Principal Scientist ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Pusa, New Delhi India
Dr. Sundeep Kumar is a Principal Scientist in Plant Biotechnology at ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, India. With over two decades of experience in plant genetics and biotechnology, he has significantly contributed to wheat breeding, stress tolerance, and genomic resource management. His research has led to the development of novel genetic stocks, patents, and marker systems that enhance crop resilience and productivity.
Profile
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Education 🎓
Dr. Sundeep Kumar earned his Ph.D. in Genetics and Plant Breeding from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, in 2003, focusing on spot blotch resistance in wheat. He holds an M.Sc. (Ag.) in Agricultural Botany from C.C.S. University, Meerut (1999), where he specialized in genetics and plant breeding. He also completed a B.Sc. (Ag.) from the same university in 1997, earning a University Gold Medal. Additionally, he cleared ICAR and CSIR National Eligibility Tests (NET) in Plant Breeding and Life Sciences.
Experience 🌱
Dr. Kumar has held several key positions in research and academia. He has been serving as Principal Scientist (Plant Biotechnology) at ICAR-NBPGR since 2016. Prior to this, he worked as a Senior Scientist at the same institute from 2010-2016. His academic journey includes roles as an Assistant Professor at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut (2005-2010). Internationally, he was a DAAD Postdoctoral Fellow at Justus Liebig University, Germany (2004-2005) and a BOYSCAST Postdoctoral Fellow at Kansas State University, USA (2008-2009).
Research Interests 🎡
Dr. Kumar specializes in plant biotechnology, molecular breeding, and genetic resource management. His research focuses on wheat genomics, stress tolerance, bioinformatics, and trait discovery. He has contributed to multi-institutional projects on climate resilience, genome characterization, and the development of superior crop varieties.
Awards & Honors 🏆
- 2024: Prof. Norman Borlaug Memorial Award (Society for Plant Research)
- 2023: Dr. R.N Sawhney Memorial Award (Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding)
- 2020: Distinguished Scientist Award (Society for Scientific Development in Agriculture & Technology)
- Elected Fellow & Member: National Academy of Biological Sciences (2021), Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding (2018), National Academy of Sciences (2023), Wheat Initiative Expert Working Group on Durum Wheat (2024)
Publications Top Notes: 📚
Dr. Kumar has authored numerous high-impact research papers in peer-reviewed journals. Some of his notable publications include:
Comparison of SSR and SNP markers in estimation of genetic diversity and population structure of Indian rice varieties
Stay green trait: variation, inheritance and its association with spot blotch resistance in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Identification of QTLs for stay green trait in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the ‘Chirya 3’ × ‘Sonalika’ population
Genetic diversity trend in Indian rice varieties: an analysis using SSR markers
Variability and its probable cause in natural populations of spot blotch pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana of wheat (T. aestivum L.) in India/Variabilität und ihre wahrscheinliche …
Quantitative trait loci for resistance to spot blotch caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana in wheat (T. aestivum L.) lines ‘Ning 8201’ and ‘Chirya 3’
CAAT box-derived polymorphism (CBDP): a novel promoter-targeted molecular marker for plants
Mapping of resistance to spot blotch disease caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana in spring wheat
Identification, analysis and development of salt responsive candidate gene based SSR markers in wheat
Evaluation of 19,460 wheat accessions conserved in the Indian national genebank to identify new sources of resistance to rust and spot blotch diseases