Dr (Mrs) Yogesh Vikal, Principal Molecular Geneticist took over the additional charge of Director of the School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, on November 08, 2024. She has a bright and an outstanding academic record and professional career in the discipline of Biotechnology. Dr Yogesh Vikal has worked as visiting scientist at International Rice Research Institute, Philippines and Purdue University, USA. She has handled more than 25 competitive research projects. She is leading Genome edited project on NextGen Rice as Project Coordinator. She has published more than 100 research papers in the International and National reputed journals. Her research focus involved molecular breeding, Genomics, Transcriptomics, gene cloning and genome editing. Dr Vikal and her team have mapped and developed molecular markers for a number of disease resistance genes and abiotic stress tolerance in rice and maize to follow marker assisted selection. She successfully developed nutritionally enriched maize lines for high beta-carotene and tryptophan content, which are being utilized in maize pre-breeding program. She is involved in development of semi-dwarf BB resistant Punjab Basmati 3 variety through MAS and three fodder varieties. She has supervised 23 post-graduate students and some of her students are working as doctoral and post-doctoral fellows in International institutes of repute. She is also actively involved in teaching biotechnology courses to UGs and PGs of College of Agriculture. She was energetically involved in developing Biotechnology curriculum for B.Tech., M.Sc. and Ph.D.