Birth & Educations: Born and studied in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. Graduated (1994) in horticulture from Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan (HP); Post graduated (1996) in Plant Pathology from Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan (HP); Obtained doctoral degree in Mycology & Plant Pathology (2000) from Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan (HP).

Positions hold: Assistant Professor, GB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar (2004-2009); Senior Scientist (RGP 8000, 2009-2012), ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla; Senior Scientist (RGP 9000, 2012-2015), ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla; Principal Scientist (2015- 2023), ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla; Principal Scientist & Head (2023- till date), ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla.

Awards/Honours: Nanaji Deshmukh ICAR Award for Outstanding Interdisciplinary Team Research (2015-16) in Agricultural and Allied Sciences (Crop & Horticultural Sciences), New Delhi; Young Scientist Award (2010), Hill Society of Agriculture, Uttarakhand; IPA-Kaushalya Sikka Memorial Award (2013-17), Indian Potato Association, Shimla; IPA Gold Medals, Indian Potato Association, Shimla; Best Worker Award (2020, Scientific Category), ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla; Dr SK Vasal Award for Efficient Use of PGR (2024), Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi; Certificate of Appreciation (2025), ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla.

Fellow: Fellow of Indian Society of Hill Agriculture (2010), GB Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Uttarakhand; Fellow of Indian Potato Association (2018), Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla; Fellow of Indian Society of Plant Pathologists (2021), Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, Punjab; Fellow of Indian Phytopathological Society (2023), Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.

Research Areas: Population biology; epidemiology; molecular diagnosis; host-pathogen interaction; host resistance; plant disease management.