PAU RESEARCH ASSOCIATE BAGS DST WOMEN SCIENTIST PROJECT

Ludhiana, July 28, 2023: Dr Simarjeet Kaur Sra, a Research Associate of G S Khush Institute of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Biotechnology at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has brought laurels to the University by bagging the prestigious Women Scientist Project with Professor SS Banga, a DAE Raja Ramanna Fellow and Professor (Honorary Adjunct) as the mentor.

The Department of Science and Technology has granted this project, "Molecular mechanism underlying the differences in heat-stress tolerance in rapeseed-mustard crops," with a total budget outlay of Rs 35.38 lakh over a period of three years. Dr Sra plans to identify genes associated with heat-stress responses during the terminal stage of rapeseed mustard, especially the genes that are conserved across Brassica species. Successful outcomes of the project will help to understand the regulatory mechanism of transcriptional response to heat stress in Brassica species and assist in designing novel molecular markers for use in marker-assisted breeding to develop heat-tolerant varieties in rapeseed and mustard crops.

Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU; Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research; Dr PK Chhuneja, Dean, Postgraduate Studies; Dr GS Mangat, Director, GS Khush Institute of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Biotechnology; Dr Parveen Chhuneja, Director, School of Agricultural Biotechnology; and Dr VS Sohu, Head, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, congratulated Dr Sra for this achievement and wished her success in future endeavors.