Ludhiana, Dec 5, 2025 (Yes Punjab News)
Dr (Mrs) Parveen Chhuneja, Director, Gurdev Singh Khush Institute of Genetics, Plant Breeding and Biotechnology (GSKI-GPBB), Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), has been appointed as the ICAR–Norman Borlaug Chair under the ICAR National Professor Scheme. She has assumed the charge of this highly coveted position.
Under this role, Dr Chhuneja will lead a five-year research programme titled “Genomics-Driven Introgression of Novel Genetic Variation from Wild A-Genome Species for Enhancing Resilience for Biotic and Abiotic Stresses in Wheat.” Instituted by ICAR to honour Dr Norman E Borlaug, Nobel Laureate and architect of the Green Revolution, this Chair recognizes excellent scientific leadership in agricultural research.
Dr Chhuneja has had an exemplary scientific career of nearly three decades in wheat genetics and genomics. Her work has focused on broadening the genetic base of wheat using wild relatives and advanced genomic tools.
She and her team have assembled and utilised highly diverse collection of wild wheat species and identified several genes conferring resistance to major diseases as well as genes contributing to abiotic stresses. These efforts have contributed to the development of 11 wheat varieties.
She has published over 177 research papers in high-impact journals, including Science, Nature, and Nature Biotechnology, with more than 11,000 citations with an h-index of 41 and i-10 index of 107. She has also led over 20 competitive research projects, collaborated extensively with international institutions, and mentored numerous postgraduate students and young researchers.
She is a Fellow of prestigious scientific academies INSA, NAAS, and NASI and has been honoured with several prestigious awards, including the Jeanie Borlaug Laube Women in Triticum Mentor Award, ICAR Panjabrao Deshmukh Outstanding Woman Scientist Award, Dr GS Khush Distinguished Professor Award and Dr Darshan Singh Brar Award.
Under the ICAR–Norman Borlaug Chair, Dr Chhuneja will continue her work on mining novel genetic variation from A-genome wild wheat species to enhance resilience against emerging biotic and abiotic stresses.
Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, congratulated her on this achievement, calling it “a proud moment for the University and a reflection of her sustained scientific contributions to wheat improvement programmes. Her leadership will further enhance PAU’s strength in genomics-based breeding.”
The Director of Research, Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, remarked that Dr Chhuneja’s pioneering work on the use of wild wheat species has significantly improved genetic variability in Indian wheat germplasm, adding that her selection for this distinguished Chair is “highly deserved and timely for the challenges ahead.”
Dr MIS Gill, Dean, Postgraduate Studies, praised her longstanding mentorship, noting that “her guidance has shaped many young scientists and postgraduate scholars and this Chair will further enrich PAU’s academic and research ecosystem.”
Mr Rishi Pal Singh, Registrar, PAU, also extended congratulations, describing her appointment as “a matter of great honour for the University and a testament to her integrity, scholarship, and dedication.”
In a special message, Dr Jeanie Borlaug Laube, daughter of Dr Norman E Borlaug, a distinguished global advocate for global food security and chair of the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative, congratulated Dr Chhuneja on this achievement. She wrote: “Congratulations. I know, you will honor my father with your great work. I am so proud that you received the Chair.”
Congratulating Dr (Mrs) Chhuneja, the senior officials and faculty of the University said that this recognition marked a significant milestone for PAU and further strengthened its leadership in advanced wheat genomics, breeding, and pre-breeding research.
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