Host City India: Lincoln

Pooja Shukla

Ms. Pooja Shukla is a PhD candidate at The Millet Lab, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, where her research centers on the genomics of a C4 model crop, foxtail millet (Setaria italica). Having been closely involved in the cultivation and phenotypic assessment of its germplasm, she aims to systematically explore and utilize the crop’s phenotypic and genetic diversity towards the identification and characterization of the genetic determinants underlying yield-contributing agronomic and nutritional traits.

Pooja holds a bachelor’s degree in life sciences from Kasturba Gandhi Degree and PG College for Women, Secunderabad, and a master’s degree in botany from University College of Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad. In addition to awards and honors, her academic contributions include multiple peer-reviewed research and review publications, and book chapters.

As a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellow, Pooja is advancing her research on genomic dissection of complex agronomic traits in foxtail millet through the application of advanced computational frameworks, multi-locus GWAS-models, quantitative genetics and comparative genomics. Her work is expected to generate high-resolution genetic, genomic, and phenomic resources in foxtail millet, accelerating gene discovery and trait mapping. She is also a certified Yoga trainer, and integrates its principles into her academic and professional practices.

Arpita Dalal

Dr. Arpita Dalal obtained her B.Sc degree from Birjhora Mahavidyalaya, Gauhati University, in 2010 and her master’s degree from the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, in 2012. She then received her PhD in 2020 under the supervision of Prof. Susmita Gupta at Assam University-. Her research work focuses on biomonitoring and ecology of freshwater ecosystems using aquatic insects and use of predatory macroinvertebrates (such as aquatic insects and crustaceans) as biocontrol agents of mosquito populations. Dr. Dalal has published several research articles in reputable international and national journals. She was awarded the DST-INSPIRE Fellowship (2013) and has qualified in the CBSE-UGC NET examination (2014). Her other scientific recognitions include JSPS HOPE Fellow awarded at 8th HOPE Meeting with Nobel Laureates, Japan (2016); selection for Newton-Bhabha PhD placement programme, hosted by Queen’s University, UK for six months, sponsored by British Council, UK and DBT, India (2016). She was also selected from India to participate in the BRICS Young Scientist Forum Conclave, Russia (2020).

Aedes aegypti mosquito is a carrier of deadly diseases worldwide include dengue, yellow fever and chikungunya. Recently, they invaded the Great Plains of USA, expanding their range. Factors of their invasion and expansion must be identified to prevent further expansion. To address this issue in her postdoctoral stint supported by the Fulbright-Kalam fellowship, Dr. Dalal is designing feeding experiments under different climatic and abiotic factors coupled with field works to identify the reasons behind the A. aegypti invasion and sustenance in a new area.