Ludhiana, May 22, 2025 (Yes Punjab News)
The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has appointed five new Heads of the Departments (HoDs) and two new coordinators in the recently held 319th meeting of the Board of the Management.
The new appointments of HoDs comprised Dr Rajeev Sikka, Head, Department of Soil Science; Dr Satpal Sharma, Head, Department of Vegetable Science; Dr Vipan Kumar Rampal, Head, Department of Extension Education; Dr OP Gupta, Head, Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology; and Dr Harpreet Kaur, Head, Department of Food and Nutrition.
Besides, two new coordinators included Prof of Farm Machinery and Power Engineering Dr Rohinish Khurana as Coordinator, Postgraduate Studies (PGS); and Principal Zoologist (Rodents) Dr Neena Singla as Coordinator Research (Basic Sciences and Humanities).
“All these appointments were approved during the meet, held under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal on May 20,” informed Registrar Mr Rishi Pal Singh.
Principal Soil Chemist Dr Sikka’s research focused on developing diversified cropping systems and their fertilizer management interventions, especially, nano-fertilizers as well as assessment and amelioration of heavy metal bioavailability in soils.
His research results have been translated into 41 recommendations given to the farmers on fertilizer requirement of crops and cropping systems.
A Principal Investigator of eight externally funded projects, Dr Sikka has also served as reviewer for nine international journals, besides publishing 65 peer reviewed research papers, 26 popular articles, 15 bulletins and book chapters, 38 symposia papers/abstracts and 38 technical reports.
He has been conferred with an “Appreciation Certificate” by the Vice-Chancellor, PAU, during the Kisan Mela in September 2024.
The Associate Director (Training) at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Fatehgarh Sahib, Dr Rampal has handled seven research projects; published 60 research papers and nine book chapters; and presented 16 research papers in different seminars and conferences.
A coordinator of two training courses for extension personnel, Dr Rampal has also organized 108 trainings programmes and conducted 1,150 Front Line Demonstrations (FLDs); delivered 132 lectures and 14 Radio/TV talks; published 56 popular articles and 36 bulletins; and arranged 85 exhibitions in kisan melas/workshops, etc.
He is a recipient of “Appreciation Certificate” from the Director of ATARI, Zone-I, PAU, Ludhiana for outstanding contribution towards crop residue management in district Fatehgarh Sahib in 2023.
Having pursued his Ph.D. at Texas A&M University, USA in muskmelon improvement, Principal Vegetable Breeder Dr Sharma has been leading potato and muskmelon breeding programmes at PAU.
He has established in-house potato breeding program in the University, utilizing off-season cold weather and long-day conditions available at Keylong, HP for flower induction and hybridization. In 2023, as a landmark achievement, he recommended first two potato varieties of PAU, Punjab Potato-101 and Punjab Potato-102 for cultivation in the state.
He has also been instrumental in recommending muskmelon cultivars – Punjab Sarda and Punjab Amrit.
Besides, he has many production technologies in different vegetable crops to his credit. Dr Sharma has authored 66 research papers, four review papers, four proceeding paper, 12 book chapters, presented 75 papers in international and national conferences.
He has extensive teaching experience, and received several honours and awards including, Smt Harpal Kaur Memorial Award (2023), Appreciation Award by PAU (2023), AICRP Best Vegetable Centre Team Award, and fellow of the Indian Society of Vegetable Science (2023).
Working as Associate Director (Information Technology- IT) in the office of Dean PGS and looking after the IT development at PAU, Dr Gupta is a founder Deputy Director of IT, who has developed the School of Information Technology in the University.
Academically, he has contributed more than 100 research papers and one book as well as guided more than 25 master’s students and three Ph.Ds in Computer Science and Engineering.
Conferred with PAU Meritorious Teacher Award 2009-10, Dr Gupta is also a champion of resource generation and helps PAU exchequer with earnings of 1.4 crore with the start of self-supporting programmes and online programmes under dual degree concept.
Besides, Dr Gupta is a key player in the development of state-of-the-art Information Superhighway at PAU. He is also an architect of the modern IT practices at PAU and been instrumental in developing e-Governance model for the agri-varsity.
Dr Gupta is also a member of International Association of Engineers, Singapore and Computer Science Teachers Association (a subsidiary of ACM), USA.
Dr Harpreet Kaur has guided 21 M.Sc. and six Ph.D. students; handled two adhoc and one competitive research projects; and has 202 publications to her credit. She is also Co-Principal Investigator of Nestle India Limited funded on-going scheme, inked under first MoU of public-private partnership between PAU and Nestle India Limited in March 2009.
This partnership completed 17 years imparting nutrition education to 22,106 rural school girls from 95 villages of Moga, Ludhiana, Faridkot, Ferozepur and Barnala districts with a total grant of Rs 1,22,07,000/- till date.
As team member, she achieved a competitive Research Project entitled, “A study of factors influencing zinc status of women (15-45 years) and children (6-59 months) from Ludhiana district of Punjab, India” in 2011 with a research grant of Rs 53,04,308/- from Harvest Plus, IFPRI, Washington DC. She has also received five best paper awards at national conferences.
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