Saroj Kanta Barik obtained BSc (Hons.) degree (1983) from Utkal University and Post-graduate degree (1985) from Berhampur University, Odisha. He was awarded PhD (1993), in the area of Forest Ecology by North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong under the supervision of Prof. R.S. Tripathi FNA. He worked as Scientist SD at State Forest Research Institute, Itanagar, Government of Arunachal Pradesh (1995-1997) before joining NEHU in the year 1997 as Lecturer. He was appointed as Reader/Associate Professor in the Department of Botany, NEHU in 2001 and Professor In 2006. He was Head, Department of Botany, NEHU during 2014-2016. He was appointed as Director, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Botanical research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow for the period 2016-2022. He also served as Director, CSIR- Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR- IITR) (Additional charge) (2020-2022), and as CSIR Theme Director of Agriculture, Nutrition and Biotechnology theme administering the programmes of 32 CSIR institutions under the theme during 2019-2022. Implemented more than 40 R&D national and international projects including 12 mega-projects as Principal Investigator/National Chief Technical adviser/Team Leader/National and International Coordinator. He Served/ is serving as Chairman/Expert Member of more than 110 Scientific Committees of Govt. of India and State Governments.

Academic and Research Achievements: With the help of emperical field and experimental data, Prof. Barik established that niche segregation, and existence of distinct regeneration guilds during gap-phase regeneration are two most important mechanisms leading to high species diversity in subtropical forests. He developed the concept of ‘Invasion hotspot’ using predictive modeling for 155 alien invasive plant species and identified Invasion hotspots in India. He concluded that biodiversity hotspots are most susceptible to biological invasion thus causing serious damage to local biodiversity. He quantified the hyper-volume niche of several forest species, and extensively used Ecological Niche Modeling (ENM) as a tool for discovery of new species and populations, corridor planning, assessing impact of climate change on species, and successful re-introduction of threatened plants. His intensive research on degraded ecosystems of north-east India viz., forest, grassland, shifting cultivation fallows and coal mine affected sites led to better understanding of the ecosystem recovery processes. He developed low-cost Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) treatment technology for small coal miners, and sustainable agriculture technology for shifting cultivators.  Development of novel quantitative methods for a disturbance index, estimation of Beta diversity in forested landscape, species-specific biomass models, metapopulation modelling, determination of sustainable e-flow and carrying capacity of river basins, and pollutant-specific pollution tolerance indices are some of his contributions to quantitative ecology and environmental science, which are being widely used by the researchers/policy makers across the globe. He integrated Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE) studies, climate models and ENM, and morpho-physiological and yield responses of forest and crop species/varieties to predict their future performance under different climate change scenarios. He conceptualized and coordinated the implementation of several innovative mega science projects such as   conservation of 100 threatened plants integrating conservation genetics and habitat quality paradigms (conservation biology), and quantification of ecosystem services of sacred groves in 17 ecoregions of India. He developed industrial-scale novel processes for Lakadong turmeric oleoresin extraction and bio-available curcumin, and successfully demonstrated those through a community-based one metric ton per day capacity plant at Laskein, Meghalaya.

Awards and Honours: Prof. Barik is a recipient of several awards including Prof. R.N. Tandon Memorial Award of The National Academy of Sciences, India, Dr. Brandis Award of Indian Forester, Prof. Birbal Sahani Medal of Indian Botanical Society, Biodiversity Lecture Award of The National Academy of Sciences, India, Dr. Mopuri Brahmam Memorial Award of  Orissa Botanical society, and Samanta Chandra Sekhar Award in Science and Technology of  Odisha Bigyan Academy, Government of Odisha. He was the Vice-President of NASI during 2020-22.