Interview Times 
The interview with Prof. P.K. Naik offers a comprehensive insight into his illustrious academic journey, teaching methodologies, research endeavors, administrative roles, and his vision for higher education.
Prof. Naik’s academic qualifications, including a D.Sc in Life Sciences, along with extensive research experience, highlight his expertise in the field. His teaching tenure spans various levels and courses, from undergraduate to postgraduate and doctoral programs, demonstrating his versatility and commitment to education.
In terms of research, Prof. Naik’s focus on natural products and therapeutics, genetic biodiversity assessment, and bioinformatics for drug design underscores his dedication to advancing scientific knowledge and addressing real-world healthcare challenges. His significant contributions, including patented formulations for diabetic and lymphatic paralysis treatment, reflect the tangible impact of his work.
As an administrator, Prof. Naik’s leadership style emphasizes collaboration and multi-disciplinary approaches. He spearheads numerous projects funded by prestigious agencies, fostering innovation and infrastructure development in his department. His commitment to societal outreach, such as investigating the causes of chronic diseases and empowering local communities through skill development, showcases his dedication to broader societal welfare.
Prof. Naik’s teaching methods incorporate modern technologies like ICT tools and simulations, ensuring an engaging and effective learning environment. Continuous evaluation and feedback mechanisms ensure fair assessment and improvement in student performance. Moreover, his inclusive teaching approach encourages student inquiry and provides ample support for diverse learning styles.
In terms of departmental governance, Prof. Naik promotes collaboration among faculty members and encourages cross-disciplinary research initiatives. His department’s collaborations with other institutions and industry partners underscore his commitment to academic excellence and knowledge exchange.
Prof. Naik identifies challenges in higher education, such as faculty shortages and administrative burdens, while emphasizing the need for continuous professional development and adaptation to changing landscapes. He stays updated on advancements in his field through extensive reading and leveraging online resources, ensuring the integration of new knowledge into his teaching and research endeavors.
Overall, Prof. Naik’s holistic approach to academia, combining teaching, research, administration, and societal engagement, exemplifies his dedication to advancing knowledge and fostering holistic development within the university community and beyond.
Describe your teaching experience at different levels, undergraduate, post-graduate, etc.? And across various courses, what are your strengths and areas for improvement in teaching?
I joined as assistant professor in 2003 in JP University of Information Technology and there we started programs like B.Tech in Bioinformatics and then later on we started the B.Tech in Biotechnology, M.tech in Bioinformatics, M.tech in Biotechnology, and then PhD in Bioinformatics and PhD in Biotechnology, and then I switched also. That is, I stayed there for 2003-2014, and then I joined Central University, Guru Ghasidas Central University, Bilaspur in 2014 and there I was teaching Biotechnology to the B.Sc. as well as M.Sc. students. Okay, That is, Biotechnology as well as Bioinformatics also. And I was also guiding some of the students for their PhD degree in Biotechnology in Guru Ghasidas University, and then I joined here in Sambalpur University in 2016 and I am teaching here courses like M.Sc. Biotechnology, M.Sc. Bioinformatics, M.Phil. Biotechnology and PhD in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics.
Share your research interest and areas of expertise and your current research project and highlight any significant contribution to your field.
So far my research experience is concerned I worked in various disciplines. In the field of Biotechnology, I do research in natural products and therapeutics, where we are exploring the different medicinal plants from Gandhamardhan, the indigenous medicinal plants for developing different kind of formulation for therapeutic applications. So, so far we have developed several standardised formulation for the treatment of different diseases like diabetic, lymphatic paralysis, cancer, then rheumatism, anti-inflammatory diseases and malaria, all kind of diseases. Ok, And we have developed some formulations and till now we have filed two patents. One is for diabetic, for the treatment of diabetic and for the treatment of lymphatic paralysis. The second area of my research is genetic biodiversity assessment of medicinal plants using multiple marker techniques and then also I work in bioinformatics in the field of computer-aided drug designing where we are designing novel drug molecules against the different kind of diseases by taking the target proteins into considerations. The other area of my research in bioinformatics is basically clinical data analysis and data mining for developing a new diagnostic tools and personalised medicines.
Share your detail your experience in departmental or university administration, Also mention about your leadership style and your approach to problem solving and decision making.
