Meenakshi Bhattacharjee, PhD, is an internationally recognized cyano-bacteriologist. She completed her PhD in 1989, and her research introduced key findings—isolating the strongest nitrogen fixing cyanobacterium Aulosira fertilissima from paddy fields and highlighting its role in sustainable agriculture. Her key studies on extremophiles from extreme remote cold and hot environments revealed the complexities and mechanisms associated with their survival and growth and method of communication within naturally immobilized mats. Dr. Meenakshi also introduced the first in situ nitrogen fixation in rice fields and dark nitrogen fixation in paddy fields. Dr. Meenakshi taught at Bhopal University, becoming a a full ranking Professor and mentoring over 25 PhD students, 60 MPhil students, and about 300 MSc graduates. She is currently a Professor of Research at Rice University. Among her accolades, she has been awarded the Albert Schweitzer International Gold Medal for Science, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Award for Environmental Biotechnology (UNESCO), K.N. Katju Award for outstanding achievements in Life science (Department of Science and Technology Govt. of India), and has been named among the Top 50 Women Leaders of Houston for 2023.
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