Forschung

Forschungsschwerpunkte: Gentechnik, funktionelle Genomik, angewandte Genomik, Pre-Breeding, Genomics and Trait Discovery

Rajeev Kumar Varshney ist ein indischer Genetiker, der auf dem Gebiet der Landwirtschaft forscht.

Rajeev Kumar Varshney is a geneticist who researches in the area of international agriculture. He works as Global Research Program Director at the Genetic Gains at International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) that encompasses different disciplines including Genebank, Pre-Breeding, Genomics & Trait Discovery, Cell & Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, Forward and Integrated Breeding, and Seed Systems.

Rajeev has a basic background in molecular genetics and possesses more than 15 years research experience in international agriculture. His research is focused on structural, functional, comparative and translational genomics for improving the crop productivity of legume crops in marginal environments in Africa and Asia.

He is internationally recognized for his contribution in genome sequencing of pigeonpea, chickpea, peanut, pearl millet, sesame, mungbean and adzuki bean and development of molecular breeding products in chickpea, pigeonpea and peanut.

Werdegang

• seit 2016 Global Research Program Director am Genetic Gains, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Indien
• 2014 Winthrop-Forschungsprofessor, School of Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Australien
• 2012 Honorarprofessor  am  BGI-Hong Kong Research Institute, China
• 2012 - 2016 Direktor, Centre of Excellence in Genomics (CEG), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Indien
• seit 2008 Leitender Wissenschaftler, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Indien
• 2005 - 2008 Leitender Forscher, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Indien
• 2001 Promotion an der Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, Indien
• 2001 - 2005 Wissenschaftler am  Leibniz-Institut für Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung Gatersleben
• 1995 - 2000 Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter, Ch Charan Singh University (CCSU), Meerut, Indien
• 1995 Master of Science, Aligarh Muslim University, Indien

Funktionen

• seit 2016 Vorsitzender der Genomics, Molecular Genetics & Biotechnology Division der Crop Science Society of America
• 2015 Mitglied des Steering Committee des DivSeek
• 2014 Mitglied des Research Advisory Committee for Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres, Indian Council of Agricultural Research
• seit 2013 Mitglied des Research Committee, Farm Research Committee, Emergency Management Team and Chair, Plant Material Identification Committee of ICRISAT
• 2012 Mitglied des Advisory Board, International School of Hyderabad
• 2011 Mitglied des Research Advisory Council for Tea Board of India (Ministry of Commerce, Government of India)  
• 2011 Mitglied des Research Advisory Committee for Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute, Silk Board of India (Ministry of Textiles, Government of India)
• 2010 Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB) of Ministry of Agriculture as an External Subject Matter Specialist for recruiting Senior Scientists in several ICAR institutes

Projekte

• 2007 - 2013 Leiter des SubProgramme 2, Generation Challenge Programme (GCP), hosted by CIMMYT, Mexico
• 2004 - 2007 Koordinator des Projekts ‘Recombinational Analysis’ of International Triticeae Mapping Initiative (ITMI)
• 2003 - 2008 Koordinator des Projekts International ‘Triticeae EST-SSR Coordination’ of ITMI

Auszeichnungen und Mitgliedschaften

• 2017 IPGI Award for leadership & contribution to peanut research
• seit 2016 Mitglied der Nationalen Akademie der Wissenschaften Leopoldina
• 2016 Mitglied der Indian Society of Genetics & Plant Breeding
• 2015 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for Science and Technology (Biological Sciences)
• 2015 Research Excellence India Citation Award
• 2015 Senior Scientist Award of Association of Biotechnology & Pharmacy (ABAP), India
• 2015 Listed in World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds by Thomson Reuters
• 2015 Mitglied der Crop Science Society of America (CSSA)  
• seit 2015 Mitglied der National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI)
• 2015 Mitglied der Association of Biotechnology & Pharmacy (ABAP), India
• 2014 Mitglied der AP Academy of Sciences (APAS) and Telangana State Academy of Sciences (TSAS), India
• 2013 The Illumina Agricultural Greater Good Initiative Award
• 2013 Young Crop Scientist Award, Crop Science Society of America (CSSA)
• seit 2013 Mitglied der Indian National Science Academy (INSA)
• 2010 NASI-Scopus Young Scientist Award
• 2010 Mitglied der National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, India (NAAS)
• 2008 - 2012 Associate Fellow der NAAS
• 2008 INSA-Young Scientist Medal
• 2007 NASI-Young Scientist Platinum Jubilee Award