![Text Box:]()Curriculum Vitae (CV)   Dr. Niya Benny   Mob: +91 9847229109 ![WhatsApp Logo PNG Images Free DOWNLOAD | By Freepnglogos.com]() [niyabenny0106@gmail.com](mailto:niyabenny0106@gmail.com)![]()     **Education**                                                                                                                                            Ø  **PhD** (2018-2023): Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry at Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi-16, India. **Coursework CGPA 9.25** **PhD Thesis:** Biocenosis of microphytobenthos in the selected mangrove ecosystems of Southwest coast of India Ø  **M.Sc. in Marine Biology** (2016-2018): Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Kochi-16, India. **CGPA 8.97 (First Class with distinction and University 3rd rank).** **Master's Thesis**: Zooplankton diversity in coastal waters of Sundarbans during winter monsoon **In Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata,** Government of India Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Ø  **B.Sc. in Zoology** (2013-2016): St. Xavier's College for Women, Aluva, Kerala, Affiliated to Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. **CCPA 9.51 (First Class with Distinction)** **Bachelor's Thesis**: A Study on breeding biology and population of Giant African Snail (*Achatina fulica*) and its management in Thonniyakavu, Paravoor municipality in Ernakulam District, Kerala Ø  **Plus Two** (2011-2013): Board of Higher Secondary Examination in St. Philomina's Higher Secondary School in Koonammavu, Ernakulam **Mark Percentage: 89.91%** Ø  **Matriculation** (2001-2011): Board of Public Examinations, Kerala in St Joseph's Higher Secondary School Koonammavu, Ernakulam **Grade: Five A+ and Five A**   **List of Publication**                                                                                                                                            **Research publications**   1.     **Niya Benny**, Lathika Cicily Thomas, and K.B. Padmakumar (2021). Community Structure of Microphytobenthos Associated with Mangrove Ecosystems Along the Southwest Coast of India. *Estuaries and Coasts*, 44(5): 1380-1391 (IF: 2.8).   2.     **Niya Benny**, Lathika Cicily Thomas, and K.B. Padmakumar (2021). Environmental influences on the cyanobacterial mat formation in the mangrove ecosystems along the southwest coast of India. *Marine Ecology,* 42(6): e12685*.* (IF: 1.693). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/maec.12685     3.     **Niya Benny,** Lathika Cicily Thomas, Padmakumar K.B. (2024) Analysis of climatic and edaphic variabilities on the microphytobenthic mat characteristics of a riverine mangrove ecosystem along the south-west coast of India., *Aquatic Ecology,* AECO-D-23-00178. [https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-023-10084-0](https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-023-10084-0) (IF: 1.8)   4.     Jeslin, I. J., **Niya Benny**, Lathika Cicily Thomas, and K.B. Padmakumar (2021). Short term spatio-temporal variabilities of microphytobenthic assemblages in the mangrove ecosystems along the southwest coast of India. *Wetlands Ecology and Management*, 29(5): 689-702. (IF: 2.358).   5.     Twinkle Sathish, Lathika Cicily Thomas, Aishwarya, **Niya Benny**, and K. B. Padmakumar (2020). First recorded bloom of *Akashiwosanguinea* (Dinophyceae) from the Cochin backwaters, a tropical estuarine system along the South Eastern Arabian Sea. *Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies,* 49(4): 391-397. (IF: 0.821).   6.     Purushothaman, J., Siddique, A., Bhowal, A., Mohan, S., Chandra, K., **Benny, N**., and Vivek, M. A. (2020). Swarms of ctenophore *Pleurobrachia pileus* (O. F. Müller, 1776) in the waters of Sundarban: A menace to the fisheries? *Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences*, 49(06): 1089-1092. (IF: 0.496).   7.     Seema K and **Niya Benny** (2017) A Study on Breeding Biology and Population of Giant African Snail (*Achatina fulica*) and its Management in Thonniyakavu, Paravur Municipality in Ernakulam District Kerala, Life Sciences International Research Journal Vol 4, Issue 2. ISSN 2347 – 8691.   **Under Review:** 8.      