Education: B.Sc., GNDU, Amritsar (2008); M.Sc., PAU, Ludhiana (2010); Ph.D., PAU, Ludhiana (2014)

Positions held: Assistant Biochemist, PAU Ludhiana (Since May 2018)

Field of Specialization: Plant Biochemistry

Research Interests:

• Associative transcriptomics
• Biotic stresses in plants
• Enzymology

Ongoing Research Projects:

1. Associative transcriptomics and metabolomics of stress signal transduction in Brassica juncea alien introgression lines varying for their resistance responses to Lipaphis erysimi herbivory, DST, New Delhi (as PI)
2. Genomic-led improvement of biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in mustard rape for economic and environmental sustainability, BBRSC-DBT, New Delhi-UK (as Co-PI)

Selected Research Publications (maximum upto 5):

1. Rana K, Atri C, Akhatar J, Kaur R, Goyal A, Singh M P, Kumar N, Sharma A, Sandhu P S, Kaur G, Barbetti M J and Banga S S (2019) Detection of first marker trait associations for resistance against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Brassica juncea-Erucastrum cardaminoides introgression lines. Frontiers in Plant Science 10:1015
2. Kaur R, Gupta AK and Taggar GK, 2015, Characterisation and inhibition studies of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) gut α-amylase. Pest Management Science, 71: 1228-1237. (NAAS Rating: 8.81)
3. Kaur R, Gupta AK and Taggar GK, 2015, Induced resistance by oxidative shifts in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) following Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) herbivory. Pest Management Science, 71: 770-782. (NAAS Rating: 8.81)
4. Kaur R, Gupta AK and Taggar GK, 2014, Nitrate reductase and nitrite as additional components of defense system in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) against Helicoverpa armigera herbivory. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 115: 39-47. (NAAS Rating: 8.39)
5. Kaur R, Gupta AK and Taggar GK (2014) Role of catalase, H₂O₂ and phenolics in resistance of pigeonpea towards Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner). Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 36:1513-1527

Awards/Honours/Distinctions: (Exclude best poster/paper presentations, Appreciation letters etc.)

1. Awarded with INSPIRE Faculty Award by Ministry of Science and Technology, DST, New Delhi, for pursuing project on “Associative transcriptomics and metabolomics of stress signal transduction in Brassica juncea alien introgression lines varying for their resistance responses to Lipaphis erysimi herbivory” for the tenure of 5 years.
2. Awarded with Jawaharlal Nehru Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Research in Agriculture and Allied Sciences 2015 under the category "Crop Protection."
3. Award of Honour for achieving Jawaharlal Nehru Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Research in Agriculture and Allied Sciences 2015 under the category "Crop Protection" by SAASCA, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.
4. Qualified ASRB-NET 2015
5. Award of Honour for securing highest OCPA 8.67 in Ph. D (Biochemistry) for the year 2013, by SAASCA, College of Basic Sciences and Humanities, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.
6. Awarded with certificate for selection and participation in "5th Science Conclave/INSPIRE Internship Program" at Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad, India.
7. Merit fellowship during Ph. D Programme by Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India.
8. Awarded with merit certificate for obtaining an overall credit point average of 8.42 out of 10.0 in M.Sc. Biochemistry Programme at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India.
9. Certificate of Achievement for securing second position in Giddha Competition, Little Flower Convent School, Gurdaspur.
10. Awarded with certificate for passing senior examination in first aid and home nursing by St. John Ambulance Association, Delhi.
11. Awarded with certificate for passing Junior General Knowledge and Intelligence Test by Central Institute of General Knowledge Learning, Delhi.
12. A citation by ICAR Awards under the category "Jawaharlal Nehru Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Research in Agricultural and Allied Sciences, 2015.