Our Research Interest is mainly focused on Algal Biotechnology in relation to Bioremediation and Aquaculture, Phytoplankton Dynamics and Ecological modeling and Microalgal diversity of Kolkata and surroundings with special reference to Genomic diversity and Molecular phylogeny of cyanobacteria.

Bioremediation study includes removal of heavy and toxic metals and radio-nuclides using Algae as bio-reagents from natural habitat and in vitro system using 'Tracer packet Technique', 'Neutron Activation methods' and 'Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry'. Separation of precious metal gold and its bio- transformation to nano-gold has already been reported by our group. To understand Algae-metal interaction at cellular level, mode of action of individual metal like Pb, Cr,Cd, Au and As for particular algal genus is also determined. Different models of Bio-filter of toxic metals have been developed using algae as bioreagent. Work is going on the algal flora of Arsenic contaminated villages of North 24-parganas to explore arsenic tolerant algal genera and to develop bio-filter. To identify arsenic tolerant gene from cyanobacteria is also included in the study.

Use of highly nutritious, non-conventional local algal genera in aquaculture feed preparation and their role in fish dietetics in relation to growth and immunity is other program of our work. Different types of fish feed like, 'Total Supplement' & 'Value Added Feed' have been found suitable for early larval transformation of prawn. Work is going on for determining the nutraceutical properties of value added algal feed for carp fishes and colored fishes. Mass production of economically useful microalgae using Photobioreactor and Open race way Pond and Regular training of the villagers for mass cultivation and feed production is also a part our Research Program.

Work is going on development of ecological model based on phytoplankton diversity in relation to seasonal variation, nutrient cycle and other physico- chemical parameters of Fresh water wetland, Estuary and Coastal area of West Bengal .

Advanced Phycology, Algal Biotechnology; Limnology and Aquacultue.

"Prof. S.C. Dixit Award", from Indian Botanical Society. New Delhi, 1989.

Phycological Society Of America

Life member Indian Phycological Society.

Life member Seaweed research and Utilisation India

Life member Indian Microbiological Society.

Pal, R. and Chatterjee, P. 1986a. Feulgen cytophotometric determination of nuclear DNA in species of Nitella from India. Cryptogamie Algologie, 7 (2) : 129-134.

2. Pal, R. and Chatterjee, P. 1986 b. Feulgen cytophotometric determination of nuclear DNA in species of Chara (Charophyta ) from India Cryptogamie Algologie.7 (4) : 86-91.

3. Pal, R. and Chatterjee, P. 1986c. Localisation of heterochromatic segments in Chara braunii. Curr.Sci. 55 (16) : 794.

4. Pal, R. and Chatterjee,P. 1987. Cytological and spermicidal effects of copper sulphate on Chara. Ind.J.of Expt. Biol. 25 (1) : 52 - 56.

5. Pal,R. and Chatterjee , P.1987. Algicidal action of Diurone in the control of Chara - a rice pest. Ind.Acad. Sci. ( Pl.Sc.) 97(4) :359-363.

6.Pal,R. and Chatterjee, P.1988. DNA estimation in mitotic and amitotically dividing nuclei in species of Chara and Nitella ( Characeae ) by Feulgen cytophotometric method. Bot. Bull. Academia Sinica 29: 1-6.

7 Pal, R and Chatterjee , P.1988. Use of Industrial Effluents for the cultivation of Spirulina. Bangladesh J. Bot. 17 (1) : 89 - 93.

8. Pal,R. and Chatterjee, P. 1988. Gamma-ray induced morphological ,P. two 1988. Changes in DNA content in gamma- irradiated nuclei by changes in species of Chara. J.Ind. Bot. Soc. (No-1-2)

9. Pal, R. and Chatterjee Chara zeylanica. Curr.Sci. 57 : 1181 -1182.

10. Pal, R. and Chatterjee, P.1989. Pyrobotris gracilis (Kors) - Anew report from West Bengal. Phykos : 28-29.

11. Pal, R. and Chatterjee P. 1989. Cytological effects of two common algicides on the mitotic cell division in antheridial filaments of Chara species. Cytologia 54 : 173 - 178.

12.Pal, R and Chatterjee, P . 1989. An assessment of the pollution effect of chromium containing factory waste on the growth potential of Spirulina platensis .in Adv.in Applied Phycology-II( Today and Tomorrow's Printers & Publ) pp.227-235.

13. Pal,R. 1990.Reclamation of Industrial waste for useful biomass production and lessening pollution level using Spirulina platensis In Ecology and Environment. Today and Tomorrow Publ. Eds.S.Mondal and M.Roy.

14. Pal, R., Chatterjee,P. and T.M.Das 1992.Algological evaluation of organic pollution level of Hugli Estuary.West Bengal,India. Phykos 31 (1-2) :69-75.

15. Pal,R.and Chatterjee,P. 1992.Gamma-ray induced cytological changes in four species of Chara and development of male sterility.Phykos 31(1-2) 13-19.