Amal K.S, **Niya Benny**, Lathika Cicily Thomas, K. B Padmakumar., Ephemeral analysis on microphytobenthos in an estuarine system along the southwest coast of India. *Wetlands Ecology and Management,* Submission ID 0f6e569b-d1ae-4689-a914-289a4ffb8f29.   **Conference proceedings** 1.     **Niya Benny**, Lathika Cicily Thomas, and K. B Padmakumar - "Temporal variation in the community structure of microphytobenthos in a riverine mangrove ecosystem of southwest coast of India" in the International Online Conference on Environmental Status of Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems in India (ECEI-2022) organised by the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram during 26th - 28th January 2022 2.     Amal K. S, **Niya Benny** and K. B. Padmakumar - "Microphytobenthic community of cochin backwaters-a tropical estuarine complex along the southwest coast of India: an ephemeral analysis" in the International Online Conference on Environmental Status of Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems in India (ECEI-2022) organised by the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram during 26th - 28th January 2022 3.     Amal K S, **Niya Benny** and K. B. Padmakumar - [Short Term Variability of Benthic Diatoms of Cochin Estuary- Southwest Coast of India](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358634891_Short_Term_Variability_of_Benthic_Diatoms_of_Cochin_Estuary-_Southwest_Coast_of_India), in 34th Kerala Science Congress (KSC) during 10th- 12th February 2022 Thiruvananthapuram, organized by *Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment* (*KSCSTE*).   4.     **Niya Benny** and K. B. Padmakumar - Species composition and biodiversity assessment of microphytobenthos in the intertidal mangrove ecosystem along the southwest coast of India, pp.199, International Indian Ocean Science Conference - IIOSC-2022, sponsored by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Govt. of India and will be held during 14-18 March 2022 in Goa, India, co-hosted by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa, Goa University and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, India. 5.     **Niya Benny,** Lathika Cicily Thomas and K. B. Padmakumar (2020). Benthic cyanobacteria of Mangrove ecosystems along the southwest coast of India. International Conference on "Impact of Climate Change on Hydrological cycle, Ecosystem, Fisheries and Food Security (ClimFishCon 2020), Kochi, Kerala, India. pp.150. Organized by CUSAT School of Industrial Fisheries in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, Kerala. 1. **Niya Benny**, Lathika Cicily Thomas and K. B. Padmakumar (2021). Pennate Diatoms of intertidal Mangrove ecosystems of the Southwest Coast of India: A New Record of *Psammodictyon panduriforme* (W.Gregory) D.G. Mann 1990. Book of Abstract, webinar on Conservation of Life Below Water: Perspectives on Systematics, Sustainable Livelihoods and Citizen Science" (COLIBA-2021) pp. 31. Organized by Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala 7.     **Niya Benny** (2020). Ecological succession of microphytobenthos associated with riverine mangrove forest in the Cochin backwaters, southwest coast of India; Aquaculture & Marine Biology 2020; July 20-21, 2020; Barcelona, Spain.pg No:3. 8.     **Niya Benny,** Lathika Cicily Thomas, and K. B. Padmakumar (2019). Community structure of Microphytobenthos associated with mangrove ecosystems along the Southwest coast of India.  MARICON 2019-International conference on Frontiers in Marine Science-Challenges and Prospects, Kochi, Kerala, India. pp. 153**.** Organized by the School of Marine Science, Cochin University of Science and Technology. **ISBN:978-81922264-3-9**. 9.     Jeslin I. J, **Niya Benny,** Lathika Cicily Thomas, and K.B. Padmakumar (2019). Benthic Microalgae of "open" and "closed" Mangrove ecosystems along the Southwest coast of India. Abstract Volume. MARICON 2019-International conference on Frontiers in Marine Science-Challenges and Prospects, Kochi, Kerala, India. pp. 153. Organized by the School of Marine Science, Cochin University of Science and Technology. **ISBN:978-81922264-3-9.** 10.  Jeslin, I. J., **Niya Benny**, Jerry Amal John and K. B. Padmakumar (2019). Taxonomic characterization and Biodiversity of Microphytobenthos in Mangrove Ecosystems along the Southwest coast of India. Environmental status of Estuarine and coastal ecosystems in India. Proceedings of the National Seminar on Environmental Status of Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems in India,179-181. **ISBN: 9789353469269.