Education: B.Sc., PAU, Ludhiana (1997); M.Sc., PAU, Ludhiana (2000); Ph.D., PAU, Ludhiana (2012)

Positions held: Assistant Entomologist, PAU Ludhiana (2003- 2016); Senior Entomologist, PAU Ludhiana (2017-2019); Principal Entomologist, PAU Ludhiana (2020-till date)

Field of Specialization: Economic Entomology, Biocontrol

Present Research Interests/Projects:

Research Interests: (Maximum up to three areas of interest)

1. Diversity of insect pests and natural enemies including microbials
2. Development, validation and dissemination of bio-intensive integrated pest management technologies in different crops
3. Tri-trophic interactions among crops, insects and natural enemies

Research Projects:

1. All India Coordinated Research Project on Biological Control of Crop Pests (ICAR)
2. Network Project on Conservation of Lac Insect Genetic Resources (ICAR)
3. Mass production of bioagents and large scale dissemination of biocontrol technologies in sugarcane, organic rice and maize crops (RKVY)

Selected Research Publications (maximum up to 5):

1. Kumar R, Bhatt R, Kashyap L and Shera P S (2023). Silicon retention in soil and sugarcane cultivar and its impact on stalk borer (Chilo auricilius Dudgeon), yield and quality indices in Northwest India. Silicon, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-023-02508-1 (NAAS rating 8.94)
2. Sharma T and Shera P S (2021). Biological anomalies in the sugarcane leafhopper, Pyrilla perpusilla (Walker) due to parasitism by Fulgoraecia melanoleuca (Fletcher) (Lepidoptera : Epipyropidae). Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control 31: 137 https://doi.org/10.1186/s41938-021-00486-3 (NAAS rating 8.06)
3. Karmakar, P and Shera P S (2020). Lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides on the solitary endoparasitoid, Aenasius arizonensis (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). International Journal of Pest Management 66: 13-20 (NAAS rating = 7.77)
4. Sharma S, Shera P S, Kaur R and Sangha K S (2020). Evaluation of augmentative biological control strategy against major borer insect pests of sugarcane – a large scale field appraisal. Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control 30:127 https://doi.org/10.1186/s41938-020-00330-0 (NAAS rating 8.06)
5. Shera, P S and Karmakar, P (2018). Effect of mating combinations on the host parasitization and sex allocation in solitary endoparasitoid, Aenasius arizonensis (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Biocontrol Science and Technology 28 (1): 46-61 (NAAS rating = 7.81)

Awards/Honours/Distinctions:

1. Fellow, Society for Biocontrol Advancement, ICAR-NBAIR, Bengaluru
2. Best All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Biological Control of Crop Pests centre Award
3. Best Network Project on Conservation of Lac Insect Genetic Resources (NPCLIGR) centre award
4. Scientist Award – 2020 from Dr. B. Vasantharaj David Foundation, Chennai