Positions held: ARS- Scientist (ICAR), CPRI RRS Jalandhar (July 1995- 1999), Scientist Sr Scale (ICAR), CPRI RRS Jalandhar (July 1999- Oct 2002),, Breeder, PAU Ludhiana (October 2002-December 2010), Principal Breeder, PAU Ludhiana (January 2011- Continuing), Principal Scienitst&Incharge Oilseeds, PAU Ludhiana (June 2015- July, 2019), Principal Scienitst &Incharge Maize, PAU Ludhiana (August, 2019- Continuing)

Faculty Profile:  With M.Sc. and Ph.D. (both with distinction) and 29 years of distinguished service in crop improvement including six years as ARS Scientist (ICAR) and 23 years at PAU; Dr.Sandhu has led 25 research projects, resulting in 36 released crop varieties (11 at the national level) and 04 registered genetic stocks. She has published 150 research papers, edited a book, contributed chapters, and served as Editor of Crop Improvement. An accomplished teacher, she has handled 11 UG/PG courses, authored 08 training manuals, guided 19 postgraduates, and coordinated ICAR-CAS trainings. She has coordinated over 2,500 field demonstrations, delivered 67 extension lectures, and published 43 popular articles. Awards include the ICAR–Jawaharlal Nehru Award (1996) and PAU Best Teacher Award (2010-11). She completed post-doctoral research in Australia, received advanced training in USA and Mexico, and has been actively involved in major national and international conferences.

Field of Specialization: Maize breeding

Research Interests:

1. Development of improved maize hybrids for high productivity and quality
2. Pre-breeding in maize
3. Dissemination of improved hybrids/ varieties of maize among farmers.

Research Projects:

1. PI – All India Coordinated Research Project on Maize

2. PI-Genomic assisted breeding for plant type suited to high plant density and tolerance to water logging in maize

Selected Research Publications (Since 2021):