** Organized by the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram.   **11.  Niya Benny,** Jeslin, I. J and K. B. Padmakumar (2019). Benthic Diatoms of Mangrove ecosystems along the Southwest coast of India, 175. Abstract Proceedings-International Conference on Benthos. **ISBN 978-81-936217-5-2.** Organized by the Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry, and School of Marine Sciences CUSAT 12. **Niya Benny,** Sunil, S. C and K. B. Padmakumar (2019). Spatial distribution of Mesozooplankton along the South Eastern Arabian Sea during early summer monsoon. 31st Kerala Science Congress at Fatima Mata National College, Kollam. pp. 82-83. **ISBN No: 81 - 86366 - 97 – 0.**  Organized by Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE). 13.  **Niya Benny** and Jasmine. P (2018). Zooplankton diversity in coastal waters of Sundarbans during winter monsoon. Book of Abstract. National Seminar on Recent advances in zoology, on 16th October 2018, organized by Department of Zoology, University of Kerala, Trivandrum. pp. 4-5. 14.  Seema K and **Niya Benny** (2017). A Study on breeding biology and population of Giant African Snail (*Acatina fulica)* and its management in Thonniyakavu,Paravur Muncipality in Ernakulam District, Kerala. *Recent Trends in Biodiversity, Climate change and Environmental Sciences*. IMRF International Publishing House, pp. 67-74. **ISBN: 978-93-86435-16-3.** Organized by Nirmala College for Women, Red Fields, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India and International Multidisciplinary Research Foundation **Experience** Ø  Experience in Zooplankton sorting and analysis as part of Master of Science in Marine Biology, Dissertation work entitled "Zooplankton diversity in coastal waters of Sundarbans during winter monsoon" in Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata in 2018. Ø  Field experience in sampling microphytoplankton and microphytobenthos along with biogeochemical variables. Worked on sediment and water samples. **Awards** Ø  Rank holder (3rd rank) in Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, 2016-2018 Ø  College topper in St. Xavier's College for Women Aluva, 2013-2016. Ø  Bracketed 10th Rank in MG University, Kottayam for BSc. Zoology, 2013-2016. **Achievements** Ø  First prize in paper presentation competition in Life Science at Albertian International Educational Expo 2017 Ø  First prize in essay competition on the topic 'Our Ocean, Our Future' conducted by Society of Marine Biologists (SOMB), CUSAT, 2017 Ø  Second prize in paint a poem competition organized by St. Xavier's college for women, Aluva in 2015.   **Skills** Ø  Worked as General Secretary of Society of Marine Biologists (April 2019-December 2021)         and organized more than 10 programs Ø  Knowledge in PRIMER v7, ORIGIN, R-Programming, SPSS, Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power point Ø  SCUBA diving and snorkeling experience Ø  National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteer, 2013-2015.   Interests Ø  Marine Ecology Ø  Fisheries and Aquaculture Ø  Planktonology Ø  Marine Conservation Biology Ø  Marine Botany Ø  Marine Biotechnology Ø  Marine bio-geochemistry   **Workshops, Seminars and Conferences**                                                    Ø  Participated in Navakeralam-Yuvakeralam Student Meet, interaction with Honourable Chief Minister of Kerala held at Cochin University of Science & Technology on 1st February 2021.   Ø  Participated in the UGC Sponsored "Online Webinar on Artificial Intelligence" organized by UGC – Human Resource Development Centre, Gujarat university, Ahmedabad on 1st February 2021.   Ø  Participated in the UGC Sponsored "Online Webinar on Ethics & Research" organized by UGC – Human Resource Development Centre, Gujarat university, Ahmedabad on 24th February 2021.   Ø  Participated in the Webinar on Conservation of freshwater fishes of Western Ghats: Status, Challenges and Opportunities organized by Association of Fisheries Graduates on 6th February 2021.   