Prof. Rintu Banerjee

Deputy Director, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

Professor, Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering

Professor Rintu Banerjee is an internationally acclaimed scientist, academic leader, and technology innovator whose pioneering contributions have significantly advanced the fields of industrial biotechnology, microbial biotechnology, renewable energy, bioprocess engineering, circular bioeconomy, and sustainable biomass valorization. She currently serves as the Deputy Director of the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, one of India's premier institutions of higher education and research. In 2024, she created history by becoming the first woman Deputy Director of IIT Kharagpur, marking a significant milestone in the institute's distinguished legacy.

With more than three decades of excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and academic administration, Prof. Banerjee has established herself as one of India's leading researchers in biotechnology and sustainable engineering. Her work seamlessly integrates fundamental scientific research with industrial applications, resulting in technologies that contribute to renewable energy production, environmental sustainability, waste valorization, functional foods, biomaterials, and green manufacturing.

Academic Leadership

Throughout her distinguished career, Prof. Banerjee has occupied several prestigious leadership positions at IIT Kharagpur, including:

• Deputy Director, IIT Kharagpur

• Dean, Research and Development 

• Head, Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering

• Chairperson, Internal Complaints Commeete, IIT Kharagpur

• Founder Head and Chairperson, P. K. Sinha Centre for Bioenergy and Renewables

• Head, Centre for Rural Development, Innovative and Sustainable Technology (CRDIST)

• Founder Head, Precision Agriculture and Food Nutrition

Her administrative vision has played a crucial role in strengthening interdisciplinary research, promoting innovation-driven education, promoting industry collaboration, and advancing sustainable technologies.

Research Expertise

Prof. Banerjee's research encompasses a broad spectrum of interdisciplinary domains, including:

• Biofuel and Bioenergy

• Food Biotechnology

• Enzymology and Enzyme Technology

• Waste to Wealth

Research Contributions

Prof. Banerjee has made pioneering contributions in several important research areas, including:

• Development of sustainable technologies for first-generation (1G) and second-generation (2G) bioethanol production.

• Production of industrial enzymes through microbial fermentation including protease, cellulase, alpha amylase, galactouranase, lipase, laccase, xylanase etc.

• Biomass conversion using microbial and enzymatic processes for 2G ethanol production, biodiesel, biomanure and biomethane.

• Wastewater treatment integrated with resource and energy recovery.

• Development of biodegradable biomaterials and natural polymers such as PLA, Bacterial cellulose from cost-effective agro-industrial residues.

• Circular bioeconomy-based process development for agricultural waste utilization with a concept of soil to soil technology.

• Development of designer food for diabetic and renal patients.

Research Funding and Sponsored Projects

Prof. Banerjee has successfully led numerous research projects funded by major national and international agencies. Her projects have attracted funding from organizations including:

• Department of Biotechnology (DBT)

• Department of Science & Technology (DST)

• Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB)

• Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE)

• Ministry of Education, Government of India

• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)

• Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI)

• Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)

• SPARC Programme

• European Funding Agencies

• Various industrial partners and international collaborators

• Indian Tobacco Company

These projects have focused on renewable energy, biotechnology, sustainable agriculture, biomaterials, wastewater treatment, industrial enzymes, and circular economy.

Innovation and Technology Transfer

A hallmark of Prof. Banerjee's career is her emphasis on translational research and industrial implementation. She has:

• Developed numerous commercially relevant technologies such as industrial enzymes for depilation, 2G ethanol, 1G ethanol utilizing cost-effective substrates and its implementation in a decentralized manner. 

• Successfully transferred multiple technologies to industry in food sectors.

• Secured a large portfolio of Indian and international patents.

• Promoted entrepreneurship through industry-academia collaboration and consultancy.

• Contributed to sustainable industrial biotechnology and green manufacturing.

Publications and Scientific Impact

Prof. Banerjee has an outstanding research record reflected by:

• Extensive publications in internationally reputed peer-reviewed journals.

• Authorship of books and book chapters in biotechnology and bioenergy.

• High citation impact with broad international recognition.

• Invited keynote and plenary lectures at national and international conferences.

