Education: B.Sc. Agri. (Hons.),PAU Ludhiana (1996); M.Sc. (Plant Pathology). PAU Ludhiana (1998) and Ph.D. (Plant Pathology), PAU Ludhiana (2002)

Positions held: District Extension Specialist, FASS Ropar (05-06-2003 to 31.12.2004); Asstt. Prof. (Plant Protection), KVK Ropar (01-01-2005 to 13-8-2006); Asstt. Plant Pathologist (Forages), Deptt. of PB&G, PAU Ludhiana (14-08-2006 to 05-10-2014); Sr. Plant Pathologist (Pulses),Deptt. of PB&G, PAU Ludhiana (06-10-2014 to 05-10-2017); Principal Pathologist (Pulses), Deptt. of PB&G, PAU Ludhiana (06.10.2017- till date)

Field of Specialization: Plant Pathology

Research Interests:Host PlantResistance, Etiology, Pathogen Biology and Population Structures, Host Pathogen Interactions, Forecasting and Prediction Models, Integrated Management Approaches.

Projects:

• Characterization and Evaluation of Chickpea Germplasm ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi, PI (2014-2020)
• Towards effective genetic and sustainable management of Ascochyta blight of chickpea funded by ICARDA, PI (2021-25)
• Characterization and evaluation of wild species and inter-specific derivatives of chickpea funded by ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi, PI(2021-2026)
• Characterization of Chickpea Germplasm Resource to Accelerate Genomics assisted Crop Improvement funded by DBT, New Delhi. Co-PI (2021-2026)
• CRP-Molecular Breeding for improvement of tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, yield and quality traits in crops-Chickpea component funded by ICAR, New Delhi, Co-PI(2015-2026)
• Incentivizing Research in Agriculture-Molecular Genetic Analysis of resistance/tolerance to different stresses in Rice, Wheat, Chickpea and Mustard including Sheath Blight Complex Genomics-Chickpea component funded by ICAR, New Delhi, Co–PI(2015-2026)
• Development of Early and Short Statured Pigeon pea Genotypes Resistant to Pod Borer and Phytophthora Stem Blight (Component II- Development and Integration of Advanced Genomic Technologies for Targeted Breeding) under Center of Excellence funded by DBT, New Delhi. Co-PI (2022-2026)
• Hybrid Technology for Higher Productivity in Selected Field and Horticultural Crops (Pigeonpea-Component) funded by ICAR New Delhi, Co–PI(2015-2026)

Selected Research Publications (maximum up to 5):

• Alo F, Rani A R, Baum M, Singh S, Kehel Z, Rani U, Udupa S, Al-Sham’aa K, Alsamman A M, Istanbuli T, Attar B, Hamwieh A and Amri A (2022) Novel genomic regions linked to Ascochyta blight resistance in two differentially resistant cultivars of chickpea. Front Plant Sci13:762002. [https://doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.762002]. (NAAS: 12.63).
• Singh M, Kumar T, Sood S, Malhotra N, Rani U, Singh S, Singh I, Bindra S, Kumar S and Kumar S (2022) Identification of Promising Chickpea Interspecific Derivatives Against Agro-Morphological and Major Biotic Traits Under Two Climatic Regions of India. Front Plant Sci13: 941372. [https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.941372]. (NAAS: 12.63).
• Manjunatha L, Uppala L S, Hunsur M, Konda A K, Rani U, Singh S, Singh N P, Kumar Y (2023) Diversity profiling, distribution of pathotypes and mating types in Indian isolates of Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labr. causing Ascochyta blight of chickpea”. PhytoFront[https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-08-21-0048-R]. (NAAS: 10.01).
• Sharma M, Sharath Chandran U S, Rani U, Singh S K, Basandrai A K and Basandrai D(2023) Stability and Suitability of Genotypes and Environment to Ascochyta Blight of Chickpea. Front Plant Sci 14: 1006099 [https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1006099] (NAAS: 12.63).
• Vadithya AS, Singh I, Rani U, Venadan S, Jajoriya R, Singh M, Oberoi HK, Singh S, Bharadwaj C and Bindra S (2024) Evaluation and identification of advanced inter-specific derivatives from crosses of Cicer arietinum with reticulatum and C. echinospermum for agro-morphological, quality traits and disease resistance. Frontiers in Plant Science. 15:1461280. [https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1461280] (NAAS : 11.60)

Awards/Honours/Distinctions:

• ASPEE gold medal for ranking first in Plant Protection elective in B.Sc. Agri. (Hons.) IV yearprogramme.
• Indian Society of Pulses Research and Development (ISPRD) awarded Certificate of Fellowship of the Society on February12, 2020 at International Conference on “Pulses the Climate Smart Crops: Challenges and Opportunities” organized from February 10-12, 2020 at Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal. 
• Certificate of Recognition as resource person for delivering lecture on “AB: Identification & phenotyping- field & controlled environment”in Online Expert Workshop on “Chickpea diseases- Detection, Phenotyping and Management” jointly organized by ICRISAT, Patancheru and R.A.K Collage of Agriculture, Sehore under the ‘ICAR-AICRP: Chickpea from 16 – 18th December 2020.

• Awarded best poster prize
• Second position on ‘Biotic Stress Management’ In: Pulses the Climate Smart Crops: Challenges and Opportunities, International Conference, February 10-12, 2020.
• Second and Third position ‘Genetic Enhancement’, In:  Pulses the Climate Smart Crops: Challenges and Opportunities, International Conference, February 10-12, 2020.