22 distinguished International scientists join PAU as honourary visiting professors

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has appointed 22 distinguished scientists from India and abroad as honourary visiting professors, marking a pivotal step in strengthening its academic and research ecosystem.

Drawn from among the alumni, former faculty, and long-standing collaborators, the roster includes three World Food Prize laureates — Dr GS Khush, Dr Rattan Lal, and Dr SK Vasal —underscoring PAU’s global stature in agricultural education.

The initiative builds on PAU’s legacy as a premier agricultural sciences institution since 1962 and comes on the heels of its three consecutive first-place rankings among the various agri varsities in India.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal highlighted that the visiting professors would mentor students, guide thesis work, foster joint projects with international institutions, and help bridge classroom learning with cutting-edge research. “Consistent interaction with senior experts will raise academic standards, expand collaborative opportunities, and give young scholars a clearer sense of their place in the global research ecosystem,” he said.

Hybrid engagement model

The university has adopted a hybrid model of engagement. Professors will deliver lectures, moderate discussions and mentor students during campus visits, while maintaining continuity through periodic online sessions.

Some of the visiting professors

1. Dr GS Khush, crop improvement, University of California, Davis, USA
2. Dr Bikram Gill, crop improvement, Kansas State University, USA
3. Dr Bing Yang, biotechnology, University of Missouri, USA
4. Dr Harjinder Singh, food technology, Massey University, New Zealand
5. Dr Sukhinder Cheema, biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada
6. Dr Manjeet Singh Chinnan, food processing and food engineering, University of Georgia, USA
7. Dr K Veeranjaneyulu, library sciences, NIT Warangal, India
8. Dr Rajinder Ranu, biotechnology and molecular biology, Colorado State University, USA
9. Dr Zora Singh, horticultural sciences, Edith Cowan University, Australia
10. Dr Jaswinder Singh, molecular breeding, McGill University, Canada
11. Dr Kulvinder Singh Gill, crop improvement, Washington State University, USA
12. Dr Sukhwinder Singh, crop improvement, USDA-ARS, USA