Announcement: For the most up-to-date research, media appearances, and dispatches from the Curiosity Lab, please visit my primary website:
www.felixbast.com
Professor Felix Bast is a distinguished Full Professor of Botany at the Central University of Punjab and a relentless science communicator.
Exhibiting exceptional academic fitness early on, he was a B.Sc. Gold Medalist and cracked the highly competitive CSIR-JRF during his first year of MSc.
He earned his PhD in Marine Biology from MEXT, Japan, as a Japanese Government Scholar nominated by the Government of India.
A true curious explorer, his international footprint includes IIT Bombay, the Friday Harbor Laboratories (University of Washington, USA), the Marine Biological Association of the UK, and the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research in Germany.
In recognition of his impact, he received the “President’s Inspired Teacher” recognition (2015)—the highest civilian honor for university teachers in India—and the Ministry of Education’s “Teaching Innovator Award” (2020).
Operating at the highest levels of global science, Professor Bast is an elected Fellow of the Linnean Society of London and serves on advisory committees for the International Science Council (Paris) and the IUCN (Geneva).
His drive for discovery led him to the Indian Antarctic Mission, where he braved extreme environments to discover a new species of moss.
To date, he has discovered 7 new species of algae and moss and has visited 28 countries.
Currently, he spearheads research yielding 135 peer-reviewed papers, 7 books, and 17 research projects backed by ₹2.8 Crores in funding.
As a dedicated mentor, he has guided 9 PhD scholars with 9 more currently under his supervision.
In October 2025, the United Nations inducted him into the “UN-SDG-7 Reference Group” to help shape international clean energy policy.
Beyond the lab, he is a cyclist, frequent blood donor, and champion of zero-waste living.
In a profound commitment to humanity, he has pledged his body and organs for posthumous donation through the NOTTO program.
His work has been featured extensively by the BBC and The Guardian.
Education
Kōchi University, Japan (APRIL 2005 – MARCH 2010)
PhD (MEXT: Japanese Govt. Fellow)
Ecophysiology and phylogeography of Monostroma latissimum in Japan (Field: Marine Biology).
University of Madras, Guindy, Chennai (JUNE 2000 – MAY 2002)
MSc (Biotechnology)
76.5% marks, First Class (Outstanding) Grade. Research focus: Biotechnology, Microalgae, and Photobioreactors.
Kannur University, Kannur, Kerala (JUNE 1997 – MAY 2000)
BSc (Microbiology)
87.5% marks, First Class, University First Rank with Gold Medal. Core subjects: Microbiology, Physiology, and Chemistry.
Central University of Punjab, Bathinda (MAY 2010 – PRESENT) Professor Involved with academic research and teaching in Taxonomy and Phylogenetics. Serving as Member of the Executive Council and Academic Council.
Leibniz-Zentrum für Marine Tropenforschung, Bremen, Germany (NOV 2018 – FEB 2019) NAM-ZMT Guest Scientist On sabbatical; research focused on DNA barcoding and marine experimental ecology.
Indian Antarctic Mission (Bharati & Maitri Stations) (DEC 2016 – APR 2017) Expedition Scientist Research on DNA barcoding and marine experimental ecology within the Antarctic ecosystem.
Friday Harbor Lab, University of Washington, US (JULY 2007 – AUG 2007) Summer Fellow Marine Botany course supported by the Phycological Society of America.
Marine Biological Association, Plymouth, UK (MARCH 2013) Summer Fellow Algal Taxonomy Workshop of the British Phycological Society.
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (AUG 2003 – FEB 2005) CSIR JRF Research in Algae-based desalination systems.