So far the research activities also concerned, I forgot to tell you I am running several projects sponsored by different funding agencies. So in total in Sambalpur University I am running 14 different projects sponsored by ICMR. ICMR has given us four projects, then DBT, that is Department of Biotechnology, Government of India has given one project that is on the DBT builder. Very huge grant I have got about 5.3 crores, and then we have got two projects from Ministry of Ayush, and then from the Department of Higher Education, Government of Odisha also I have received one project to establish Centre of Excellence in Natural Production and Therapeutics. Besides, I have also received projects from Department of Science and Technology, Government of Odisha to do research in anti-cancer drug development. So total I have received till today 14 projects amounting to Rs. Around 15 crores and with that grant support I have established a very beautiful lab with all kind of facility for doing translational research in the field of healthcare. So far my administrative assignment is concerned. As part of the job, actually besides our academic teaching assignments, we have to take lot of administrative assignments. So I am the Dean of Science and Technology. I am also working as Director of Research and Development at Sambalpur University and I am also working as Coordinator of Centre of Excellence in Natural Production and Therapeutics, Coordinator of DBT Builder, Coordinator of Food Science and Technology Department and also I am working as a member of several committees in the University, A member of Syndicate committees, A member of like different academic committees, and academic councils. So these are the different assignments we have to do as a part of our job.
Please detail your experience in departmental or university administration, Also mention about your leadership style and your approach to problem solving and decision making.
So far the research activities also concerned, I forgot to tell you I am running several projects sponsored by different funding agencies. So in total in Sambalpur University I am running 14 different projects sponsored by ICMR. ICMR has given us four projects, then DBT, that is Department of Biotechnology, Government of India has given one project that is on the DBT builder. Very huge grant I have got about 5.3 crores, and then we have got two projects from Ministry of Ayush, and then from the Department of Higher Education, Government of Odisha also I have received one project to establish Centre of Excellence in Natural Production and Therapeutics. Besides, I have also received projects from Department of Science and Technology, Government of Odisha to do research in anti-cancer drug development. So total I have received till today 14 projects amounting to Rs. Around 15 crores and with that grant support I have established a very beautiful lab with all kind of facility for doing translational research in the field of healthcare. So far my administrative assignment is concerned. As part of the job, actually besides our academic teaching assignments, we have to take lot of administrative assignments. So I am the Dean of Science and Technology. I am also working as Director of Research and Development at Sambalpur University and I am also working as Coordinator of Centre of Excellence in Natural Production and Therapeutics, Coordinator of DBT Builder, Coordinator of Food Science and Technology Department and also I am working as a member of several committees in the University, A member of Syndicate committees, A member of like different academic committees, and academic councils. So these are the different assignments we have to do as a part of our job.
Mention the different teaching method you employ and how you choose the most effective methods for each learning context.
So you all know that the ICT is well versed and we are also implementing ICT techniques, ICT tools for our teaching methodology. Like we are using PowerPoint presentations to deliver our lectures, we are using the whiteboard, blackboard, and we are also using like the smartboard presentations, and sometimes we are using some video graphic to demonstrate the complicated concepts to the students in very simplified manners and also we are using some simulation techniques like molecular dynamics simulations. Okay and then energy manipulation techniques to demonstrate them. How the biomolecules can be optimized to their proper confirmation and proper structure for their proper activity analysis.
How do you ensure fair and effective evaluation of student learning? And how do you use feedback to improve student performance?
We follow a continuous evaluation system in our curriculum. In which so far the theory classes are concerned. So, we do conduct mid-term examinations twice in a semester. We conduct a final semester examinations. We give a lot of assignments to the student as home assignments and we evaluate their assignment and assign marks to them and also we take like a surprise, a quiz test in between without modifying the dates and also we do like group discussions, seminar presentations and then term paper writing. Okay, We give a particular topic to the students and tell them to just compile these topics by referring to different research articles so that the students can have a habit of learning the different research articles related to research projects.
How do you create an inclusive learning environment that caters to students from diverse background and learning styles?
We follow an enquiry based learning techniques in our teaching methodology in which we basically encourage the students to ask questions to the faculty. If any concept, any point is not clear to them we give them freedom to ask questions and we always insist them to ask questions so that they can clear their doubts and because we follow a student enquiry based learning. The students are very much. Means what we can say is very much interactive to the faculty and it seems to be very effective techniques to clear their concepts and doubts and so far we have also a doubt clearing classes. That is remedial classes. So any times during the off time of the classes also if the students is having any kind of doubts in particular subjects, they can come to the faculty, and they can sit with the faculty. Discuss their doubts. Okay, and we also give them several materials besides the regular teaching. Like some class notes, some reference books, some other kind of online materials to read and to clear their concepts.
