Education: B.Sc. Agri. (Hons.), PAU, Ludhiana (1997); M.Sc. (Plant Breeding), PAU, Ludhiana (1999); Ph.D. (Plant Breeding), PAU, Ludhiana (2004)

Positions held: Assistant Plant Breeder (Pulses), PAU (18.9.2002-17.9.2006), Assistant Plant Breeder (Pulses) Senior Scale (18.9.2006-17.9.2014), Associate Professor (Biotechnology), PAU (18.9.2014-17.9.2017), Professor (Biotechnology), PAU (18.9.2017-Till Date)

Field of Specialization: Tissue culture and Genetic transformation

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?hl=en&user=S0f-3NkAAAAJ

Research Interests:

1. Genetic transformation in pigeonpea
2. Micropropagation of sugarcane
3. Marker assisted selection in chickpea & pigeonpea

Research Projects:

1. Mass production of elite planting material of selected field and horticultural crops through micropropagation (as PI)
2. ICAR-Consortium research platform on hybrid technology for higher productivity in selected field and horticultural crops – Pigeonpea (as Co-PI)
3. Introgression of Bt-Cry1Ac gene into elite chickpea lines throughbackcross breeding and evaluation of introgressed lines against Helicoverpa armigera (as Co-PI)

Selected Research Publications :

1. Kaur A, Sharma M, Sharma C, Kaur H, Kaur N, Sharma S, Arora R, Singh I and Sandhu J S (2016) Pod borer resistant transgenic pigeon pea expressing cry1Ac transgene generated through simplified Agrobacterium transformation of pricked embryo axes. Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture 127: 717-27. (NAAS rating =8.61)
2. Kaur A, Kaur KP, Kalia A, Rani U, Kahlon JG, Sharma R, Malaviya D, Kapoor R and Sandhu JS (2017) Generation of interspecific hybrids between Trifolium vesiculosum and T. alexandrinum using embryo rescue. Euphytica 213: 253. DOI 10.1007/s10681-017-2042-x. (NAAS rating: 7.62)
3. Sandhu J S, Nayyar S, Kaur A, Kaur R, Kalia A, Arora A, Kaur Y, Thind S K and Chhabra G (2019) Foot Rot Tolerant Transgenic Rough Lemon Rootstock Developed Through Expression of β-1,3-glucanase from Trichoderma spp. Plant Biotechnology Journal DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13152. (NAAS rating: 12.30)
4. Kaur R, Kalia A, Lore J S, Kaur A, Yadav I, Sharma P and Sandhu J S (2021) Trichoderma spp. endochitinase and β-1,3-glucanase impede Rhizoctonia solani growth independently, and their combined use does not enhance impediment. Plant Pathology doi: 10.1111/ppa.13381. (NAAS rating: 8.17)
5. Bindra S, Singh I, Gill B S, Grewal S K, Kaur J, Kaur L, Salaria S, Kaur A, Kushwah A, Srinivasan S and Singh S (2021) Inheritance and biochemical basis of yellowing of apical leaves: a unique traint in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). J Genet doi.org/10.1007/s12041-021-01302-5. (NAAS rating: 6.99)

Awards/Honours/Distinctions

1. Merit scholarship throughout B.Sc. Agri. (Hons.) and M. Sc. (Plant Breeding) programmes.
2. Recipient of Academic Roll of Honour for obtaining the highest OGPA in B.Sc. Agri. (Hons.).
3. Recipient of University Gold Medal for securing 1st position in B.Sc. Agri. (Hons.).
4. Recipient of Dr. Ram Dhan Singh Gold Medal for securing 1st position in B.Sc. Agri. (Hons. in Crop Science) in the subject of Plant Breeding.