Dr. Yadhu Suneja has been working as a Biochemist at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana since November 6, 2015. She earned her undergraduate degree in Life Sciences (2007) from Panjab University, Chandigarh, and postgraduate degree in Biochemistry (2009) from PAU. She completed her Ph.D. in 2014, partly at Washington State University under a Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship. She held the position of Lecturer in Biotechnology at Khalsa College for Women, Ludhiana, in 2009. Her research interests include exploring novel allelic variation in crop wild relatives and utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 to improve abiotic stress tolerance, resource-use efficiency and nutritional quality traits in cereals. She has guided three Master’s students and authored 18 research articles, one book chapter, and two practical manuals. She has submitted 26 genomic sequences to NCBI, delivered five invited lectures, and serves as Incharge of the College Book Bank and Treasurer of the Society of Biological Chemists (Ludhiana Chapter). 

Professional Accomplishments

Research Projects completed

“Reducing acrylamide forming potential of wheat using natural genetic and genome editing induced genetic variations at TaASN2 locus” Early Career Research Award (2017-2020) funded by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), GoI (as PI).

Research Publications:

1. Suneja Y, Gupta  A K, Chhuneja P and Bains N S (2019) Molecular evolution and structural variations in nuclear encoded chloroplast localized heat shock protein 26 (sHSP26) from genetically diverse wheat species. Computational Biology and Chemistry 83:107144 (NAAS Rating 7.85).
2. Suneja Y, Gupta A K and Bains N S (2019) Stress adaptive plasticity: Aegilops tauschii and Triticum dicoccoides as a potential donor for drought associated morpho-physiological traits in wheat.  Frontiers in Plant Sciences 10:211 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00211 (NAAS Rating 10.402).
3. Suneja Y, Gupta A K and Bains N S (2017) Bread wheat progenitors: Aegilops tauschii (DD genome) and Triticum dicoccoides (AABB genome) reveal differential antioxidative response under water stress. Physiology and Molecular Biology of  Plants 23:99-114 (NAAS Rating  8.005).
4. Suneja Y, Sharma A, Gupta A K and Bains N S (2015) Differential response of wild and cultivated wheats to water deficits during grain development: changes in soluble carbohydrates and invertases. Physiology and Molecular Biology of  Plants 21:169-177 (NAAS Rating  8.005).
5. Suneja Y, Kaur S, Gupta A K and Kaur N (2011) Levels of nutritional constituents and antinutritional factors in black gram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper). Food Research International 44: 621-28. (NAAS Rating 10.972).

Awards and Recognitions:

1. Awarded Early Career Research Award (2016-17) by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), DST, GOI for a period of three years for the project entitled “Reducing acrylamide forming potential of wheat using natural genetic and genome editing induced genetic variations at TaASN2 locus”
2. Awarded Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral and Professional Research Fellowship (August 2012- May 2013) for carrying out a part of PhD research work at Washington State University, USA for a period of nine months.
3. Certificate of achievement for participating in Global Food Security Workshop organized by U.S. Department of State and North Carolina State University from October 17th to October 21st 2012 at North Carolina State University, U.S.A.
4. Best Student Award Gold Medal for Master’s programme by SAASCA, COBS&H, PAU Ludhiana (2013)
5. Awarded G.S. Sidhu Gold Medal for scoring highest OCPA (8.79 on a 10 point scale) in Master programme in Biochemistry (2011)
6. Awarded JRF-INSPIRE (Innovation in Scientific Pursuit for Inspired Research) by Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India in April 2010, later upgraded to SRF in 2012.
7. Qualified Agricultural Scientist Recruitment Board (ICAR) National Eligibility Test (NET) in Basic Plant Sciences (2010).
8. Qualified Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE 2010)
9. Qualified Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – National Eligibility Test (NET) in Life Sciences (2008).
10. University Merit Certificate (2010) and University Merit Scholarship during MSc. (2007-2009).
11. Award-of-Honour for qualifying CSIR-NET, highest OCPA in MSc (8.79/10), PhD (8.90/10) and Fulbright Fellowship during PhD programme by SAASCA, COBS&H, PAU Ludhiana.
12. IInd in Punjab University, Chandigarh in BSc. Medical securing 86.3% (2007).
13. Certificate of Merit by CBSE for reasons of outstanding academic performance (94.40%) and for being among top 0.1% of successful candidates in All India Secondary School Examination (2002).
14. Award of Honour for standing First in School and securing 92% marks in VIIIth standard  D.A.V. Board Examination conducted by D.A.V. Managing Committee, New Delhi,  India (2000).