Birth & Educations: Born at Bhavanisagar, Erode Dt, Tamil Nadu on 1^st June, 1982. Educated at Kasthuriba Higher Secondary School, Rajan nagar, Erode Dt, 1999; B.Sc. (Agri.) (1999-2003) & M.Sc. (Plant Pathology) (2003-2005) at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore; Ph. D. in Plant Pathology; Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, 2006-2012.

Positions hold: Scientist (2013-2017); Scientist (Senior Scale (2017-2021); Senior Scientist (2022-2024); Senior Scientist (9000GPA) (2025 to till date) at Division of Plant Pathology, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi. Served as a Zonal Councilor (Delhi Zone, 2016) for IPS and Associated in various committees of international & national conference/symposia organized by IPS (2013 to 2025).

Awards/Honours: Nanaji Desmukh ICAR Award for Outstanding Interdisciplinary Team Research in Agricultural and Allied Sciences 2021 by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of agriculture & farmers welfare during the year of 2022; M.K. Patel Memorial Young Scientist Award (2020) by Indian Phytopathological Society, New Delhi; Best multidisciplinary research in pearl millet (2015-18) by IARI, New Delhi received from 53rd Annual Group Meeting of ICAR-All India Coordinated Research project on Pearl Millet held at Agriculture University, Jodhpur (Rajasthan); Best Multidisciplinary Research Award (2019-20) for Multi-Disciplinary Research Involving Basic, Strategic and Applied Research in Different Disciplines of Agriculture with respect to Pearl Millet (2019-20) for IARI, New Delhi by ICAR-All India Coordinated Research project on Pearl Millet; Awarded IARI Research Fellowship for Ph.D. (2006-2012); Honoured by Indian Phytopathological society for serving as a Zonal Councilor (Delhi zone) during 2016; Best Oral Presentations & Best Poster Awards during International/National conferences

Research Areas: Functional Genomics; Gene Editing & Gene Mining for Resistance; Host-Pathogen Interaction

Significant scientific contributions to plant pathology: Developed and validated genome edited rice plants (OsERF922, OsMADS26, OsMAPK5, OsPi21 and OsPLDβ1 genes) in BPT 5204 Background for blast resistance. Associated in developing the blast disease resistant rice varieties viz., Pusa Basmati 1637, Pusa Samba 1850, Pusa 1884, Pusa Basmati 1847, Pusa Basmati 1885 and Pusa Basmati 1886. Whole genome of Magnaporthe oryzae (RMg_Dl) infecting rice and Magnaporthe grisea (PMg_Dl) infecting pearl millet (first report) were sequenced using hybrid approach (Illumina and Pac Bio sequencing). Genome wide mining & characterization of NBSLRR genes in Pearl millet and Finger millet against blast pathogen, Magnaporthe grisea. Characterized the novel hypothetical virulence gene(s) in rice blast and pearl millet blast pathogens. Studied the population biology and genetic analysis of blast pathogen, Magnaporthe oryzae infecting rice and Magnaporthe grisea infecting pearl millet utilizing genomic data.