSSAI etc. and various stakeholder groups. As an advisor to different NGOs and Industries he contributes to the ecology of agri/bio entrepreneurship for sustainable usage of the natural resources and circular economy.
Prof. Latha Rangan is currently Professor at the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati. She obtained her PhD in 2001 and had post-doctoral stints on rice transformation in United Kingdom. Her main focus of research has been on in areas of Applied Biodiversity with special reference to bioresources of Northeast India using an integrative approach. Her work has laid foundation for new ways to detect, authenticate, protect and exploit biodiversity, for instance as resource for sustainable agriculture taking the case of the useful medicinal plants. She has been recently selected for Dr. P. Sheel Memorial Lecture (Young Women Scientist) Awardee by National Academy of Sciences, India and many others previously such as Prof Hiralal Chakravarty Award of Indian Science Congress, Women Scientist Award of Biotech Research Society of India, Young Scientist Award of Society for Chemist and Biologist and Dr J N Baruah Science Award for her significant contributions in are of Plant Sciences.
This project emphasizes on 3000 farmers and 200 Extensionists survey data for various aspects such as climate change effect on nutrition in crops, malnutrition, anemia, various strategies for promoting biofortified crops, foods and development of various ICT based extension services (app, website, mobile based voice system etc) and technology transfer, dissemination of agricultural advancements and technologies to farmers
Worked on making and presenting agricultural and food data reports for B2B dealings for ICFA’s networking with all stakeholders, communications and policy research
Development of millet- based rice analogue by using a novel approach
A qualitative and quantitative project aiming at improvisation of trans fatty acid consumption in urban cities by studying the consumption pattern of oils and fats in every strata of Delhi.
A new product development by using super fruits, underutilized, less known and highly economical products, which was claimed for completing the RDA for iron and half of vitamin C and other micro nutrients like vitamin B complexes.
Research project: International Trade policies and regulations of India for Food and Agricultural Commodities. Conceptualized and handled the communications in line with the marketing team for AgroWorld2018
Research project: Development of millet- based rice analogue by using a novel approach
Research project: Report preparation and value chain analysis of global and Indian scenario of market trends of sea buckthorn berries
An “in plant trainee” of DMS milk plant under which the whole process flow of milk production and treatment direct from the receiving dock to the final release, value addition, quality and safety aspects was understood and project report was submitted.
Project: Research and writing blogs related to health, fitness, eating habits and sports nutrition.
Rubeka Idrishi, Siddhartha Singha, Latha Rangan, “A study on various factors affecting the pigmented rice value chain of North East India with a focus on black rice” (Published)
Rubeka Idrishi, Siddhartha Singha, Latha Rangan, Chapter 8. Black rice starch: Physicochemical characterization and nutritional properties of native black rice starch in the Book Non-conventional starch sources: Properties,
functionality, and applications- Elsevier (Communicated and Under preparation)
Rubeka Idrishi, Siddhartha Singha, Latha Rangan, Chapter 5. Recent Advances in flaking, puffing/parching, popping and instant technologies for production of ready to eat (RTE) cereals- Book by Taylor & Francis AAP on “Emerging technologies for the production of ready to eat snacks”
Accepted
of Multimillet Vermicelli by Cold Extrusion Technology: A Novel Value-Added Millet Product, Conference proceeding: UGC Sponsored National Conference on Food Safety, Nutritional Security and Sustainability, ISBN: 978-81-942875-0-6 (March 06-07, 2020) (R. Idrishi, 2019)
Department of Applied Biology- Food Science and Technology Division, University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya Techno City, Killing Road, Baridua 9th Mile, Meghalaya 793101
TA supervisor: Dr. Siddhartha Singha
A shot after my PMRF Party at 01-01-2022 with lab mates of three labs Applied Biodiversity Lab, Applied Eco-technology Lab, Food and Agri-bioprocessing Lab with respective PIs
During TA at USTM
During TA at USTM
A photo with Dr. Rupankar Bhagawati- Principal scientist & OIC during a visit to ICAR- National Rice Research Institute (NRRI) National Regional Rainfed Lowland Rice Research Station (NRRLRRS), Gerua, Hajo Assam 781102, Dated 22nd February, 2022
with fellow PMRFs: PMRFs Meet day with Hon'ble Minister of Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Govt of India to Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati on 21st November 2021, Sunday.
A Visit to Assam Technology Business Incubator organised by School of Agro and Rural Technology, IIT Guwahati, 26.02.2021
A picture while receiving an award from Hon. Agriculture Minister Sh. NS Tomar along with ICAR officials (including Director Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra and Joint Director Research) on 2nd October, 2019
NASF project team at ICAR-IARI (PI. Dr. Prem Lata Singh (4th from LHS), Co-PI Dr. Satyapriya (1st from RHS), Dated 16.01.2020
A group photo after two days workshop on Food safety and Codex Alimentarius by Shri Sanjay Dave, former Chairman of Codex Alimentarius and former Advisor FSSAI held at Jamia Hamdard November 4-5, 2019
ICFA working days: A shot taken with a team of ICFA after a successful event, dated 11.07.2019
M.Tech Thesis Days: A delegate visit day at ICAR- Indian Institute of Millets Research 27.03.2019
Poster presentation at IUFoST (International Union of Food Science and Technology), Mumbai, India 2018
A trip to Harvest Gold during M.Tech
A visit to Nestle plant (Samalkha, Haryana) during B.Tech, Dated 23.01.2016