16. Pal,R. 1992. Diurone - a new pretreating chemical for Chara. Cell & Chrom. Res. 15 (1) : 37 -38.

17. Pal, R. 1993. Algae as water Pollution indicator. In Env.Management. in Developing countries. Eds.A.K.Sinha,K.N.Srivastava,B.K.Sinha, S.K.Pandey and N.K.Agarwal. Gyanodaya Prakashan,Nainital.

18. Pal,R. and Chatterjee, P. 1994. An investigation on the cell and chromosome behaviour in Characeae using different cytological methods. In : Plant Cytogenetics in India. A tribute to Prof. P.N. Bhaduri (Ed. S.Ghosh), C.U.Press,pp. 199 - 205.

19. Chattopadhyay, P. and Pal, R. 1995. Growth pattern of a mixed population of Enteromorpha intestinalis (l) and E.prolifera (O.F. Mull) J. Ag in Fish ponds of South 24- Parganas,West Bengal. Phykos 34 : 27- 31.

20. Chattopadhyay, P. and Pal, R. 1995. A procedure for low cost outdoor mass production of Spirulina platensis using industrial waste at rural West Bengal. J. Natl. Bot.Soc. 49 : 35 - 41.

21 Pal,R. and Chattopadhyay,P. 1996. In vitro culture of Enteromorpha intestinalis L Grev and its ploidy level . In Plant Tissue Culture. Ed. A.S.Islam.Oxford and IBH Publ.,New Delhi,pp. 93- 102.

22. Chattopadhyay, P., Roychowdhury,A., Pal, R and Majumder, A.L. 1996. Evaluation of algal biomass quality at rural level by low cost method.Ind.J.Exp.Biol : 226 - 231

23 Pal,R. 1999.Use of Spirulina in waste water recycling process in open race ways with a special reference to heavy metal tolerance. In, Recent trend in algal Research. Ed. G.Subbarangaiah, Andhra University.114-121.

24.Pal ,R. 2000. A brief report on the Taxonomy and in vitro culture of Enteromorpha and Ulva From West Bengal . Sea Weed Res. Utn. Ind. 22 ( 1& 2) : 51 - 60.

25 Nayak, D., S. Lahiri, A Mukhopadhyay and R. Pal .2002 . An Eco - friendly Novel Separation of carrier free Thallium Radio-nuclides from Mercury and Lead radio-nuclides using algae as bio-reagent. Green Chemistry ( Royal Society of Chemistry),4, 581-583.

26 Mukhopadhyay,A and R.Pal 2002. A report on Biodiversity of Algae from coastal West Bengal and their cultural behaviour in relation to mass cultivation programme. Indian Hydrobiology . vol 5. No 2. 97 -107.

27 Nayak, D., S. Lahiri, A. Mukhopadhyay and R.Pal .2003. Application of tracer packet technique of the studies on biosorption of heavy and toxic metal radionuclides by algae. Journal of Radio-analytical and Nuclear Chemistry ( Kluwer Academic Publisher ) 256 (3) 535-539.

28.Mukhopadhyay,A. and R.Pal 2003 Algal diversity of coastal West Bengal In Relation to water Quality.Seaweed res.Utiln,25 (1&2) :69-76

29.Mukhopadhyay,A., S.Banerjee and R.Pal, 2004, Lead and Chromium Bio-availability to Pro- and eukaryotic algal cell system and their cytotoxicity. in .Perspectives in Cytology and genetics Eds G.K.Manna and S.C.Roy, ,11:265-271

30.Banerjee, S; N. Chakraborty; D Nayak; M.Nag, ,A.Ramaswami, S. Lahiri and R. Pal, 2005,Studies on bio-accumulation of 153 Sm and 152 Eu by some marine algae.Seaweed Res Utiln,27( 1 & 2): 8

31.Nayak, D., M.Nag, S.Banerjee, R. Pal,S.Laskar S. Lahiri,;2006 Preconcentration of 198 Au in a green alga, Rhizoclonium. J. of Radioanalitycal & Nuclear Chemistry.(Kluwer Academic Publ) Vol.268. No.2 ( 337

32.Chakraborty ,N., R. Pal, A.Ramaswami., D Nayak S. Lahiri., 2006, Diatom: A potential bio-accumulator of Gold . J. of Radioanalitycal & Nuclear chemistry(Kluwer Academic Publ). Vol.270. No.3( 645-649).

Algal exploitation as aquaculture feed and Technology Transfer among Villagers (West Bengal State council of Science and technology)

Development of Low cost replicable and Installable pilot model filters for bioremediation of arsenic and other heavy metals(lead) from drinking water using cyanobacteria and green algae as bio-reagent (WB DST)

Studies on nutritional parameters of some local varieties of microalgae useful in feed formulation and dietetics in fish Aquaculture (UGC_UPE)

Research Group

Dr.Arpita Mukhopadhyay

Miss Nabanita Chakravorty

Miss Pubali Sengupta

Mr.Partha chattopadhyay

Mr.Avik Chaudhury

Miss Sudeshna SenRoy

Miss Nilofer Khatoon

Miss Tania Chakravorty

Miss Panchali Bhattacharya

Tie ups and Collaborations

TIFR-Bombay

Saha Institute of Nuclear Science

Chemical Engineering Department, Shibpur

West Bengal State Council of Science and Technology

Zoology Dept.CU