Prof. Chittaranjan Kole is an internationally reputed scientist with an illustrious professional career spanning over forty years and globally recognized for his original contributions in the fields of plant genomics, biotechnology, and molecular breeding, leading to the publication of more than 150 quality research articles. He has edited over 180 books for the leading publishers of the world, including Springer, Wiley-Blackwell and Taylor and Francis Group. His scientific contributions and editing acumen have been appreciated by seven Nobel Laureates including Profs. Norman Borlaug, Arthur Kornberg, Werner Arber, Phillip Sharp, Günter Blobel, Lee Hartwell, and Roger Kornberg. He has been honored with a number of fellowships, honorary fellowships, and national and international awards, including the 'Outstanding Crop Scientist Award' conferred by the International Crop Science Society. Prof. Kole has served in all prestigious positions in academia including as Vice-Chancellor of the BC Agricultural university and Project Coordinator of Indo-Russian Center of Biotechnology in India, and Director of Research of the Institute of Nutraceutical Research of Clemson University, in the USA. He worked also in the Pennsylvania State University and Clemson University as Visiting Professor in the USA. He was awarded with the Raja Ramanna Fellow by the Department of Energy, Government of India. He is also heading the International Climate-Resilient Crop Genomics Consortium, International Phytomedomics and Nutriomics Consortium and Genome India International as their Founding President. Prof. Kole has recently established the Prof. Chittaranjan Kole Foundation for Science and Society and working for his Founding Chairman. Dr. Sharat Kumar Pradhan, is Assistant Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. At present, he is heading the Food and Fodder Crops (FFC) Section of the council. Before this assignment, he was Scientist at ICAR- NRRI, Cuttack for 25 years and 5 years under OUAT, Bhubaneswar. He has released 60 rice varieties for 18 states of the country. Dr. Pradhan is the lead developer of 35 and co-developer of 25 rice varieties. Many of his rice varieties namely CR Dhan409 (Pradhandhan), CR Dhan307 (Maudamani), CR Dhan800, CR Dhan801, CR Dhan802, CR Dhan507, CR Dhan508, etc., are very popular in the eastern region of the country. He has published about 200 peer reviewed research articles in various books and journals. He has reported more than 80 novel genes/QTL controlling various traits in rice through linkage and association mapping. He has guided 15 Ph.D and 12 M.Sc. students for their thesis research. Dr. Pradhan is a Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), New Delhi; Indian Society of Plant Breeding & Genetics (ISGPB), New Delhi, and Association of Rice Research Workers (ARRW), Cuttack. He is conferred with many prestigious Awards namely Dr.LK Sikka Endowment Award of NAAS; Professor Siddique Award & Hooker Award of IARI, New Delhi; Samanta Chandra Sekhar Award from DST, Govt. of Odisha; AB Joshi Award of ISGPB, New Delhi and many others. Dr. Pradhan is the former Editor-in-Chief, Oryza, and Vice President of the Indian Society of Genetics & Plant Breeding, New Delhi. Dr. Vijay Tiwari is an assistant professor and small grain breeder at the University of Maryland College Park. His major research interest is focused on genetics and genomics of small grain crops with emphasis on wheat, barley, and triticale. His program integrates genomic tools and germplasm development to achieve the goals of sustainable agriculture. Identification of novel genes and alleles against abiotic and biotic stresses is a key step to perform genetic improvement of crop plants. One of his research objectives involves genomics enabled gene discovery of important genes and alleles playing vital role against abiotic and biotic stresses in small grain crops. His research is also focused on enhancing yield and yield contributing factors in bread wheat through the discovery and integration of some key genes playing an important role in spike morphology and grain number per spikelet. Vijay's program deploys new genes and alleles associated with agronomically important traits to improve and develop high-yielding MD wheat and triticale cultivars.
