Education
Ph.D 2014, Akamai University, Hilo, Hawaii, USA
MSc (Physiology) 1996, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India
Bsc (Agriculture) 1991, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India
- Urban agriculture, greywater reuse and rainwater harvesting for food security, biodiversity conservation and climate change resilience
- Hormonal and photoperiodic responses of a meristematic mutant in Soybean [Glycine max]
MSc (Physiology) 1996, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India
- Effect of salinity stress on respiration in seedling systems differing in their stress response
Bsc (Agriculture) 1991, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India
- Plant Breeding and Genetics, Microbiology
Achievements
- 2003: Scholarship from Akamai University, United States of America for doctoral program.
- 1996: Research assistantship awarded for graduate studies at Clemson University, United States of America.
- 1993: Ranked FIRST nationwide in Junior Research Fellowship examination conducted by Indian Council of Agricultural Sciences (ICAR), India.
- 1992: Awarded certificate for summer training in Behavioral Sciences, at the Center of Ecological Sciences (CES), Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India.
- 1991: Awarded merit scholarship for undergraduate studies, at University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, India.
Internships & Graduate Work
Instructor, United Nations Development Program (UNDP)- Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Intern, UNSO: Office to Combat Desertification and Drought: July 1998 – August 1998
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Entomology, Soils and Plant Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA [September 1996-May 1998]
Research Associate, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, India [February 1996-July 1996]
Intern, Center for Ecological Sciences (CES), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India [October 1991- September 1992]
Graduate Research Fellow, Department of Crop Physiology, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, G.K.V.K. Bangalore 560 065, India [April 1993 -February 1996]
- Trained the staff of UNDP-GEF to use the Project Information Management System (PIMS). Supervised UNDP-GEF portfolio data update into PIMS, identified bottlenecks and suggested remedial measures to ensure data entry and management.
- Intern, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Global Environment Facility (GEF), New York, USA [July 1998-April 1999] UNDP-GEF: Regional Bureau of Africa: September 1998-Appril 1999
- Analyzed and reported on the GEF capacity development activities in the entire GEF portfolio.
- Compiled information on capacity development initiatives and knowledge held by UNDP and other bilateral, multilateral institutions.
- Assisted in organizing the Second Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP) meeting held at NY from Sept 14-17, 1998.
- Reviewed and prepared the essential reading list for the consultants and the country offices.
Intern, UNSO: Office to Combat Desertification and Drought: July 1998 – August 1998
- Edited and finalized projects dealing with the efforts to combat desertification in Syria, Kuwait, Egypt, Lebanon and Palestine
- Prepared a list of potential donors to contribute towards combating desertification and drought for use by UNSO office.
- Prepared ''Support to National Action Programme to Combat Desertification'', for resource mobilization from donors.
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Entomology, Soils and Plant Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA [September 1996-May 1998]
- Study of hormonal and photoperiodic responses of a meristematic mutant in Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr with tissue culture techniques and scanning electron microscope.
Research Associate, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, India [February 1996-July 1996]
- Worked in the Rockefeller Foundation funded project ' Molecular marker assisted (MAS) breeding for drought and blast resistance in rainfed lowland rice', using molecular techniques such as RFLP, Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
Intern, Center for Ecological Sciences (CES), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, India [October 1991- September 1992]
- Completed behavior ecology summer camp at CES
- Undertook behavioral study of amphibians with particular focus on frogs from the Western Ghats
Graduate Research Fellow, Department of Crop Physiology, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, G.K.V.K. Bangalore 560 065, India [April 1993 -February 1996]
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Fellowship awarded to conduct gas exchange stuies to evaluate salinity stress on respiration and yield in different cereal and pulse crops. Research also included working with farmers and extension department in lab to land programme