Ø  Participated on PRIMER v7 & PERMANOVA WORKSHOP organized by Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) from 14th to 25th June, 2021 Ø  Participated and oral presentation in the International Online Conference on Environmental Status of Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems in India (ECEI-2022) organised by the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram during 26th - 28th January 2022 on "Temporal variation in the community structure of microphytobenthos in a riverine mangrove ecosystem of southwest coast of India" (**Oral presentation**). Ø  Participated in International webinar "Conservation of Life Below Water: Perspectives on Systematics, Sustainable Livelihoods and Citizen Science" during March 18th - 20th, 2021 (**Oral presentation**). Ø  Participated in Webinar on Aquaculture and Marine Biology, AQUA 2020 held during 19th October, 2020 organized by Meetings International, and presented a paper on "Ecological succession of microphytobenthos associated with riverine mangrove forest in the Cochin backwaters, southwest coast of India" (**Oral presentation**).   Ø  Participated in the 2020 International Conference on Data Science and Engineering (ICDSE) (3-5th Dec 2020) and attended the online workshop on Machine Learning with Python and Google Colab (5th Dec 2020) organised by the Department of Computer Science, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala, INDIA and technically co-sponsored by IEEE Kerala Section.   1. Participated in the webinar on "CRISPR-Cas Based Genome Manipulation: A Revolutionary Tool for Modern Biology" organised by Department of Biosciences, Union Christian College, Aluva on 7th November 2020.     1. Participated in Disaster Risk and Vulnerability Conference (DRVC 2020) on October 9th -10th and 16th -17th, 2020, organized by School of Environmental Sciences, MG University, Kottayam, Kerala.   1. Attended International Webinar SOFI 2020 on 15th -17th October 2020, organized by School of Industrial Fisheries, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Kochi, Kerala, India.   1. Participated in ClimFishCon, an international conference on the impact of climate change on the hydrological cycle, ecosystem, fisheries and food security and it is themed as Climate change effective adaptations from 11th -14th February 2020 and presented a paper on "Benthic cyanobacteria of mangrove ecosystems along the southwest coast of India" (**Oral presentation**).   1. Participated in International Conference on Frontiers in Marine Science Challenges and Prospects, MARICON 2019 organized by School of Marine Science, CUSAT from 16th - 20th  December 2019 at Kochi, Kerala, India and presented a paper on "Community structure of microphytobenthos associated with mangrove ecosystems along the Southwest coast of India" (**Oral presentation**).   1. Attended workshop on R- Programming for Biological Research, held from 17th June to 5th July, 2019 organized by the Society of Marine Biologist (SOMB), Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology.   1. Participated in the workshop on Applications of Granulometry, Mineralogy and Geochemistry in the studies of Marine Sediments from 22nd to 24th, July 2019 jointly organized by Marine and Coastal Survey Division, Geological Survey of India, Mangaluru, Dept. of Marine Geology and Geophysics, CUSAT and Geo Marine Society as a part of Bhuvisamvad programme launched by Ministry of Mines, Govt. of India.   1. National Seminar on Environmental status of Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems in India, organized by University of Kerala and Estuarine Coastal Sciences Association in Kerala, India, during 14th -16th, March 2019.   1. International Conference on Benthos, ICB-19, organized by Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry, and School of Marine Sciences CUSAT from March 6th -8th, 2019. Participated and presented a poster on the topic "Benthic diatoms of mangrove ecosystem along the Southwest Coast of India" (**Poster presentation**).   1. Kerala Science Congress at Fatima Mata National College, Kollam on 2nd and 3rd February, 2019. Participated and presented a paper on the topic "Spatial Distribution of Mesozooplankton along the South Eastern Arabian Sea during the early summer monsoon" (**Oral presentation**).   1. Conference on Integrating Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem in a changing oceanic environment organized at KUFOS-INCOIS center of Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) on 17th and 18th January 2019.   