Molecular Systematics, Taxonomy, Algae, Polar Biology, Science Communication
NOTABLE RESEARCH FINDINGS/CONTRIBUTIONS
- Seven new plant species discovered: Ulva paschima, Cladophora goensis, Ulva uniseriata, Hypnea indica, Hypnea bullata, Bryum bharatiensis, and Acetabularia jalakanyakae
- New records: Endophytic algae Ulvella leptochaete for the first time in Indian Ocean, Sargassum zhangii, Trentepohlia annulata and Ulva sapora first records in India
- Open access database of Indian Algae, dbIndAlgae released
- Discovery that spores of subaerial green algae Trentepohlia annulata caused blood rain in Kerala
- Science Communicator, with frequent contributions in all major science magazines in India (Resonance, Science Reporter, Dream-2047). Involved with science popularization talks and science community outreach through local libraries, schools, and colleges.
- Explored major coastal intertidal habitats of India, Japan, UK, Scandinavia and North Western US and Canada (23 countries). Exploration team member of 36th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica.
- An early adopter of e-learning; involved with UGC e-PG pathshala and UGC SWAYAM MOOC
- Involved with science education in schools. Organized Science Leadership Workshop, one of the largest science events in the world. Founded Young Academy of India.
PROJECTS/RESEARCH GRANTS
7 major grants — As PI
DST-INSPIRE, DST/SERB-Core Research Grant, CSIR, UGC-BSR, MoES, ICSSR, UGC-Start-Up grant (Total sanctioned INR 1.54 Crores)
TEACHING/TRAINING GRANTS
9 grants — As PI
UGC-MHRD SWAYAM MOOC Development, Science Academies’ Refresher Course (2 times) and Science Academies’ Lecture Workshop (3 times)
(Total sanctioned: INR 61.6 Lakhs)
Total grants: 2.16 Crores
Grants.xlsx
Member of British Phycological Society, Phycological Society of America, Indian Lichenological Society and Indian Linguistics Society, DST--YASH
Program Advisory Committee member of DBT and SERB
Served as research grant evaluation committee member: National Science Foundation, USA, ANR France, Ministry of Education, Bahrain, Hungarian Ministry of Sciences, Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, Sultanate of Oman, and Ministry of S&T, Bahrain
Elected Fellow of Linnean Society of London, UK (2022), Member of IUCN (2022)
Inducted in International Science Council, Paris (2021)
AAAS-TWAS Science Diplomat Alumni (AAAS-TWAS, 2020)
Advisor to UPSC (2024), DST-YASH (2020), TedX Speaker (2020)
Elected in National Core Committee of INSA-INYAS (Biology and Medicine) 2020
DST-INSA-INSPIRE Faculty Award Phylogenetic Diversity of Seaweeds (2012)
Inspired Teacher recognition Invited In-Resident Intern with President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi (2015), Teaching Innovator Award, MHRD, Government of India (2016)
NAM-ZMT Germany International Guest Scientist Award, 2018
Japanese Govt. Monbukagakusho:MEXT International Doctoral Fellowship 2005, British Phycological Society Student Bursary Award-2009
CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test Qualified Dec 2001 for JRF and Lectureship
Indian Academy of Sciences Summer Research Fellowship at NIO, Goa- 2002
University First Rank for BSC (2000)
CSIR-JRF-NET, GATE, GRE, TOEFL qualified
Leibniz-Zentrum für Marine Tropenforschung, Bremen, Germany
CSIR-NBRI-Lucknow
CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow
Updated full list of publications accessible here.
Complete research supervision record accessible here.
- #Science Leadership Workshop, supported by Science Academies, 22nd June 2020-28th June 2020
- Nature India feature article: https://www.natureasia.com/en/nindia/article/10.1038/nindia.2020.115
- Current Science https://www.currentscience.ac.in/Volumes/119/06/0894.pdf
- #ZeroWaste workshop, in collaboration with DAV College, Bathinda, 16th June 2020-18th June 2020
- #BluePlanet workshop, in collaboration with dept of Geology, 7th June 2020-9th June 2020
- #TangledBank, a national level workshop, 31st May 2020-5th June 2020
PATENT FILED
One (Photobioreactor)
University MOOC Coordinator
Ex-Head of the Department, Botany
Ex Member: Executive Council
Ex Member: Academic Council