Dr. Shailesh Pandey has PhD, Plant Pathology and Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering. Current working as Senior Scientist (Forest Pathology) at Forest Research Institute, New Forest-Campus-248006, Dehradun, India. He is a Forest Pathologist specializing in fungal pathogens affecting forestry crops in India, focusing on families like Nectriaceae and Botryosphaeriaceae. His research group has identified new country records, described novel fungal species, and developed mortality maps for blue pine in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. He leads health assessments of the world-famous Holy Bodhi Tree in Bodhgaya, Bihar. As an advisor to Ph.D. scholars and mentor to microbiology researchers, he oversees studies on tree pathogens, abiotic stress, and biological control.