Saroj Kanta Barik

Saroj Kanta Barik, also known as S. K. Barik, is an Indian botanist, ecologist, and scientific and academic administrator specializing in plant ecology, biodiversity conservation, and bioprospection. He is a Professor of Botany and the current Vice-Chancellor of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong. He previously served as the Director of the CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI) from 2016 to 2022, and concurrently held the directorship of the CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), Lucknow from 2020 to 2022.

Early life and education Barik was born on 12 April 1965 in Gourpur, Remuna, in the Balasore district of Odisha. He completed his Bachelor of Science from Utkal University (1983) and his Master of Science in Life Sciences-Botany from Berhampur University (1985). He earned his Ph.D. from North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in 1993, where his doctoral research focused on the ecology of tree regeneration in the subtropical wet hill forests of Meghalaya.

Career Barik began his career as a scientist at the State Forest Research Institute, Government of Arunachal Pradesh (1995–1997). He joined NEHU as a lecturer in 1997, becoming a Professor in 2006. He served as the Head of the Department of Botany at NEHU from 2014 to 2016.

Administrative roles In November 2016, Barik was appointed Director of the CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute . During his tenure, he was designated as an "Outstanding Professor" (Scientist H), a senior professor rank within the Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR). Between 2020 and 2022, he concurrently held directorship of the CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow.

Following his return to NEHU, Barik assumed charge as the Dean of School of Life Sciences at the university from 2025.

Research Barik has authored research papers in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and books. His works have been published in journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Current Forestry Reports, and Journal of Applied Ecology.

Taxonomic contributions Barik and his research team have described several new plant species from the Himalayas and North-East India. These discoveries include:

Trisetopsis himalayensis (2021), a new grass species (Poaceae, Aveninae) discovered from the Maitoli Glacier in the Western Himalaya. Anemone pindariensis (2021), a new species from the Pindari valley of the Western Himalaya. A new species of Aconitum (2021) described from Sikkim in the Eastern Himalaya. Aconitum haridasanii (2020), a new species from Arunachal Pradesh. Another new species of Aconitum (2019) described from the Eastern Himalaya. A new fern species of Christella (2019) belonging to the family Thelypteridaceae. A new species of Pedicularis (2018) in the series Curvipes (Orobanchaceae).

Additionally, Barik's team resolved the nomenclature and typification of Swertia angustifolia and its infraspecific taxa in 2020.

Selected bibliography Barik has authored numerous research papers in peer-reviewed journals. Key publications include:

Professional associations Barik has held advisory roles in national scientific bodies and government committees. He served as the President of the Indian Botanical Society in 2025, during which he organized the society's XLVIII All India Botanical Conference and International Symposium at NEHU.

Other significant roles include: Board Member, Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India Vice-President, National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI) President, International Society for Environmental Botanists (ISEB) Member, Governing Body, G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment Member, Governing Body, National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR)

Awards and recognition Fellowships Barik is a Fellow of the major Indian science academies: Fellow, Indian National Science Academy (FNA), 2024 Fellow, Indian Academy of Sciences (FASc), 2025 Fellow, The Linnean Society of London (FLS), 2020 Fellow, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (FNAAS), 2020

Awards Samanta Chandra Sekhar Award (2020), conferred by the Government of Odisha for scientific excellence. Prof. R.N. Tandon Memorial Award (2020) from the National Academy of Sciences, India Dr. Brandis Award (2009) from The Indian Forester Dr. Mopuri Brahmam Memorial Award (2016) for biodiversity conservation