Subject Specialization:

Plant Molecular Genetics, Plant Disease Signaling, Plant-Microbe Interactions, Genetic Engineering & Functional Genomics

Research Interests:

Our research group at University of Hyderabad (UoH) aims at understanding plant microbe interaction and host responses using a combination of genetic, molecular and biotechnological approaches. Our goal is to elucidate the mechanisms by which a pathogenic or a beneficial microbe interacts with the host plant and in turn how the plant responds to the signals using gene manipulation, pathological and molecular marker assays. The long- term goal is to utilize these findings to enhance host resistance against invading microbes and thereby boost yield and quality of produce of agronomically important plants and in the process train a group of scientific leaders.

 CURRENT POSITION:

Dec 2016                   Professor, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad

PREVIOUS POSITIONS:

Jan 2012 – Dec 2016    Associate professor, Dept. of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, UoH

May 2009 – Jul 2009     Visiting Scientist, ASU Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona

Dec 2008 – Dec 2011    Reader, Dept. of Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad

Aug 2007 – Nov 2008   Research Assistant Professor, University of North Texas, Denton TX 76201

Aug 2003 – Jul 2007     Postdoctoral Research Associate, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas USA

Sep 2002 – Aug 2003   Postdoctoral Research Associate, Hawaii Agril. Research Center (HARC), Aiea, HI US

Feb 2001 – Sep 2002   Research Associate, NRCPB, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi

Nov 1998 – Jun 1999   Assistant Professor, College of Agriculture, Bapatla, A N G R Agril. University

Apr 1995 – Jul 1996     Research Associate, Division of Genetics, IARI, Pusa, New Delhi

Jun 1994 – Mar 1995   Post Graduate Apprentice, National Watershed Project, Chittoor, A.P.

EDUCATION:

Ph.D. (Genetics)                                               Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, 2001

M.Sc. Agriculture (Genetics & Plant Breeding)     Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University (APAU), Hyderabad, 1992

B.Sc. Agriculture                                              Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University (APAU), Hyderabad, 1990

AWARDS:

Nov 2012 – Apr 2013 DBT-CREST Research Fellowship to conduct research at UNT, Denton, USA

FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS:

Institute of Eminence (IOE)-MHRD funded project

Identification, molecular mapping and pyramiding of powdery mildew gene(s) in garden pea; Institution of Eminence (IOE)-MHRD; University of Hyderabad (IOE-UoH-RC3-21-020)

Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi, India: POWER-SPG

Delineating fungicidal tolerance of the fungal pathogen, Fusarium graminearum by analyzing Tebuconazole induced responses; POWER grant; SPG/2021/001819/2021;

 Department of Biotechnology (DBT), New Delhi, India:

Identification and characterization of Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs) and candidate effector genes in Powdery mildew fungus (Erysiphe pisi) through transcriptome profiling; BT/PR1264/PBD/16/848/2009;

Department of Science and Technology (DST), New Delhi, India: SERB-CRG Grant

Identification and molecular tagging of virulence and pathogenesis genes of powdery mildew fungus (Erysiphe pisi) using genomic tools SR/SO/BB02/2010;

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-NFBSFARA, New Delhi, India:

Deciphering molecular mechanism of induction of biotic stress tolerance by Trichoderma spp. in castor (Ricinus communis L.); ICAR-NFBSFARA/BS-3007/ 2012;

University Grants Commission (UGC)-University of Potential Excellence (UPE-II):

Physicochemical detection of bio-molecules in Erysiphe pisi with potent immune responses using molecular and computational studies; Universities with Potential for Excellence; (UPE Phase II; UH/UGC/UPE Phase-2/Interface Studies/research projects/R-29);