*Prof H.K. Chaudhary VC CSKHPKV has a mission to uplift Mountain Agriculture*

Brief Profile of Prof. Harinder K. Chaudhary

Prof. Harinder K. Chaudhary, presently working as Vice-Chancellor of the CSK HP Agricultural University Palampur and Program Leader of the High-tech Molecular Cytogenetics & Tissue Culture Lab of the University, is an expert in Chromosome Engineering and Molecular Breeding. Prior to his current assignment, he served as Professor & Head for the Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics as well as Department of Agricultural Biotechnology of the same University. Being Ph.D. in Plant Breeding from HP Agricultural University Palampur (1989) and Post-Doctorate in Molecular Genetics from the University of Leicester in England, UK (2003) & Osaka Kyoiku University in Japan (2004), he has contributed to the release of 20 popular crop varieties for the rainfed agriculture. Release of the first Doubled Haploid (DH 114- Him Pratham) and first Winter Wheat variety (Saptdhara) of the country is in his credit. Prof. Chaudhary invented a Wheat × Imperata cylindrica system of doubled haploidy breeding following chromosome elimination- mediated approach having commercial applications. He has handled 22 research projects and coordinated 4 international projects. He has published 192 research papers, many book chapters & brochures and 3 manuals in plant breeding, genetics & biotechnology and guided 34 PG scholars (presently 3  are still being guided) along with 214 trainees from various reputed institutes. He is a recipient of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Young Scientist Award- 1997 (presently Lal Bahadur Shastri Outstanding Young Scientist Award); ‘Prerna Strot Samman Puraskar- 2008-09’ by Govt. of H.P. and has been Honorary Visiting Professor, Osaka Kyoiku University, Japan (2004); Honorary Visitor (Academics), University of Melbourne, Australia (2014); Commonwealth Fellow in Molecular Genetics, Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, London (2003); Senior Biotechnology Overseas Associate, Molecular Genetics, Japan (2004) by the Govt. of India. In connection with his professional obligations, he has visited various countries like USA, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Japan, Australia, Thailand, Scotland, China, etc. Prof. Chaudhary is a member of many professional societies and organizations, including ISGPB (Vice President in 2018-19), EUCARPIA, UKAN, FISGPB & FISTCRAD, etc. Prof H.K. Chaudhary has a mission to uplift Mountain Agriculture so as to bring transformational changes in the Agri-horticultural & Veterinary scenario by sustainable utilization of the precious hill genetic resources of the North-Western Himalayas.