Agri varsity’s Dr Chhuneja appointed as ICAR-Norman Borlaugh Chair

Dr Parveen Chhuneja, Director, Gurdev Singh Khush Institute of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Biotechnology (GSKI-GPBB), Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has been appointed as the ICAR-Norman Borlaug Chair under the ICAR National Professor Scheme.

She has assumed the charge of this highly-coveted position. Under this role, Dr Chhuneja will lead a five-year research programme titled “Genomics-Driven Introgression of Novel Genetic Variation from Wild A-Genome Species for Enhancing Resilience for Biotic and Abiotic Stresses in Wheat”.

Instituted by ICAR to honour Dr Norman E Borlaug, Nobel Laureate and architect of the Green Revolution, the Chair recognises excellent scientific leadership in agricultural research.

Dr Chhuneja has had an exemplary scientific career of nearly three decades in wheat genetics and genomics. Her work has focused on broadening the genetic base of wheat using wild relatives and advanced genomic tools. She and her team have assembled and utilised highly-diverse collection of wild wheat species and identified several genes conferring resistance to major diseases as well as genes contributing to abiotic stresses. These efforts have contributed to the development of 11 wheat varieties.

She has published over 177 research papers in high-impact journals, including Science, Nature, and Nature Biotechnology, with more than 11,000 citations with an h-index of 41 and i-10 index of 107. She has also led over 20 competitive research projects, collaborated extensively with international institutions, and mentored numerous postgraduate students and young researchers. She is a Fellow of prestigious scientific academies INSA, NAAS, and NASI and has been honoured with several prestigious awards, including the Jeanie Borlaug Laube Women in Triticum Mentor Award, ICAR Panjabrao Deshmukh Outstanding Woman Scientist Award, Dr GS Khush Distinguished Professor Award and Dr Darshan Singh Brar Award.

Under the ICAR–Norman Borlaug Chair, Dr Chhuneja will continue her work on mining novel genetic variation from A-genome wild wheat species to enhance resilience against emerging biotic and abiotic stresses.

Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, congratulated her on this achievement, calling it “a proud moment for the university and a reflection of her sustained scientific contributions to wheat improvement programmes”.