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Research Interests:

My research interests lie in genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics. I am especially interested in developing cost-effective, high throughput genotyping technologies for genetics and molecular breeding applications in diverse crops. These technologies will enable breeders to genotype a large number of samples in short span of time to implement genomic selection (GS) as a routine practice in breeding programs for fast track development of superior varieties. Additionally, I am researching how we can apply markers to the world and develop new avenues to evaluate variation at protein level.

Prior to Cornell University, I worked on genomic resource development of rice, wheat, pigeonpea, jute and mango at NRCPB, IARI. During my PhD, I developed first genic 50K SNP genotyping chip “OsSNPnks”, a single copy gene based for genetics and molecular breeding applications in rice. This chip is being used to develop varieties of rice that can tolerate long durations of flooding and also help bridge the yield gap. I have also investigated the rice origin and domestication based on key agronomically important and domestication related genes.  

At the Buckler Lab, I studied the cassava genome. Cassava suffers from a high level of inbreeding depression. I was interested in the identification of deleterious mutations and estimating the mutation burden in diverse cassava genotypes. I employed different strategies to purge genetic load from cultivated cassava clones and developed genomic selection models to incorporate mutational burden information to improve the prediction accuracy in Cassava.

Education:

•   PhD in Biotechnology, IKG Punjab Technical University Jallandhar, Punjab, India

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•   MS in Bioinformatics, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

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