MaizeGenetics.net

His current R&D efforts are focused on training and utilization of next generation sequencing technologies for genome wide SNP identification and GWAS in maize.

Academic Qualifications:

• 1987-90           B.Sc, Meerut University, Meerut. India
• 1990-93           M.Sc , Meerut University, Meerut. India
• 1994-99           Ph.D, CCSU, University, Meerut, Regional Research Laboratory (CSIR), Jammu Tawi, India

Professional Records:

• 2008-present   Scientist E I, Biotechnology Division, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, IHBT (CSIR), Palampur, India
• 2004-08          Scientist C, Biotechnology Division, Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, IHBT (CSIR), Palampur, India

Scholarships & Fellowships:

• 2001-04          Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Genetics Division & NRC on Plant Biotechnology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
• 1999-2001       Post-Doctoral Fellow (DBT) NRC on Plant Biotechnology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
• 1999-96           Senior Research Fellow, Plant Tissue Culture Unit, Regional Research Laboratory (CSIR), Jammu Tawi, India
• 1999-96           Fellow, Plant Tissue Culture Unit, Regional Research Laboratory (CSIR), Jammu Tawi, India

R&D Projects:

• 2007- present   Principal Investigator & Convener, Molecular markers and Descriptor development in tea, DBT funded National Network project on tea.
• 2004-07           Co-Principal Investigator & Convener, Improvement & Characterization of tea using biotechnological tools, DBT funded National Network project on tea.
• 2005-08           Principal Investigator, Molecular characterization of bamboo germplasm, DBT sponsored project.
• 2004-08           Co- Principal Investigator, Biotechnological approaches for improvement of plant species with special reference to pulp and paper. NMITLI, CSIR funded.
• 2004-07           Co- Principal Investigator, Newer Scientific Herbal Preparations for Global positioning, Mission mode, CSIR funded.
• 2007-present   Co-principal Investigator, Supra-Institutional programme, molecular markers based genetic improvement programme in tea, CSIR funded.

Others:

• Research publications in refereed journals : Twenty eight
• Paper and Poster presented in conferences: Eighteen
• Book chapter : One
• Invited/ lead lecture : Four
• Students pursuing Ph.D : Five
• Student submitted Ph.D thesis : Two ( CSIR TWAS Fellow from Kenya, Africa ; 1)
• M.Sc students supervised for 2-6 months trainings: twenty
• Fellowships & Award: 5 Nos
• Adjunct Faculty, M.Sc. Agricultural Biotechnology, CSK HPKV, Palampur, since September, 2004
• Nodal person, ATL, DNA fingerprinting of Tissue culture raised plants under ATLs (Accredited Test Laboratory) by DBT, Govt. of India, and also for DNA fingerprinting of selected bamboo species.
• In-charge, NABL accreditation for DNA fingerprinting.
• Reviewer member, peer reviewed international/ national journals such as BMC Genomics, Genome, Molecular Breeding, Plant Breeding, Australian Journal of Botany, J of Plant Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Current Science etc.

Selected Publications:

R. K. Sharma*, P. Bhardwaj, R. Negi, T. Mohapatra and P. S. Ahuja (2009). Identification, characterization and utilization of unigene derived microsatellite markers in tea (Camellia sinensis, L). BMC Plant Biology 9:53.

S.M. Kamunya, F.N. Wachira, R.S. Pathak, R. Korir, V. Sharma, R. Kumar, P. Bhardwaj, R. Chalo , P.S. Ahuja and R.K. Sharma* (2010) Genomic mapping and testing for quantitative trait loci in tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze). Tree Genetics & Genomes: 6(6): 915-924.

R. K. Sharma*, M. S. Negi, S. Sharma, P. Bhardwaj, R. Kumar, E. Bhattachrya, S. B. Tripathi, D. Vijayan, A. R. Baruah, S. C. Das, B. Bera, R. Rajkumar, J. Thomas, R. K. Sud, N. Muraleedharan, M. Hazarika, M. Lakshmikumaran, S. N. Raina, and P. S. Ahuja (2010). AFLP-based genetic diversity assessment of commercially important tea germplasm in India. Biochemical Genetics 48:549–564.

V. Sharma, P. Bhardwaj, R. Kumar, R. K. Sharma*, A. Sood, P. S. Ahuja (2009). Identification and cross-species amplification of EST derived SSR markers in different bamboo species. Conservation Genetics 10:721–724.

R.K. Sharma*, P. Gupta, V. Sharma, A. Sood, T. Mohapatra and P. S. Ahuja (2008). Evaluation of rice and sugarcane SSR markers for phylogenetic and genetic diversity analyses in bamboo. Genome 51: 91-103.

K. P. Mohapatra , R. N. Sehgal, R. K. Sharma, T. Mohapatra (2009). Genetic analysis and conservation of endangered medicinal tree species Taxus wallichiana in the Himalayan region. New Forests 37:109–121.

R.K. Sharma, P. Gupta, V. Sharma, A. Sood, T. Mohapatra and P. S. Ahuja (2008). Evaluation of rice and sugarcane SSR markers for phylogenetic and genetic diversity analyses in bamboo. Genome 51: 91-103.

S. G. Krishnan, R.K. Sharma, K. A. Rajkumar, M. Joseph, V. P. Singh, A. K. Singh, K. V. Bhatt, N. K. Singh and T. Mohapatra (2008). Integrating marker assisted background analysis with foreground selection for identification of superior bacterial blight resistant recombinants in Basmati rice.  Plant Breeding 127: 131—139.

S. Karthigeyan, S. Rajkumar, R. K. Sharma, Ashu Gulati, R.K. Sud and P.S.Ahuja (2008). High level of genetic diversity between the selected accessions of Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) from abandoned Tea gardens in western Himalaya. Biochemical Genetics 46:810-819.

N. Kaur, R. K. Sharma, D. Dhyani, S. Karthigeyan and P. S. Ahuja (2007). Molecular characterization of Interspecific hybrids of scented roses using RAPD markers. Acta Horticulture (ISHS) 751:175-179.

A. K. Singh, R. K. Sharma, N. K. Singh, K. C. Bansal, K. R. Koundal and T. Mohapatra (2006). Genetic diversity in ber (Ziziphus spp.) revealed by AFLP markers. Journal of Horticultural Science & Biotechnology 81: 205–210.

R. Goswami, T. Mohapatra, N. Gupta, R. Rani, N. Tomar, A. Dikshit, R.K. Sharma (2004). Parathyroid Hormone Gene Polymorphism and Sporadic Idiopathic Hypoparathyroidism. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 89:4840–4845.

Minu Joseph, S. Gopalakrishnan, R. K. Sharma, A. K. Singh, V. P. Singh, N. K. Singh and T. Mohapatra (2004). Combining bacterial blight resistance and Basmati quality characteristics by phenotypic and molecular marker assisted selection in rice. Molecular Breeding 13: 377-387.

R. K. Singh, R. K. Sharma, A. K. Singh, V. P. Singh, N. K. Singh, S. P. Tewari and T. Mohapatra (2004). Suitability of mapped STMS markers for establishing DUS in aromatic rice Euphytica 135:135-143.

N. Nandakumar, A. K. Singh, R. K. Sharma T. Mohapatra, K.V. Prabhu, F.U. Zaman (2004). Molecular fingerprinting of hybrids and assessment of genetic purity of hybrid seeds in rice using microsatellite markers Euphytica 136: 257-264.