1. Pati, R., Sandhu, S*.,Kawadiwale, A. and Kaur, G. (2025). Unveiling the underlying complexities in breeding for disease resistance in crop plants. Frontiers in Plant Science, 16, p.1559751. ((NAAS 10.10)
2. Kumar, S., Ranjan, R., Garg, T., Vikal, Y., Das, A., Sandhu, S.K., Kushwah, A. and Singh, S. (2025). Stress Indices: Exploring the Selection tool for Waterlogging-Tolerant Maize Inbred Lines in Early Segregating Generations. Maydica, 67 (3) (NAAS 6.4)
3. Kaur, G., Sandhu, S*.,Kaur, H., Yousuf, N. and Singh, G. (2025). Unlocking the potential of wild progenitors to enhance water deficit stress tolerance in maize. Cereal Research Communications, 53(1), pp.539-549. (NAAS 7.6)
4. Rana, P., Garg, T., Ranjan, R., Sandhu, S.K. and Ghai, N. (2024). Waterlogging Stress in Maize: Analyzing Biochemical Responses and Root Trait Adaptations. Maydica, 67(2). (NAAS 6.4)
5. Kaur, J., Ghai, N., Chahal, G.K. and Sandhu, S. (2024). Characterization of maize inbred lines using principal component and cluster analysis for heat tolerance at the seedling stage under in vitro conditions. Cereal Research Communications, 52(4), pp.1431-1442. (NAAS 7.6)
6. Nisa, W. U., Sandhu, S. K*., Nair, S. K., Kaur, H., Kumar, A., Rashid, Z., Saykhedkar, G., &Vikal, Y. (2024). Insights into maydis leaf blight resistance in maize: A comprehensive genome-wide association study in sub-tropics of India. BMC Genomics, 25(1), 760. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-024-10655-x. (NAAS 9.5)
7. Nisa, W. U., Sandhu, S. K.*, Kaur, H., Nair, S., & Singh, G. (2024). Assessing genotype-by-environment interactions for maydis leaf blight disease in maize (Zea mays ) germplasm and identification of stable donors for breeding resistant hybrid varieties. Plant Genetic Resources: Characterization and Utilization. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1479262124000546. (NAAS 7.2)
8. Pal, L., Sandhu, S. K.*, Kaur, J., & Bhatia, D. (2024). Deciphering variations, identification of marker–trait associations and candidate genes for seed oil content under terminal heat stress in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea Czern&Coss) germplasm stock. 3 Biotech, 14, 140.https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-024-03985-w. (NAAS 8.6)
9. Sharma, H., Sandhu, S.K.*.,Yousuf, N., Oberoi, H., Karnatam, K. S., R K, B., Vikal, Y., & Kumar, V. (2024). Analysis of genetic variability for nutritional quality traits among maize inbreds adapted to Punjab: A North‐Western province of India. Cereal Chemistry, 101, 10.1002/cche.10827. https://doi.org/10.1002/cche.10827. (NAAS 8.2)
10. Kaur, H., Kyum, M., Sandhu, S.K.*, Singh, G., & Sharma, P. (2023). Protocol optimization and assessment of genotypic response for inbred line development through doubled haploid production in maize. BMC Plant Biology, 23(1), 219. (NAAS 11.26)
11. Nisa, W. U., Sandhu, S. K.*, Ranjan, R., &Sharda, R. (2023). Root plasticity: an effective selection technique for identification of drought tolerant maize (Zea mays ) inbred lines. Scientific Reports, 13, 5501. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-31523- w. (NAAS 11.00)
12. Karnatam, K. S., Chhabra, G., Saini, D. K., Singh, R., Kaur, G., Praba, U. P., Kumar, P., Goyal, S., Sharma, P., Ranjan, R., Sandhu, S. K., Kumar, R., &Vikal, Y. (2023).Genome-Wide Meta-Analysis of QTLs Associated with root traits and implications for Maize Breeding. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076135. (NAAS 12.21)
13. Karnatam, K.S., Mythri, B., UnNisa, W., Sharma, H., Meena, T.K., Rana, P., Vikal, Y., Gowda, M., Dhillon, B.S. and Sandhu, S., (2023). Silage maize as a potent candidate for sustainable animal husbandry development—perspectives and strategies for genetic enhancement. Frontiers in Genetics, 14, p.1150132. (NAAS 80)
14. Sarkar A., Sandhu S*., Pal L., Kushwah A. and Kumar M. (2022). Productivity based assessment of tolerance to high plant density stress in tropical maize (Zea mays) inbred lines and their single cross hybrids. Indian J. Genet. Plant Breed., 82(2): 153-160. (NAAS 7.0)
15. BhinderGurleen, Sharma Sanjula, KaurHarjeevan, AkhatarJaved, Mittal Meenakshi, SandhuSurinder (2022) Genomic regions associated with seed meal quality brassica napus Frontiers in Plant Science- Plant NutrionDOI.: 10.3389 fpls.2022.882766 (NAAS 11.75)
16. Sandhu, S., &Dhillon, B. S. (2021). Breeding plant type for adaptation to high plant density in tropical maize—A step towards productivity enhancement. Plant Breeding, 140(4), 509-518. (NAAS 7.50)
17. Pal, Lalit, SurinderSandhu*, and Dharminder Bhatia. (2021). Genome-wide association study and identification of candidate genes for seed oil content in Brassica napus. Euphytica, 217 (4) : 66. doi: 1007/s10681-021-02783-2(NAAS 7.60)
18. Pal, Lalit, Surinder K. Sandhu*, Dharminder Bhatia, and SorabhSethi (2021). Genome-wide association study for candidate genes controlling seed yield and its components in rapeseed (Brassica napus napus). Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants27 (9) : 1933-51 (NAAS 8.01)

Awards/Honours/Distinctions:

• Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding Fellow (2024)
• ICAR-PAU Best Teacher Award for the year 2010-11
• JawaharLal Nehru Award for outstanding Post doctorate Research in Agriculture for the year 1996.
• Endeavour Research Fellowship Award by Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), Australia for Post Doctorate in Australia in 2010.
• MS Randhwaa Medal, PAU in 1994.
• Junior Research Fellowship from UGC during Ph.D
• Merit Scholarship of Punjab Agricultural University in M. Sc

PG Students: 

PhD Student: RutuParnaPati (L-2022-A-033D)

                         VadodariaHrushikKantiBhai (L-2024-A-55-D)

M.Sc Student: Harbhajan Singh (L-2024-A-77M)

Academic Programs: