Education:

B.Sc., Home Science, COHSc, PAU, Ludhiana (1983). M.Sc., Food and Nutrition, COHSc, PAU, Ludhiana.(1986) Ph.D., Food and Nutrition, COHSc, PAU, Ludhiana (2002).

Positions held :Assistant Professor, KVK, Kapurthala (1992-2002), Associate Professor,PAU, Ludhiana (2002-2008), Professor, PAU, Ludhiana (2009 till date)

Field of Specialization:
Food and Nutrition (Community Nutrition)

Research Interests:

1. Nutrition interventions for reducing malnutrition and anaemia.
2. Dietary management of metabolic disorders.
3. Nutritional evaluation of vegetable oil/ blended oils

Projects:

1. “Evaluation of Mid Day Meal Scheme in Punjab” funded by Department of School Education Govt. of Punjab, Chandigarh (2011-12)-PI
2. “All India Coordinated Project on Developing Community Based Approach for Prevention and Management of Anaemia through Nutritional Inputs and Awareness Among Young Rural Women in India” funded by Department of Science and Technology Govt. of India, New Delhi(2009-12)-PI
3. “Evaluation of Mid Day Meal Scheme in Punjab” funded by Department of School Education Govt. of Punjab, Chandigarh (2008-09)-Co-PI
4. “Economic and Nutritional Impact of New Rice Varieties Developed for Northern India through the use of Modern Biotechnology Tools”, funded by Rockefeller Foundation, USA (2007-12) Co-PI

Selected Research Publications :

1. Pandey P, Grover K, Dhillon TS, Kaur A and Javed M (2021) Evaluation of polyphenols enriched dairy products developed by incorporating black carrot (Daucus carota L.) concentrate. Heliyon: Food Science and Nutrition DOI;10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06880 ( NAAS rating- 8.85)
2. Grover K, Arora S and Choudhary M (2020) Development of quality protein product using biofortified maize to combat malnutrition among young children. Cereal Chem. DOI: 10.1002/cche.10326 (NAAS rating 7.98)
3. Jain D, Grover K and Choudhary M (2020) Study on breakfast consumption pattern and its outcome in relation to haematological and body composition indices among adolescent girls. Ecol Food Nutr DOI/10.1080/03670244.2020.1778474 (NAAS rating 7.69)
4. Jain T, Grover K and Kaur G (2016) Effect of processing on nutrients and fatty acid composition of garden cress (Lepidiumsativum) seeds. Food Chem 213: 806-812 (NAAS rating 11.40)
5. Choudhary M, Grover K and Gurpreet Kaur (2015) Development of rice bran oil blends for quality improvement. Food Chem173:770-77 (NAAS rating 11.40)

Awards/Honours/Distinctions :

1. Best Oral Presentation Award at 55^th Annual Conference of the Nutrition Society of India (NSI) for the paper entitled “Nutrient Analysis of Germinated Quinoa Varieties: A path towards Superior, Nutrient Dense, Gluten free products” authored by Priya Rani, Sonika Sharma, Kiran Grover, Navjot Kaur and Ranjeet Gill.held at ICMR- NIN, Hyderabad on 25^th and 26^th November, 2023.

2. Best Oral Presentation Award at 6^th International Conference on Food and Nutrition by USFN, Universal Society of Food and Nutrition for the paper entitled “Hull-less pumpkin seed fortified Pasta: Nutritional Profiling , Phytochemicals and Bioactive characteristics ” authored by Shivani Kumari, Sonika Sharma, Kiran Grover, Ajmer Singh Dhatt , Sanjula Sharma and Jaspreet Kaur held on 25^th and 26^th October, 2023.

3. Best Oral Presentation Award at 54^th Annual Conference of Nutrition Society of India for the paper entitled “Effect of postharvest treatments on nutritional composition, physiological quality and shelf life of broccoli microgreens” authored by Manisha Patil, Sonika Sharma, Kiran Grover, Rahul Kumar Anurag and Khushdeep Dharni at Hyderabad during 22^nd -23^rd December, 2022
4. Best Oral Presentation Award for the paper entitled ‘Augmentation of mineral content, antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds using different drying techniques in Brocolli (Brassica Oleracea) microgreen sprinkler’ by Bhatt P, Sharma S, Grover K, Sharma S, Dhatt AS and Dharni K at International Conference on Clinical Nutrition and Dietary Lifestyle Conference organized by USFN, Universal Society of Food and Nutrition held at Bangalore during 20th and 21st May, 2022.
5. Best Oral Presentation Award for the paper entitled ‘Optimization of nutritional composition, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in broccoli (Brassica oleracea) microgreens using alternate drying techniques’ by Bhatt P, Sharma S, Grover K, Sharma S, Dhatt AS and Dharni K at TNAU Golden Jubilee International Seminar organized by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai on 6th September, 2021
6. Swaran Padak Award in Experimental Nutrition for the paper entitled " Hepato- protective effect of lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) detoxifying drink on carbon tetrachloride induced toxicity in rats" by Bohra J, Sharma S and Grover K during 53rd IDACON 2020-Virtual International Conference of Indian Dietetic Association from January 8-10, 2021
7. Best Presentation Award for the Paper “ Food Processing and value addition for nutritional and entrepreneurial development in India: Opportunities and Challenges by Grover K, Himlesh and Sharma P at 6^th National Seminar (Webinar) organised jointly by Department of Economics, Punjabi University, Patiala and The Society of Economics and Development on June 22, 2020
8. Invited as a Lead speaker in Golden Jubilee International Conference on “New Millennia Agriculture: Novel Trends & Future Scenario” at CCS Harayana Agricultural University, Hisar from Nov 6-8, 2019
9. Best Presentation Award for the Research paper entitled “Oxidative stability and antioxidant potential of canola oil” by Saklani S and Grover K during International Conference on Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture held at Bangkok, Thailand from Dec 21-24, 2018
10. Nestle Research Award -2015 in recognition and honour of research publication, Choudhary M, Grover K and Kaur G (2015) Development of rice bran oil blends for quality improvement. Food Chem 173:770-77 (NAAS rating 11.40)
11. Awarded Hosted Scientist Programme at “Global Forum for Innovation in Agriculture-Fight against World Hunger” held at Abu Dhabi, UAE from March 9-11, 2015.
12. Winner of Online Academician Competition held to honour academician, contributed maximum in Nutrition during 2013 by Nutritionist Republic, US.
13. Invited as a speaker in International Conference on "Nutritional therapies against lifestyle related disorders" at University of Agriculture, Faislabad, Pakistan from May 29-30th , 2014
14. Received J N Bose Memorial Award in the area of Community Nutrition during Golden Jubilee conference of Indian Dietetic Association held at NIN, Hyderabad for Nov 29-Dec 1, 2012.
15. Visiting Fellow at International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines to work on nutritional and cooking quality of Basmati Rice from Oct 7-16, 2008.
16. Awarded International Council of Science Fellowship by European Science Foundation (ESF) to participate in World Conference on Research Integrity: Fostering Responsible Research held at Lisbon, Portugal from Sept 16-19, 2007.

Research recommendation approved for inclusion in Package of Practices

• Optimization of nutritional and biochemical composition of microgreens for utilization in food products by Sonika Sharma, Kiran Grover, Ajmer Singh Dhatt and Savita Sharma (2022)

Technology development & commercialization

• “Beetroot Powder as a Natural Colorant” by Navjot Kaur, Kiran Grover and Poonam A Sachdeva (2020) Commercialized to Dhwani’s Vegan Valley, BRS Nagar, Ludhiana