Education: B.Sc., Arya College, Ludhiana (1988); M.Sc., PAU, Ludhiana (1991); Ph.D., PAU, Ludhiana (1994)

Positions held:Assistant Professor, PAU Ludhiana (1996-2006), Associate Professor (2006-2012), Professor (2012-date),Principal Microbiologist

Field of Specialization: Industrial Microbiology, Environment Microbiology

Research Interests: Fermentation, Beverage, Enzymes, bioethanol, Biotechnology

Google scholar: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?hl=en&user=r_fBN2EAAAAJ

Scopus Author ID : 6701817051

Web of Science : JPA-3686-2023

Orcid ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0189-8871

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gs-Kocher

Research Projects:

1. Evaluation of yeast-encapsulated essential oil based biolarvicide formulation(s) for management of Aedes aegypti mosquito. (Department of Science and Technology, 2022- 2025)- Co-PI
2. First generation Maize ethanol as a renewable energy model for climate change mitigation. (ICAR-NICRA project in collaboration with IIMR, 2022-25)- Co-PI
3. Evaluation of ATF1 gene of brewing yeasts of western himalayas for aroma and flavor of alcoholic beverages.(Department of Biotechnology, 2017-2020)- Co-PI
4. Value addition of wastes from potato processing industry and mandis of Ludhiana District”. (Department of Science and Technology, 2020- 2021)- PI
5. Process optimization of wine production from kinnow juice. (Punjab State Council for science and Technology, DST, 2017-18)-PI
6. Demonstration & promotion of techno-economically viable options for sustainable livelihood generation in kandi area of Punjab. (Department of Science and Technology, 2015- 2018).
7. Bioprocess development for production of debittered kinnow juice for preparing low alcoholic naturally carbonated beverage and kinnow-wine. (Department of Science and Technology, 2015- 2018).

Selected Research Publications:

1. Joshi N, Kocher GS, Kalia A and Banga HS (2021). Bacillus circulans MTCC 7906 aided facile development of bioconjugatenano-silica alkaline protease formulation with superlative dehairing potential. Environmental Pollution 285(1):117181, DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117181. (NAAS: 15.99)
2. Joshi N, GS Kocher, A Kalia and HS Banga. (2020). Development of nano-silver alkaline protease bio-conjugate depilating eco-benign formulation by utilizing potato peel based medium. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 1;152:261-271. (NAAS: 14.03).
3. Singh Amandeep and Kocher GS (2020). Standardization of seed and peel infused Syzygium cumini wine fermentation using response surface methodology. LWT Food Science and Technology, Article 109994, DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2020.109994. (NAAS 12.06)
4. Gill MK, Kocher GS and Panesar AS (2022). Evaluation of fungal consortium lignozyme for biodelignification of Agricultural residues. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining 16(6): 1772-80. (NAAS 11.24)
5. MK Gill, GS Kocher, AS Panesar (2021). Optimization of acid-mediated delignification of corn stover, an agriculture residue carbohydrate polymer for improved ethanol production. Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications 2, 100029 (Impact factor: 5.5)

Awards/Honours/Distinctions:

International:

1. “International Training in Fermentation Technology”, awarded by Indian Council of Agricultural Research at Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California, Davis, California, USA ((April 1 to June 29, 2010).

2. “Normon E Borlaug Fellowship” awarded by USDA under “biofuels” at OARDC Wooster, Ohio, USA. (April 9 to May 11, 2007)”.

3. "International Training program in Biotechnology-13th course" at GBF, Braunschweig, Germany (Sept 6 to Oct 8, 1999).

National:

1. Nominated to the “Scientific Panel on Alcoholic Beverages- 2022” by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
2. “Applied Fermentation Excellence award-2022” Microbiologist Society of India, Pune, Maharashtra, India
3. “Distinguished Professor Award-2021”, Institute of Researchers, Wayanand, Kerala, India.
4. “High Tech Horticultural Society’s Gold medal 2020 for outstanding contributions in the field of Microbiology” at 4 th Global meet on Sci. & Tech. for staying healthy and feeding ever-growing population worldwide, Sept 12-13, 2021.
5. “University Merit and Plaque for outstanding scientist for 2018”, awarded by Vice Chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2019.
6. “Young Scientist ward in Environment Microbiology” in 1997 by Assoc. of Microbiologists of India.

Patents

1. Indian Patent on “Development of a fermentation process for production of concentrated sugarcane vinegar” granted in 2018. (No. 291923).
2. Indian patent on “Process for enhanced glucose production from sweet sorghum bagasse using acido-thermophilic cellulases” granted in 2021- (Patent No. 376260).