Dr. Monica Sachdeva Taggar has been with Punjab Agricultural University since April 1, 2011. She began in the Department of Renewable Energy Engineering and later joined the Department of Biochemistry, where she is currently a Senior Biochemist. Her research centres on biofuel production technologies, focusing on bioethanol, biodiesel, and biohydrogen. Dr. Taggar has led five major ICAR-funded projects and co-investigated a Department of Atomic Energy-funded project. She has published 56 research papers, 2 conference papers, 5 book chapters, and 2 extension articles, with 6 oral presentations at national and international conferences. A dedicated mentor, she has guided 11 M.Sc. and 2 Ph.D. students, and taught 10 undergraduate and 4 postgraduate Biochemistry courses. She also serves as a technical reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals. Her work significantly advances renewable energy, biochemical engineering, and sustainable agriculture.

Professional Accomplishments

Research Projects completed

ICAR-AICRP (All India Coordinated Research Project on Energy in Agriculture and Agro-based Industries)

• Optimization of the ethyl esterification process for non-edible plant oils
• Lipase-catalyzed biodiesel production from non-edible plant oils
• Development of a single-phase system for biodiesel production from plant oils
• Survey of water-logged regions in South-west Punjab for the isolation of promising microalgae with biofuel potential
• Enhanced cellulase production from various agricultural residues and its application in paddy straw saccharification

ICAR-CRP (Consortia Research Platform on Energy from Agriculture)

• Biohydrogen production from paddy straw

Adhoc project funded by Department of Atomic Energy, Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences (BARC), Mumbai

• Development of technology for efficient conversion of rice straw into ethanol employing thermostable microbial cellulases

Research Publications:

1. Kaur A, Taggar M S, Kalia A and Singh M (2022) Nitrate-induced carbohydrate accumulation in Chlorella sorokinianaand its potential for ethanol production.  Bioenergy Research 15:253-263.
2. Verma N, Taggar M S, Kalia A and Javed M (2022) Comparison of various delignification/desilication pre-treatments and indigenous fungal cellulase for improved hydrolysis of paddy straw. Biotech3 12 (7):1-14.
3. Kaur G, Taggar M S and Kalia A (2023) Cellulase-immobilized chitosan-coated magnetic nanoparticles for saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass.  Environ Sci Pollut Res. (NAAS rating: 11.19).
4. Singh N, Taggar M S, Kaur J, Kalia A and Garg T (2023) Optimization of bioethanol production from corn cobs by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation using response surface methodology. Cellulose Chemistry and Technology 57 (3-4):359-368.
5. Kaur J, Taggar M S, Kalia A, Sanghera G S, Kocher G S and Javed M (2023) Valorization of sugarcane bagasse into fermentable sugars by efficient fungal cellulolytic enzyme complex. Waste and Biomass Valorisation. 14 (3): 963.975.

Awards and Recognition:  Awarded merit fellowship during his Ph.D.