1. National workshop on "Prospects and Challenges in Algal Studies", organized by Post graduate and research, Department of Botany in Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta on 5th   and 6th October 2018, sponsored by Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment.   Ø  Participated in National Seminar on Recent advances in zoology, on 16th October 2018 organized by Department of Zoology, University of Kerala, Trivandrum (**Oral presentation**).   Ø  Participated in National Workshop on "Mud banks of Kerala: Status, Issues and Social                  concerns " conducted by CSIR – National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), 2017.   Ø  Presented a paper on "A study on the Breeding Biology and Population of Giant African Snail (*Achatina fulica*) and its management in Thonniyakavu, Paravoormunicipality in Ernakulam district, Kerala" in Albertian International Educational Expo, 2017 (**Oral presentation**).   Ø  Presented a paper on "A study on the Breeding Biology and Population of Giant African snail (*Achatina fulica*) and its management in Thonniyakavu, Paravoor municipality in Ernakulam district, Kerala" at the International Conference on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Environmental Sciences -2017 (**Oral presentation**).   Ø  Attended National Seminar on "Marine Ecosystem Health" conducted by the Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, CUSAT, 2017.   Ø  Attended a seminar on "Climate Change and Sustainability of Ocean Resources" as a part of India International Science Festival (IISF) 2017 conducted by CMLRE at Kochi.   Ø  Attended National seminar on "Main streaming Biodiversity", organized by P.G. & Research Department of Zoology, Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, December 2017.   Ø  Attended seminar on "Modern Aspects of Applied Entomology" in Maharajas College, Ernakulam in 2016.   Ø  Successfully Completed the Communicative English Trainer Programme under The Training Partner scheme, Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP) in 2016.   Ø  Attended National Seminar on 'Integrating Taxonomy to DNA Bar-coding' in St. Xavier's college for women, Aluva, 2015.   Ø  Participated in World Ocean Science Congress 2015 Kochi, Kerala, India.   Ø  Attended a seminar on organic farming organized by the Department of Lifelong Learning and Extension in collaboration with National Service Scheme in 2013.   **Membership in Organization** Ø  Lifetime Member of the Society of Marine Biologists - Membership No. SOMB/ER/678/05/159 Ø  Lifetime Member of the Association of Fisheries Graduates (AFG) - Membership No. AFG/M/2020-21/021   **Personal Profile** Name                          : Niya Benny Gender                        : Female Date of Birth               : 20.09.1995 Religion and caste      : Christian, Latin Catholic Nationality                  : Indian Marital Status             : Married Languages Known      : Malayalam - Read, write and speak                                       English       - Read, write and speak                                       Hindi          - Read, write and speak Permanent address      : Nelkunnassery (H)                                       Chirakkakam                                       Varapuzha P. O                                       Ernakulam, Kerala, India                                       Pin- 683517   # Reference # 1.     Dr. A. A. Mohamed Hatha             **Senior Professor** Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry **Cochin University of Science and Technology** **Kochi - 682022, Kerala, India** #             [mohamedhatha@gmail.com](mailto:mohamedhatha@gmail.com) #             Phone : +91 8882197762, 9446866050 # 2.     Dr. Swapna P. Antony             **Assistant Professor** Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry **Cochin University of Science and Technology** **Kochi - 682022, Kerala, India** #  [swapnapantony@cusat.ac.in](mailto:swapnapantony@cusat.ac.in) #    Phone: +91 8089131058 **Declaration** I, at this moment, declare that the details and information given above are complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge.   **![]()** **Dr. Niya Benny**