Completed B.Sc. Agriculture (Hons.) in 1998; M.Sc. (Soil Science) in 2000 and Ph.D. (Soil Science) in 2004 from CSK HPKV Palampur. I joined Punjab Agricultural University as Assistant Soil Chemist in 2010. My area of research pertains to assessing soil microbial transformations, soil quality indices and microbial functional diversity under different land uses, tillage and crop residues management practices in rice-wheat and maize-wheat systems. I also initiated work on ex-situ management of rice residue through composting and microbial consortium application. I published 55 peer reviewed research papers in international journals having NAAS rating of 6-12; 4 conference papers; 1 Book published by Elsevier: 10 book chapters; 5 extension articles. My research results have been translated into 10 recommendations given to the farmers on fertilizer requirement of crops, rice residues and cropping systems. I was the PI/Co-PI of ten externally funded projects. I was Co-PI of a mega project i.e. ICAR- NAHEP CAAST of 1999.96 Lakhs and National Agricultural Science Fund Project of 188.16 Lakhs. 

Professional Accomplishment:

Selected Research Publications:

1. Sharma Sandeep, Singh P, Gupta Nihar, Utreja D, Kasana, RC 2024. Bacterial diversity and enzymatic activities in poplar chronosequence: Implications for soil carbon dynamics in a semi-arid ecosystem. Forest Ecology and Management 562, 121933. https://doi.org/10.1016 /j.foreco.2024.121933. (Naas rating 9.7)
2. Nwe Htwe T, Sharma Sandeep, Angmo P, Dhaliwal SS, Saini KS 2024. Potential organic amendments for improving productivity and associated biological properties of low carbon soil. Communication in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/ 00103624.2024.2426643. (Naas rating 7.3)
3. Padma Angmo, Sandeep Sharma, H.S. Sidhu, K.S. Saini. 2024. Conservation agriculture practices impact on biological and microbial diversity in earthworm cast under maize-wheat system. Current Research in Microbial Sciences 7, 100273 (Naas rating 11.8)
4. Sandeep Sharma, Ritika Modi, Amanpreet Kaur. 2024. Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases producing microbes: A key indicator for biomass-degrading enzymes. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology 60, 103337. Naas rating 9.8)
5. Sandeep Sharma, Kailash Chand Kumawat, Paawan Kaur, Sukhjinder Kaur,
   Nihar Gupta. 2024 Crop residue heterogeneity: Decomposition by potential indigenous ligno-cellulolytic microbes and enzymatic profiling. Current Research in Microbial Sciences 6, 100227 (Naas rating 11.8)

Ongoing Projects:

Nil

Awards/Honor/Distinctions:

NIL