Dr. Rakesh Kumar Bachheti graduated from the Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna University, Garhwal, India, in 1996. He completed his MSc in Organic Chemistry from Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna University, Garhwal, India in 1998. He had undergone a one-year Post Graduate Diploma in Pulp and Paper Technology from Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, in 2001. He obtained his PhD in Organic Chemistry from Kumaun University, Nainital, India in 2007. He is presently working as an Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry in the Department of Industrial Chemistry at the Addis Ababa Science and Technology University (AASTU) of Ethiopia, where he teaches PhD, graduate and undergraduate students. Before joining AASTU, Dr. Rakesh was working as Dean Project (Assistant) in Graphic Era University (A grade university by NACC) Dehradun, India. Dr. Rakesh also presented papers in various international (Malaysia, Thailand and India) and national conferences. He was also a member of various important committees such as the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Antiaging committee. His major research interests include natural Product for Industrial application, biofuel and bioenergy, green synthesis of nanoparticles, their application and Pulp and paper technology. He retains a fundamental love for natural products, which permeates all of his research. He has also successfully advised 30 MSc and 3 PhD students to completion and countless undergraduates have researched in his laboratory. Dr. Bachheti actively involved in curriculum development for BSc/MSc/PhD programmes. Dr. Bachheti has over 62 publications dealing with various aspects of natural product chemistry, nanotechnolgy and has eight book chapters published by Springer, Elsevier and Nova Publisher. Presently, he is supervising 3 PhD students, 3 Master's students and also working for two research projects funded by AASTU. Archana (Joshi) Bachheti did BSc in the year 1997 and MSc in 1999 from HNB Garhwal University. She received her PhD from Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, India in 2006. She has carried out research projects and consultancy work in the areas of ecorestoration/ development of wasteland, physico-chemical properties of Jatropha curcus seed oil and their relation with altitudinal variation and has been a Consultant Ecologist to a project funded by a government agency. Dr. Joshi, currently Professor at Graphic Era University, Dehradun, India. She has also served in many capacities in the academia within India and provided expertise internationally for more than 15 years where she taught Ecology and Environment, Environmental Science, Freshwater Ecology, Disaster management, and Bryophytes and Pteridophytes. Her major research interests encompass the broad, interdisciplinary field of plant ecology, with focus on eco-restoration, green chemistry especially the synthesis of nanomaterial, and medicinal properties of plants. The breadth of her research spans from degraded land ecological amelioration, physical and chemical properties of plant's oil to plant-based nanomaterial. She guided one PhD student and at present supervising three scholars as well as guided graduate and undergraduate students for their research projects. While it was the fascination with forest biodiversity, that captured her interest, it has been her love for the exploration of values of biodiversity and social upliftment through it that has maintained that passion. Dr. Joshi has published more than 50 research articles in international and national journals along with ten book chapters. She organized several National seminars/conferences at Graphic Era University, India.
