Miranda House, University of Delhi | India
Dr. Dharmendra Kumar, Ph.D., is a researcher in the Department of Botany, University of Delhi, specializing in algal biotechnology, phycoremediation, environmental pollution assessment, and aquatic ecosystem restoration. With a strong academic foundation holding M.Sc., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees in Botany, he has developed significant expertise in bioremediation technologies for polluted freshwater systems, particularly the Yamuna River. Dr. Kumar has authored 64 scientific documents, with an h-index of 26 and 2595 citations, reflecting his impactful contributions to environmental and phycological research. His work explores metabolic plasticity in algae, heavy-metal bioremediation, freshwater ecology, and sustainable blue-economy applications. He has presented at numerous national and international conferences, receiving multiple awards including Best Poster and Best Oral Presentation recognitions. Dr. Kumar has also played a leadership role as Organizing Secretary of the National Conference on Restoring River Health: Yamuna as a Model System (2025). His research interests include micro- and macroalgal cultivation, wastewater treatment, seaweed-derived biofertilizers, and the development of eco-innovative solutions for climate-resilient urban water ecosystems. With several peer-reviewed publications, ongoing manuscripts, and active research projects, Dr. Kumar aims to advance environmentally sustainable strategies for ecosystem restoration and conservation through algae-based approaches.
Featured Publications
Kumar, D., Agrawal, S., Sahoo, S., & Sahoo, D. (2025). Native algal consortia as a bioremediation tool for polluted freshwater ecosystems: A case study from the Yamuna River. Phycology, 5(4), 70.
Kumar, D., Agrawal, S., Sahoo, S., Geetanjali, E., & Sahoo, D. (2025). Metabolic plasticity and abiotic stress adaptation in freshwater algae during phycoremediation of polluted river water. Plant-Environment Interactions, 6(5), e70093.
Kumar, D., Qureshi, S., & Sahoo, D. (2024). Bioremediation of complex contaminated Yamuna River India by using selected cyanobacteria. Bioremediation Journal, 1–18.
Kumar, D., & Sahoo, D. (2024). Assessment of physiochemical parameters and bioremediation of complex contaminated Yamuna River, India: An algal-based approach. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 235(2), 90.
Kumar, D., Agrawal, S., & Sahoo, D. (2024). Environmental contamination by heavy metals and assessing the impact of inhabitant microalgae in bioremediation: A case study of urban water of Yamuna River, India. Urban Water Journal, 21(3), 308–322.