Ludhiana, May 15, 2025 (Yes Punjab News)
Dr Nitika Sandhu, an accomplished and young dynamic scientist at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has made history by becoming the first scientist from the University to be awarded the prestigious Associateship of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA).
This esteemed recognition is conferred upon exceptional young scientists under the age of 40 in acknowledgment of their outstanding contributions to research and their demonstrated potential to lead scientific advancement in the country.
The INSA Young Associateship, a highly competitive honor, celebrates Dr Sandhu’s pioneering work in agricultural biotechnology. With this achievement, she now holds young scientist awards or fellowships from all three of India’s premier scientific academies—INSA, the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), and the National Academy of Sciences (NASI), India.
This makes her the first young scientist across all faculties at PAU to receive this rare and distinguished trio of honors. Notably, she has recently been selected as a NAAS Associate for 2025 and an INSA Young Associate Fellow for 2025.
Dr Sandhu completed her Ph.D. in 2014 from CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines, and CIRAD, France. Her doctoral research was supported by the prestigious Monsanto Beachell Borlaug International Scholarship Program.
Following her Ph.D., she pursued four years of postdoctoral research at IRRI, Philippines, before joining PAU in 2018 as a Molecular Geneticist in the School of Agricultural Biotechnology.
Over the course of her career, Dr Sandhu has received numerous accolades, including the NASI Young Scientist Platinum Jubilee Award, SERB Women Excellence Award, DBT BioCARe Women Scientist Award, CSIR/UGC Junior Research Fellowship, IRRI Seed Grant Postdoctoral Fellowship, and the UNLEASH Lab International Innovation Award.
Her research excellence has been further recognized through the successful acquisition of five national research grants from DBT and SERB, and one international project funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), United Kingdom.
Dr Sandhu’s achievements have brought immense pride to PAU. The PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Director of Research Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director of School of Agricultural Biotechnology Dr Yogesh Vikal, and Director of GS Khush Institute of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Dr Parveen Chhuneja congratulated her for this landmark achievement that has brought great honor to the institution.
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