Education: B.Sc. (Ag) Hons. from CSKHPAU, Palampur (1998); M.Sc. (Ag) from CSKHPAU, Palampur (2000); Ph.D. (Plant Breeding) from PAU, Ludhiana (2015)

Positions held: Assistant Plant Breeder, Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics (29.9.2005 to 1.7.2015); Plant Breeder (Seed Technology), O/o Director (Seeds) (22.7.2015 to 14.10.2018); Senior Plant Breeder (Seed Technology), Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics (15.10.2018 to 31.03.2023); Senior Plant Breeder (Seed Technology), O/o Director (Seeds) (1.04.2023 till date)

Field of Specialization: Crop Production and Certification (Seed Technology Research), Minor Millet Breeding, Brassica Breeding, Cotton Breeding, Wheat Breeding

Research Interest: Sustainable seed production of field crops under changing climate, Revalidation of certification standards amidst changing seed production scenario, Breeding climate resilient Minor Millets for agricultural sustainability and natural resource management in Punjab

Research Projects: All India Coordinated Research Project on National Seed Program: Seed Production and Certification under Seed Technology Research; Seed Processing under Seed Technology Research; All India Coordinated Research Project on Small Millets (Voluntary Centre); Breeding Minor Millets for adaptability and cultivation under Punjab agroclimatic conditions: Agronomic Evaluation and Field demonstration of millets cultivation to enhance livelihood security and crop diversification in Punjab funded by NABARD, Chandigarh

Selected research papers (Maximum up to 5)

Arora L, Aggarwal R, Dhaliwal I, Gupta O P and Kaushik P (2023) Assessment of sensory and nutritional attributes of foxtail millet-based food products. Frontiers in Nutrition. 10:1146545. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1146545. (NAAS: 12.59).

Rehal JK, Aggarwal P, Dhaliwal I, Sharma M and Kaushik P (2022) A tomato pomace enriched gluten-free ready-to-cook snack’s nutritional profile, quality, and shelf life evaluation. Horticulturae 8 (5): 403. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8050403 (NAAS: 8.923).

Sharma M, Dhaliwal I, Rana K, Delta A K, Kaushik P (2021) Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Datura Species - A Review. Antioxidants. 10: 1291. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox1008.1291. (NAAS: 11.01).

Priyanka V, Kumar R, Dhaliwal I and Kaushik P (2021). Germplasm Conservation: Instrumental in Agricultural Biodiversity — A Review. Sustainability 13: 6743. DOI: 10.3390/ su1312/6743. (NAAS: 9.251).

Dhaliwal I, Mason A S, Banga S, Bharti S, Kaur B, Gurung A M, Salisbury P A, Batley J and Banga S S (2016). Cytogenetic and molecular characterization of B-genome introgression lines of Brassica napus L. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics. doi: 10.1534/g3.116.036442. (NAAS: 9.198).

National (AICRP) recommendations:

1. Optimization of aperture size of bottom/grading sieves for processing of new crop varieties (wheat)
2. Management of Karnal Bunt in wheat seed through mechanical processing

Awards/Honours/Distinction

• Awarded University Merit Certificate in B.Sc. (Ag.) for Academic Excellence
• Awarded University Merit Certificate in M.Sc. (Ag.) for Academic Excellence
• Awarded Third prize for poster presentation in 3^rd National Symposium on Millets-2022 held at MAGSIPAP, Sector 26, Chandigarh, on September 2nd, 2022
• Awarded Best Paper Presentation Award in the 5^th International Conference on Food and Nutrition (USFN) held at Malaysia from November 16^th-17^th, 2022