CompletedB. Sc. Agriculture (Hons.) in 2010, M. Sc. Plant Breeding & Genetics in 2012, Ph. D. Plant Breeding & Genetics in 2015 from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Currently posted as Cytogeneticist in the Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics, PAU Ludhiana. Research interests include development of high-yielding, biotic and abiotic stress resistant and canola quality cultivars of Rapeseed-mustard.

Professional Accomplishment:

Selected Research Publications

1. Upadhyay P, Gupta M, Sra S K, Sharda R, Sharma S, Sardana V K, Akhatar J, Kaur G (2022) Genome wide association studies for acid phosphatase activity at varying phosphorous levels in Brassica juncea L. Front Plant Sci doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1056028.
2. Agrawal N, Gupta M, Atri C, Akhtar J, Kumar S, Heselop-Harrison J S and Banga S S (2021) Anchoring alien chromosome segment substitutions bearing gene(s) for resistance to mustard aphid in Brassica juncea-B. fruticulosa introgression lines and their possible disruption through gamma irradiation. Theor Appl Genet 134(10): 3209-3224.
3. Agrawal N, Gupta M, Banga S S and Heselop-Harrison J S (2020) Identification of chromosomes and chromosome rearrangements in crop brassicas and Raphanus sativus: a cytogenetic toolkit using synthesized massive oligonucleotide libraries. Front Plant Sci 11: 2085. 
4. Gupta M, Mason A, Batley J, Bharti S, Banga S and Banga S S (2016) Molecular-cytogenetic characterization of C- genome chromosome substitution lines in Brassica juncea(L.) Czern and Coss. Theor Appl Genet 129(6): 1153-66.
5. Gupta M, Atri C, Agarwal N and Banga S S (2016) Development and molecular-genetic characterization of a stable Brassica allohexaploid. Theor Appl Genet 129(11): 2085-210

Ongoing Projects:

1. Mapping and transfer of Alternaria blight resistance from a wild crucifer- Diplotaxiserucoides in oilseed Brassicas funded by DBT, New Delhi. (As Co-PI)
2. Consortia for Research Platform (CRP)-ICAR on ‘Molecular breeding for improvement of tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, yield and quality traits in crops – Mustard (As Co-PI)

Awards/Honours/Distinctions:

• Jawaharlal Nehru Award by ICAR for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Research in Crop Sciences in 2016.
• INSA Medal for Young Scientist by Indian National Science Academy in 2