Dr. Ritu Tandon joined PAU as Assistant Chemist on 03.03.2014 after completing MSc (Chemistry) from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana in 2002 and Ph.D (Organic Chemistry) from PAU in 2006. She worked as Assistant Chemist from 03.03.2014 to13-07-14 and  was posted at Punjab Horticultural Postharvest Technology Centre (PHPTC) since 14-07-14 till date. Her field of specialization is Organic Chemistry with emphasis on nanotechnology interventions for postharvest management of horticultural produce. She is Overall In-charge, Technical operation of instruments & Quality Management system of QCL of NABL accreditated Quality Control Laboratory of Fresh and Processed Foods of PHPTC. She has completed five projects funded by various Organizations at PHPTC. She has guided 12 MSc students and 2 PhD students as major advisor, published 13 research papers in national and international journals and 25 extension articles. She has organized 46 training programmes for farmers and enterpreuners at PHPTC and delivered lectures to aware farmers and entrepreneurs regarding testing requirements of their fresh and processed products.

Professional Accomplishments

1. Got and maintained NABL accreditation of Quality Control Laboratory of Fresh and Processed Foods of PHPTC since 2021
2. Ocimum EO (@2%) and Eugenol (@1%) in commercially shellac wax have been recommended as green alternates to synthetic fungicide on Kinnow (Recommended in 301st REC meeting)

Research Publications:

1. Rashmi, Tandon R, Kalia A, Bhardwaj R D, Mahajan BVC (2024) Citral-thymol based synergistic shellac coatings enhanced shelf life of Kinnow fruit stored under low temperature conditions. J Stored Prod Res 109:1-14 (NAAS:8.7)
2. Rashmi, Tandon R, Kalia, Raju B & Silakari O (2024) Bioactive molecules isolated from Cymbopogon flexuosus and Monarda citriodora essential oils: Chemical profiling, antimycotic potential, and molecular docking studies against green and blue molds of Kinnow. J Essent Oil-Bear Plants 27(4) 1130-47 (NAAS: 8.3)
3. Kaur M, Tandon R, Kalia A, Mahajan BVC and Kairam N (2023) ROS-mediated antifungal activity of Ocimum essential oil-loaded nanoemulsions against postharvest fungal pathogens of Kinnow. Food BioScience 57(4): 103429 (NAAS: 
4. Dudeja I, Tandon R and Kalia A (2022) Grapefruit peel essential oil nanoemulsions: Preparation, characterization, stability and antifungal potential against Penicillium digitatum of Kinnow Int J Food Sci Technol 58: 1-10 (NAAS Rating: 9.71)
5. Kapoor S, Sidhu RK, Tandon R, Jindal SK and Mahajan BVC (2021) Evaluation of Chilli (Capsicum annum L.) cultivars for phytochemical and nutritional attributes under cold store and ambient conditions. Ind J Agri Sci 92 (1) (NAAS- 6.37)
6.  

Awards and Recognitions:

Paper Ranked 3rd for the paper : Kaur M, Tandon R and Kalia A (2021) Antifungal activities of essential oil of three Ocimum species and their potential in the management of postharvest losses in Kinnow in 9th Indian Horticulture Congress from 18-21 Nov 2021  held at Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India.