Dr. Gurkanwal Kaur joined PAU as an Assistant Professor on 13.08.2025. She completed her 5-yr integrated M.Sc. (Biochemistry) hons. from PAU, Ludhiana in 2019. She did her Ph.D. (Biochemistry) from PAU, Ludhiana in 2024. She worked as Senior Research Fellow at ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana from 16.01.2024 to 31.03.2025. Her field of specialization is Plant Biochemistry. She has published 19 research and review articles in peer reviewed journals, authored 5 book chapters, and presented 7 papers in national and international conferences. She is life member of Indian Society of Agriculture and Horticulture Research Development (ISAHRD), Chandigarh, India.
Professional Accomplishments
Research Projects completed
- “First generation maize ethanol as a renewable energy model for climate change mitigation” funded by NICRA, DST, Govt. of India and ICAR, New Delhi in 2025.
- “Process optimization for conversion of paddy straw into ethanol and xylitol” funded by DST-INSPIRE (Govt. of India, New Delhi) in 2024.
Research Publications:
- Kaur G, Taggar M S, Kalia A and Kaur J (2024) Fungal cellulolytic enzyme complex immobilized on chitosan-functionalised magnetic nanoparticles for paddy straw saccharification. Process Saf Environ Prot 185: 533-544. NAAS score= 13.8
- Kaur G, Taggar M S, Kalia A, Krishania M and Singh A (2024) Fungal Secretomes of Aspergillus terreus Repertoires Cultivated on Native and acid/alkali Treated Paddy Straw for Cellulase and Xylanase Production. BioEnergy Res 17: 145-159. NAAS score= 9.60
- Kaur G, Taggar M S and Kalia A (2024) Biovalorising paddy straw as an inducer-substrate for ethanol production using fungal secretome of Penicillium mallochii. Int J Environ Res 18: 68-72. NAAS score= 9.20
- Kaur G, Krishania M, Taggar M S and Kalia A (2024) Adsorptive removal of inhibitors from paddy straw hydrolysate using surfactant-modified bentonite clay for fermentative xylitol production. Biomass Convers Biorefin 14: 1317-1328. NAAS score= 10.00
- Kaur G and Bhatia S (2023) Alpha-amylase-assisted extraction of protein concentrates from Raphanus sativus L. leaves. Biomass Convers Biorefin 13: 15051-15065. NAAS score= 10.00
Awards and Recognitions:
- CSIR- NET (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- National Eligibility Test. 2022): All India Rank 55
- GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineering) Life Sciences, 2020: Qualified
- PET (PhD Entrance Test) 2019-20, Punjab Agricultural University: Rank 1
- DST-INSPIRE Senior and Junior Research Fellowship for Doctoral Research (Govt. of India, Delhi) (2021-2024)
- Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Young Research Fellowship (TERRE Policy Center, Pune) (2021)
- University Merit Fellowship (P.A.U., Ludhiana)
- Dr G.S. Khush Foundation Merit Scholarship (2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17) for Advancement in Agricultural Sciences
- Best poster presentation at National Conference in Maize, ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (2024)
- Best oral presentation (GMST 2024, MHU, Karnal)
- Selected and participated in SERB-DST sponsored workshop: Statistical modelling and optimization (STMO-22), Govt. of India: July 2022
- Runner up: North Zone Student Elocution Competition (National Academy of Agricultural Sciences: NAAS, New Delhi (2021)
- Dr Jugraj Singh Dhillon Medal for Best all-round student in Master’s Programme of university (2019-20)
- University Roll of Honor (Punjab Agricultural University): May 2023
- Best speaker, best debater, and best poet of PAU (2022)
- University Merit (2018-19) for proficiency in Literary Events
- University Color (2018-19) for proficiency in Literary Events
- Gold Medal in All India Combined University Panel Discussion, LPU, Punjab (2021)
- First rank in NAAS, North Zonal Level Students’ Elocution Contest, held at PAU, Ludhiana (2018)
- Inter-Agri Gold Medal in Debate held at RAJUVAS, Bikaner, Rajasthan (2017)
- Inter-Agri Silver Medal in Elocution held at RAJUVAS, Bikaner, Rajasthan (2017)
- Gold Medal in Cultural Music Event at Punjab State Inter Varsity held at Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College, Fatehgarh, Punjab (2016)
- Silver Medal in Folk Dance at Punjab State Inter-Varsity held at Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh (March, 2017)
Student Editor of P.A.U. Yearly Magazine (2016-2018)