• Active collaborations with leading universities, research institutes, and industries worldwide.

Areas of Societal Impact

Her research has contributed significantly to:

• Sustainable biofuel production

• Renewable energy technologies

• Climate change mitigation

• Agricultural waste valorization

• Circular economy

• Green bioprocesses

• Industrial biotechnology

• Food security and nutrition

• Environmental protection

• Rural technology development

Vision

The defining hallmark of Prof. Rintu Banerjee's career has been her ability to bridge the "valley of death" between laboratory research and its large-scale implementation. Through her innovative research, several technologies have been successfully transferred to national and multinational industries, contributing to the sustainable development of society. Her pioneering technologies address global challenges in energy, environment, healthcare, agriculture, and food systems. Through excellence in research, education, technology commercialization, and institutional leadership, Prof. Banerjee continues to inspire students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers while advancing IIT Kharagpur's mission of creating knowledge for economic and societal benefit.

MAJOR AWARDS

• Received the Sustainability Change Maker Award from IIT Goa, India, in 2024.

• Received the Technology Development and Deployment Excellence Award in 2022.

• Received the Institute Chair Professorship Award from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India, in 2021.

• Received the Industrial Medal Award 2018 for outstanding contributions in Biotechnology R&D leading to the commercialization of a product/process from the Biotech Research Society of India, Thiruvananthapuram, India, in 2019.

• Received the Dr. Prem Dureja Endowment Award (2015–16) for outstanding contributions in the field of Agriculture from the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi, India, in 2017.

• Received the Top Teaching Feedback Award for teaching the theory and laboratory courses Plant Metabolites and Separation Technology during the Autumn Semester at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India, based on student feedback, in 2016.

• Received the Madan Mohan Malaviya Award 2014 for Senior Faculty in the field of Biotechnology from the Biotech Research Society of India, Thiruvananthapuram, India, in 2015.

• Received the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award 2013 for outstanding contributions in the field of Natural Resource Management and Agricultural Engineering from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, India, in 2014.

• Received the Most Inspiring Woman Engineer/Scientist Award 2014 for exemplary contributions in the field of Science and Technology from Engineering Watch, New Delhi, India, in 2014.

• Received the Panjabrao Deshmukh Outstanding Woman Scientist Award 2012 for outstanding contributions as a woman agricultural scientist from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, India, in 2013.

• Received the Recognition Award for outstanding contributions in the field of Agricultural Engineering and Technology from the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi, India, in 2010.

• Received the Louis Pasteur Award 2009 from the Association of Microbiologists of India, Haryana, India, in 2009.

• Received the Best Poster Presentation Award at the International Congress on Bioprocesses in Food Industries 2008, organized by the Department of Microbiology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, held during 6–8 November 2008.

• Received the Best Woman Bioscientist Award 2003 from the Biotech Research Society of India, Thiruvananthapuram, India, in 2003.

• Received the Late Sinha Roy Memorial Award 1999 for publishing the two best articles in the January and August issues of the Journal of Indian Leather Technologists Association, in 1999.

• Received the Young Scientist Award 1994 from the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (India) in 1995.

• Received the Young Scientist Project Award 1994 from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, in 1994.

FELLOWSHIPS AND MEMBERSHIPS OF ACADEMY/SOCIETIES

 Professional Memberships

• Life Member, Association of Microbiologists of India (AMI), India.

• Member, Bio-Energy Society of India, India.

• Member, Society of Biological Chemists (India).

• Member, Chemical Engineering Association, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India.

• Member, Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (India) (AFSTI).

• Life Member, Biotech Research Society of India (BRSI), India.

• Life Member, Asian Federation of Biotechnology, South Korea.

• Member, European Peptide Society, France.

Fellowships

• Fellow, National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI), Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), India.

• Fellow, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), New Delhi, India.

• Fellow, Biotech Research Society of India (BRSI), Thiruvananthapuram, India.

• Fellow, Indian Academy of Microbiological Sciences (Association of Microbiologists of India, AMI), Haryana, India.

• Fellow, West Bengal Academy of Science and Technology (WBAST), Kolkata, India.

• Fellow, Indian Chemical Society (ICS), Kolkata, India.