Dr. Ajmer Singh Dhatt received his professional education in vegetable science from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. He was recipient of university merit scholarship and an athlete of inter-university as well as national level during student carrier. Started his professional carrier in PAU as Assistant Seed Production Specialist in Feb. 1992 and elevated to the post of Vegetable Breeder in Aug. 2001, Senior Vegetable Breeder (equivalent to Professor) in Jan. 2009, Head, Department of Vegetable Science in Nov. 2015 and Additional Director of Research (Horticulture and Food Science) in Nov. 2019. He is also holding the additional charge of Director of Research since Dec. 2021.

Dr. Dhatt, a vibrant vegetable breeder has developed and released 3 varieties (PRO-7, PYO-1 and PWO-2) and 1 hybrid (POH-1) of onion; 4 varieties (Punjab Bharpoor, Punjab Raunak and Punjab Nagina, PBL-234) and 6 hybrids (PBH-3, PBH-4, PBH-5, PBHR-41, PBHR-42, PBHL-56) of brinjal; 4 varieties (PAU Magaz Kadoo-1, Punjab Nawab, Punjab Samrat and PP-225) and 2 hybrids (PPH-1 and PPH-2) of pumpkin; 2 varieties (Punjab Haldi-1 and Punjab Haldi-2) of turmeric; 1 each of sponge gourd (Punjab Nikhar), coriander (Punjab Sugandh) and cauliflower (Punjab Katki). He is pioneer in the country by developing hullless-seeded variety of pumpkin and alloplasmic male sterile lines in onion and brinjal. He was also involved in standardization and recommendation of 25 production technologies for enhancing the productivity of vegetable crops. He has also developed 7 machines/implements for use in research and commercial cultivation of onion and garlic. He was instrumental in initiation of memorandum of agreement (MoA) process for production of vegetable varieties and hybrids seeds.

He lead as Principal Investigator (PI) of All India Coordinated Research Project on Vegetable Crops; All India Network Research Project on Onion and Garlic; Development of improved varieties/hybrids in onion, brinjal and pumpkin; Development of male sterile and restorer lines using molecular markers in onion; Use of CMS lines developed with PCR markers for hybrid development in onion; Studies on male sterility systems to increase the efficiency of F₁ hybrids in horticultural crops-Onion; Development of technologies for promotion of onion cultivation; Development of technologies ready to use onion products; Addressing food security through nutritionally enriched improved cultivars and technologies for ‘Swasth Bharat’ (PURSE); Molecular mapping and fertility restorer gene in brinjal funded by the State Govt., Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Department of Biotechnology, Department of Science, and Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Sir Rattan TATA Trust and Punjab Agri-Export Corporation.

Dr. Dhatt has published 109 research papers; 8 review papers; 9 book chapters; 16 chapters in compendium/proceedings, 9 extended summaries, 3 manuals, 2 souvenirs and 78 extension articles. He taught 117 credit hours, guided 8 Ph. D and 18 M. Sc. students. Students guided as major advisor for doctorate research secured prestigious ICAR-Jawahar Lal Nehru Award, DST & CII-Prime Minister Fellowship, ICAR-International Fellowship, DST-INSPIRE Fellowship and ISVS-Dawarika Das Memorial Awards. He has also worked as ‘Visiting Research Scientist’ with Dr MJ Havey at University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA. Dr Dhatt is the Fellow of Indian Academy of Horticultural Science and Indian Society of Vegetable Science. He is office bearer of Indian Academy of Horticulture Science, Indian Society of Vegetable Science, Indian Society of Alliums, The Crop Improvement Society of India, and life member of 10 professional societies. He presented research papers during international conferences/symposia in USA, The Netherlands, Japan, Turkey and India. He has been awarded Dr Kirti Singh Gold Medal by Indian Academy of Horticultural Science; Dr Harbhajan Singh Memorial Award, Dr Kirti Singh Life time Achievement Award and Dr Bishwajit Memorial Award by Indian Society of Vegetable Science; 5^th NHRDF Award by National Horticulture Research and Development Foundation; Plaque and Citation by Indian Society of Alliums; Plaque and Merit Certificate, Hans Raj Pahwa Award, Harpal Kaur Memorial Award, Citation and Appreciation Certificates by the Punjab Agricultural University. As PI of the All India Coordinated Research Projects, he secured best center awards for PAU in Vegetable Crops as well as Onion and Garlic.