Dr. Anil Kumar is an eminent teacher, outstanding educationist and scientist of international repute. He joined G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology as an Assistant Professor in 1993 and served for 25 years in different capacities. After the successful completion of two tenures as Professor & Head, Department of Molecular Biology & Genetic Engineering, CBS&H, he joined as Director of Education at the Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi in 2018. His current responsibilities include establishing new colleges/campuses, functional research and teaching labs and initiating various teaching and research programs in agriculture and allied sectors. Dr. Kumar has made outstanding research contributions in the area of Genomics for Crop Improvement, especially in resolving the complexity of agriculturally important traits such as the Biotic stresses (Fungal Biology) and Mineral Nutrition. Dr Kumar has published hundreads of the research papers both in national and international journals of repute, several books and manuals and manybook chapters and filed 11 patents and couple of them granted He was recipient of Bharat Ratna Dr. Saevepalli Radhakrishnan University Best Teacher Award, Thrice Utttarkhand’s Governor Award, ICAR’s Dr. C. Subramanium Outstanding Teacher’s Award, INSA Teacher’s Award and Dr. B B Singh Outstanding Researcher’s Award besides Regional Service Award (IFCC and APACC, 1993), Financial Award (IFCC, 1990), International Bursary Award (UK, 1996), Food and Agricultural Organization Fellowship Award under ICAR-AHRD scheme from FAO (Rome, 2000-2001). He is a Member of National Academy of Sciences, India and Executive member and Fellow of National Academy of Biological Sciences, Chennai for his scientific contributions in the field of biological sciences. Dr. Anil has also been awarded the ‘Shiksha Rattan’ and ‘Scientist of Excellence Award’ for his meritorious services to the cause of Biotechnology education and research.Dr. Nidhi V. Maheshwari, a post graduate in Microbiology (2005) and obtained PhD in molecular Bbology and biotechnology (2010) from G.B.Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. Dr Maheshwari has immensely contributed in the area of deciphering the molecular and regulatory networks associated with nitrogen use efficiency in finger millet using genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics approaches for crop improvement. Understanding the role of plant specific Dof Transcription Factors in the regulation of NUE and accumulation of grain protein was her main area of interest. She started her career as a temporary teaching assistant in 2010 from Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Maharaja Sayajirao (MS) University, Vadodara. During this tenure she got DBT RA Fellowship 2011. Thereafter in 2012 she received DBT BioCARe Women Scientist Fellowship. She is currently working as Assistant Professor and DST Women Scientist in Life Sciences Department, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Mumbai. Her major area of professional interest includes nutraceuticals, microbial biotransformation and secondary metabolite production from medicinal plants. She has published a few research papers and review articles in journals of national and international repute, some book chapters and popular articles.Dr. M. K. Tripathi is a postgraduate of Biochemistry from Dr.R.M.L.A.University and obtained Ph.D. in Biochemistry from G.B.Pant University of Agriculture andTechnology, Pantnagar. He is currently working as Principal Scientist (Biochemistry) at APPD, ICAR-CIAE (Govt of India), Bhopal. His major areas of professional interest include medicinal compounds, functional and nutraceutical food, fermented and probiotic food. He has guided various PG students. He has published many research papers in International and National journal of repute, some abstracts, book chapters and popular articles He has been recipient of several prestigious awards and honours such as; Established Scientist Award-2014, ISAE Team Award-2020, SAAR Distinguished Scientist Award in Crop Science-21,Best Scientist Award-2017,Young Scientist awards, Recognition Award-2016, 16 best presentation awards in International and National conferences, honoured as Marvellous Personality of INDIA Award-2016 in Science, Lifetime achievement award-2017 by Innovative Research, Chennai for outstanding achievements in the field of food processing research and publications.Dr. Sanjay Kumar is currently serving as Chairman, Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board, India Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. He served as Director of CSIR-IHBT from 2015 to 2023, vitalized several initiatives for empowering the farmers, obtained Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar and Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, respectively. Joined CSIR-IHBT as “Scientist B” in 1990; received post‐doctoral training at Texas Tech University (USA), Rothamsted Research (UK), and Kansas State University (USA).His major contributions include discovery of a novel carbon fixation pathway and its transplantation in a heterologous system to reduce photorespiratory losses leading to photosynthetic gain and yield enhancement (work lauded by international fraternity), discovery of autoclavable superoxide dismutase from high altitude plant, its characterization and modification, plant adaption mechanism at high altitude, cloning of genes for secondary metabolite synthesis and imparting stress tolerance, deciphering the mechanisms of winter dormancy and drought stress in tea, enumerating molecular aspects of secondary metabolism in medicinal plants for catechins, picrosides, steviosides, shikonins and podophyllotoxin biosynthesis. Significant contributions on transcriptome and genome sequencing of Himalayan plants and development of nutraceuticals using traditional/Ayurvedic knowledge. He holds several international patents and has many peer reviewed research/review articles/edited book/book chapters etc. Dr. Sanjay Kumar is a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India; National Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Crop Improvement Society of India. Bestowed with prestigious VASVIK Industrial Research Award; R.D. Asana Endowment Lecture Award; Professor G.V. Joshi Memorial Lecture Award; Prof. Shri Ranjan Memorial Lecture Award, Ultra International Team Award for contribution in Essential Oil Industry; Outstanding Alumnus Award of College of Basic Sciences and Humanities by G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Certificate of Merit in CSIR Leadership Programme; and Young Scientist Award by INSA.
