Dr. Nitika Sandhu has her research focus mainly on the molecular breeding developing climate-resilient direct-seeded adapted rice varieties with improved adaptation, grain yield, grain quality and nutrient-use efficiency. Her work on next-generation sequencing based trait mapping, molecular breeding and genome editing in rice will be useful for crop improvement. 

The marker-assisted introgression/pyramiding program of identified genetic-regions associated with genes/QTLs for biotic-stresses tolerance/resistance in background of high-yielding rice varieties will contribute to the development of water-labor-energy and resource-efficient direct-seeded-adapted rice varieties for sustainable agriculture. She has identified sixteen QTL associated with traits increasing adaptation of rice to DSR condition, which are being used in marker-assisted breeding program to develop DSR-adapted rice varieties with improved yield. Considering early-age researcher, she has published 54-research papers in reputed-international journals, 14-book chapters and 1-book to motivate scientific researchers towards agriculture.

She obtained her Ph.D. from CCS Haryana Agricultural University Hisar in 2014 in collaboration with International Rice Research Institute, Philippines and CIRAD, France under the support of Monsanto Beachell Borlaug International Scholarship Program. She has four years of post-doctorate research experience from International Rice Research Institute, Philippines. She has begun her independent research career as Molecular Geneticist at School of Agricultural Biotechnology, PAU, Ludhiana in 2018. 

Professional Accomplishments

Education:  B.Sc. (Biotechnology), Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra (2007), M.Sc. (Biotechnology and Molecular Biology), CCSHAU, Hisar (2009),Ph.D. (Biotechnology and Molecular Biology), CCSHAU, Hisar, IRRI, Philippines, CIRAD, France (2014), Post-Doctoral Fellow, IRRI, Philippines– 2014 to 2018

Positions held:

Research Associate: Super Seeds Private Ltd, Hisar, Haryana (June 2009 to December 2009); Post Doctoral Fellow: International Rice Research Institute, Philippines (2014 to 2018); Assistant Professor, Molecular Genetics: Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (March 2018 to continue)

Research Interests:

1. Rice and Wheat genomics-assisted breeding

Research Projects (Ongoing):

1. Elucidating the Genetic Architecture of tillering in wheat through CRISPR/CAS based editing of Ideal Plant Architecture gene (IPA1) and TEOSINTE BRANCHED 1 (TB1) (Principal Investigator, Project Coordinator); funded by DBT, India, New Delhi
2. New insight in understanding genomic footprints of nutrient uptake under the direct-seeded rice cultivation system. (Principal Investigator); funded by DBT, India, New Delhi

Completed Projects

1. Revealing the genetic secrets of Aegilops tauschii genome to shape future cereal crops. (Principal Investigator); funded by DBT, India, New Delhi
2. From QTLs/genes to direct seeded rice varietal development to meet future challenges. (Principal Investigator, Project Coordinator); funded by DBT, India, New Delhi.
3. Development of SNP marker-based panel affordable to breeders for the traits improving germination of rice from deep sowing depth under direct seeded cultivation conditions. (Principal Investigator); funded by SERB, DST, India, New Delhi.
4. New varieties of direct seeded rice for farmers in Lower Middle-Income Countries. (Principal Investigator, Project Coordinator); funded by BBSRC, UKRI, UK.

Life membership

1. Life time Professional member of INSc -2020
2. Lifetime membership Indian Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding: L1196
3. Life membership of AgriGate Society ID: LM-AG-0169
4. Life membership ISPGR: 2023-24/01/019

Research Publications

1. Sandhu N, Torres RO, Sta Cruz MT, Maturan PC, Jain R, Kumar A, Henry A*. 2015. Traits and QTLs for development of dry direct-seeded rainfed rice varieties. Journal of Experimental Botany, 66(1):225-244. Impact factor: 5.8
2. Sandhu N, K Anitha Raman, Torres RO, Audebert A, Dardou A, Kumar A, Henry A*. 2016. Rice root architectural plasticity traits and genetic regions for adaptation to variable cultivation and stress conditions. Plant Physiology, 171:2562–2576. Impact factor: 7.6
3. Gaurav K, Arora S, Silva P, Sánchez-Martín J, Horsnell R, Gao L, Brar GS, Widrig V, John Raupp W, Singh N, Wu., .Sandhu N, Chhuneja P., Wulff B*., 2021. Population genomic analysis of Aegilops tauschii identifies targets for bread wheat improvement. Nature Biotechnology, pp.1-10. Impact factor: 33.1
4. Singh, J., Sandhu, N*., Kumar, A., Raigar, O.P., Bains, S., Augustine, G., Gupta, M., Kharche, E., Kalia, A., Bains, N.S. and Kumar, A., 2025. Deciphering Regulatory Networks Governing Seedling Emergence in Deep-Sown Direct-Seeded Rice Cultivation. Rice, 18, p.5.
5. Singh, J., Sandhu, N*., Kumar, A., Raigar, O.P., Bains, S., Augustine, G., Gupta, M., Kharche, E., Kalia, A., Bains, N.S. and Kumar, A., 2025. Deciphering Regulatory Networks Governing Seedling Emergence in Deep-Sown Direct-Seeded Rice Cultivation. Rice, 18, p.5. Impact factor: 4.8

Awards/Honours/Distinctions

• Awarded SERB Women Excellence Award-2022 
• Awarded Young Scientist Award during “International Conference on Food Security – Challenges and Opportunities” held on 07-08 December 2018 at Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology Patiala, Punjab, India. 
• Awarded UNLEASH LAB INNOVATION-2017 award. 
• Awarded Seed grant Post Doctoral Fellowship, IRRI, 2017. 
• Awarded Monsanto Beachell Borlaug International Scholarship for conducting Ph.D. Research. 
• Qualified CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test and Junior Research Fellowship JUNE 2010. 
• HSCST- Junior Research Fellowship 2010. 
• Qualified Agricultural Scientist Research Board (ASRB)-NET-2010. 
• Qualified Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) Examination– 2009. 
• Awarded University Scholarship, Monsanto scholarship during Post Graduation. 
• Awarded “Roll of Honour” of college by Women Cell during graduation. 
• Awarded the H.B.S.E. scholarship for pursuing studies from Middle to Higher education. 
• Awarded the prestigious “Appreciation Certificate” By Govt. of Haryana (India) and “Merit Certificate” from Women cell of Govt. P.G. College (K.U.K) for getting First Position among Girls in Haryana in Middle examination. 
• Awarded the Certificate of Merit for scoring 94.14% marks in Middle examination, and being among the top 0.01% students in the State.