Apart from this academic, Now coming to department and university leadership, How would you encourage collaboration and engagement among faculty member within the department? what is your thoughts on effective departmental governance and decision making process?
Nowadays we are looking into the multi-disciplinary approach. We are having a diversity of faculty and each faculty are having experience in different lines. So when we are talking about the research we have to includes the different mind set up together for the effective delivery of the research proposals. Okay, So in that case I encourage faculty, all my faculty, Young faculty colleagues to associate together and help our research scholars particularly to deliver their research, means output in diversity. So that ultimately can going to get a very good research output and also so far not only the department. Within the different departments, within the university also we are having collaboration. Particularly having collaboration with the chemistry department and with the support of chemistry department and this department of biotech. and bioinformatics we have jointly established the Centre of Excellence in Natural Production and Therapeutics.. So as and when required we are taking the help of other faculty of the other departments in the research outcome. Besides sambalpur university, we are also having collaboration with other university in the states and outside the states. Like we have signed MOUs with 12 different institutions. Okay, All over the India. Like we have signed MOU with the IICT Hyderabad, Signed MOU with the NIPA Hyderabad, Okay, Signed MOU with the opposition state and Opposition control board, Government of Odisha. We have also signed MOU with AIMS-Bhubaneswar, AIMS- New Delhi. Okay, and also like Ministry of CARI, Calcutta and Several MOUs we have signed for doing the collaborative research and submission of project to the different funding agencies.
Beyond your departmental role, How would you contribute to the broader university communityand enhance its academic reputation?
As a part of our society outreach programs, We have to take. Several challenges which can help the society which are in the jurisdiction of. Sambalbur University. Particularly, You know that in the jurisdiction of. Sambalpur University the people are suffering, High incidence of chronic kidney disease as well as cancer. Okay, So as a part of our Society. Outreach programs we have taken some problems related to find out the cause, the baseline data. Okay, Why high incidence of cancer and Sickness is happening in the jurisdiction of Sambalpur University. So, recently we have got a project from the govt. Of Odisha to do a entire food chain analysis in terms of heavy metal analysis and pesticide content. To find out if these are the factors of high incidence of cancer or sickity. So, in that way besides contributing to the University. We are also contributing to the society for their better lifestyles and better living being and also you know that this particularly Western Odisha is very rich in several non timber forest like Mahua flower. So, we have given training to different SSG women as well as the different FPO’s. Okay, In and around Sambalpur to train them in development of different. kind of valuated food products using Mahua Flower as a major ingredients and till now we have given training to more than 2000 SSG women as well as FPO for developing different valuated food products from Mahua and I’m Happy to tell you. that these trainees are successfully trained themselves and they’re also developing these food products and they’re making it marketing and they are generating money for the livelihood support.
Whatare the biggest challenges and opportunities facing higher education? How would you position your department and the University to adapt and thrive in this changing landscape.
The Problem is basically, We the faculty are burdened with a lot of teaching load as well as administrative load another reason is we are having a shortage of faculties. So, if because of less equipments you do see the reasons, acute shortage of factories are there and we are often burdened with the administrative as well as academic burden. As a teacher, our output is compromised. So, if the opportunity will be given by recruiting more number of faculties in the department and will be more able deliver the research output, so that is a secret challenges to the university and how to recruit more people and we can deliver more and more research output or document
Describe your approach toprofessional development and commitment to online classes How do you stay updated on advancement in your field and incorporate new knowledge into your teaching and research?
So this learning is a continuous process. So, as a faculty you also read our day-to-day research articles which are coming, published by different research groups. Ok, all over the world in our field to keep us updated in this area what is happening. So, that is must and it’s a continuous process for learning and second thing is that we need to think more and to adopt the multi-disciplinary approach so that we can deliver better. So, always it is a, like we have to read several research articles, publish articles and then there are different scope. This is the online repositories are available, okay, and also in our university, we have a online library portal where all the e-journals are available, e-books are available, e-reports are available so, and we are referring those things to keep us, keep our self-update in the field of research that we are working on.
