Dr. Rajni Sharma joined PAU as Assistant Professor on 28.3.1996 after completing PhD from Punjabi University, Patiala in 1992.  She has worked in various positions as Assistant Professor (1996-2005), Associate Professor (2005-2011), Professor (2011-2015, Department of FNS, PAU; 2015-till date, Department of Botany. She has guided 23 M.Sc. students and 5 PhD students as major advisor, published 88 research papers in national and international journals and presented 50 papers in national and international conferences. She is author of 5 books, contributed 19 book chapters, 11 popular articles and 6 manuals. She has delivered 20 lectures and 9 radio talks. Presently She is the Chairperson, Academic affair, COBSH (2020-25), Convener Admission advisory committee, Member of student aid fund and Member, Time table -examination committee at College level. She is also Chairperson, Teaching Committee, Member of Research committee of the department from past five years.

 She is also actively involved in teaching of UG and PG courses of both Forestry and Botany department. 

Professional Accomplishments

Research Projects completed 

Variability studies and introduction of  superior genotypes of bamboo in Punjab from 2003-2006 funded by ICAR New Delhi (Co-PI)

Reproductive biology of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb for future improvement programme  from 1997-2000I funded by CFRE Dehradun (PI)

Trainings organized as member of  organizing committee:

1. National Symposium on Agroforestry in 21st century, Feb.11-14, 2003 Dept. of Forestry & NR, PAU Ludhiana.
2. Summer school on Production technology and management of agroforestry models, July 10-31, 2002 sponsored by ICFRE Dehradun at PAU Ludhiana.
3. Training on Agroforestry for integrated landuse, Oct.5-12, 2004 organised at PAU Ludhiana.
4. National Symposium on Exotics in Indian Forestry (March 15-18, 2005), PAU, Ludhiana.
5.   Co-Coordinator training for Forest Guards (Aug-Sept, 2012 and March-June, 2013), PAU Ludhiana

Research Publications:

1. Chhabra R, Sharma R, Hunjan M ,Sharma VK, Thakur S and Chauhan S 2022 Physio-biochemical and histological alterations in response to sheath blight disease of rice  (Oryza sativa L.) J.of Phytopathology 170:178-790 7       
2. Palial G, Thakur S, Sharma R, Sharma JP and Dhakad AK (2023) Genetic divergence and correlation  estimates for quantitative traits in salix. Acta Physiologia Plantarum  45  https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-023-03573-0.
3. Verma J, Singh P and Sharma R (2023) Evaluation of air pollution tolerance index and anticipated performance index of selected roadside tree species in Ludhiana. Environ Monit Assess 195:240 (NAAS Rating 8.51).
4. Kaur R, Sharma R, Thakur S, Chandel S and Chauhan S K (2024) Exploring the combined effect of heavy metals on accumulation efficiency of Salix alba raised on lead and cadmium contaminated soils. Int J Phytoremediation  26 (9): 1486-1499 
5. Gupta M, Sharma R, Sharma M, Sharma S and Sharma P (2024) Influence of inorganic fertilizers with biofertilizers on biochemical components, growth and yield of garlic under subtropical irrigated condition. Journal of Plant Nutrition ISSN: (Print) (Online) Journal homepage

Awards and Recognitions:

1. CSIR Research Associate ship, 1993-1996
2. SK Seth Memorial Award 2008 for best research paper in Indian Forester by Society of Indian  Foresters
3. Best poster award 2022 by ISPP (North zone)in Seminar on Inter-disciplinary research strategies for climate resilient Agriculture at ICAR Sugarcane breeding Institute, Regional centre Karnal.25 June 2022 
4. Best poster award for poster presentation for thematic area ‘ Physiological responses to stresses and crop improvement’ at the National Conference of Plant Physiology – 2024 (NCPP-2024), organised at Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasargod, Kerala from 17-19 December, 2024.