Dr. Rabinder Kaur joined PAU as Entomologist on 21.12.2004 after completing BSc Honours School (Biology) in 1990 and M.Sc. Honours School (Zoology) in 1991, M. Phil (Zoology) in 1993 and Ph. D. (Zoology) in 2001 from GNDU, Amritsar. She has worked as JRF cum Demonstrator in Department of Zoology, GNDU, Amritsar (1994 – 1999), Part- time lecturer in Zoology in S. R. Government College for Women, Amritsar (1999 to 2000) and Ad-hoc lecturer in Zoology, Department of Zoology, GNDU, Amritsar (2001 to 2004). She joined as Senior Entomologist on 22.06.2017 and Principal Entomologist on 22.10.2020 (till date). Her field of specialization is Biological Control (Economic Entomology). She worked in ICAR-AICRP (Biological control) from 2004 to 2018. She has completed two projects as Co-PI funded by Department of Horticulture (Government of Punjab) (2009) and DST (2015), and one project as PI funded by NABARD (2022). She is working as Co-PI in ICAR funded Lac Insect Project from 2014 till date. She has contributed in the development of six recommendations in plant protection which are included in the package of practices of the university. She has contributed in organizing numerous trainings for the farmers and technical officers on the mass production and utilization of bioagents. She has guided 6 M.Sc. & 2 Ph.D. students as major advisor, published 55 research papers in national and international journals and presented 52 papers in national and international conferences.

Professional Accomplishments Research Projects Completed:

1. “Evaluation of different strains of mulberry silkworm and eri silkworm for the development of sericulture in Punjab” funded by Director Horticulture, Chandigarh in 2009 as Co-PI

2. “Assessment of copepods as biocontrol agents of mosquito larvae in standing water bodies of Punjab” funded by DST in 2015 as Co-PI

3. “Validation and dissemination of biocontrol based integrated pest management technology in sugarcane in Hoshiarpur” funded by NABRD in 2022 as PI
   

Research Publications:

1. 1. Kaur R, Sharma S, Shera P S and Sangha K S (2020). Biocontrol based IPM module against insect pests of cauliflower. Indian Journal of Entomology, 82 (2): 324-329 (NAAS – 5.89)

• Nair I J, Sharma S and Kaur R (2020). Efficacy of green lace wing, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi (Esben-Peterson) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) against sucking pests of tomato – an appraisal protected conditions. Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control 30: 74 (NAAS – 6.38)

1. Bhullar M B, Heikal H M, Kaur P and Kaur R (2021). Efficacy of natural products and biorationals aginst two-spotted spider mite, Tetrnychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) infesting brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) under protected cultivation. International Journal of Acarology, 47 (8): 677-683 (NAAS – 6.89)

2. Singh A, Kaur R, Shera P S, Sharma S, Mangat H K and Thakur A (2022) Study of biological and productivity linked parameters of Kerria lacca (Kerr) infested on Zizyphus mauritiana under Punjab conditions. Agricultural Research Journal, 59 (3): 462-467 (NAAS rating 5.44)

3. Chahal A S, Kaur R, Shera P S, Sharma S, Thakur A, Mangat H K and Mohanasundaram A (2023) Diversity of natural enemies associated with Lac insect, Kerria lacca (Ker) under Punjab conditions. Indian Journal of Entomology, 85 (4): 977-979 (NAAS rating 5.08)

4. Kaur R, Sharma S, Singh S, Sangha K S and Shera P S (2024) Arthropoda fauna associated with lac insect host plants in Punjab. Journal of Entomological Research, 48 (Suppl.): 954-960 (NAAS rating 5.63)

Awards and Recognitions:

1. NFP Fellowship sponsored by NUFFIC, Netherland to attend the International short course on “Integrated Pest Management and Food Safety” at Centre for Development Innovations, Wageningen UR, The Netherlands from June 3- 21, 2013.

2. Best paper award for the paper: Sangha KS, Shera P S, Sharma and Kaur R (2017) On-farm impact of egg parasitoids, Trichogramma sp. against lepidopteran pests in organic rice, presented in 5th National Conference on Biological Control: Integrating Recent Advances in Pest and Disease Management, Society for Biocontrol Advancement, Bengaluru (February 9-11, 2017).

3. Award of best ICAR Centre of All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Biological Control of Crop Pests and Diseases by NBAIR, Bangaluru in 2021

4. Award of best ICAR Centre of Network Project on Conservation of Lac Insect Genetic Resources by ICAR-IINRG Ranchi in 2021 & 2023