DR. AJAY PARIDA

A cytogenetist and molecular biologist by training has a Ph.D. degree from University of Delhi. He joined M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation in 1993 as a senior scientist and subsequently worked as Principal Scientist and Director of the Biotechnology Programme.

Dr. Parida and his group has made outstanding contribution in the area of Coastal Ecosystem management through integrated use of traditional and modern biotechnologies and has successfully utilized molecular marker systems in mangrove species in understanding species relationship, developing unambiguous species identification systems, depicting population genetic structure and evolving site-specific conservation strategies. His work on genetic indexing of wild relatives and land races of cultivated legumes, millet species and Rice has contributed to the understanding of genetic structure of the species/ populations. His ongoing work on identification, characterization and transfer of novel genetic combinations from mangroves has resulted in isolation of a number of genes for abiotic stress tolerance from Avicennia marina. Large scale sequencing of ESTs has been undertaken from Avicennia marina, Porteresia coarctata and Prosopis juliflora. Transformation and Transgenic systems in Brassica, Vigna and Rice incorporating some of the isolated genes are in different stages of development. This work has far reaching implications in developing location specific crop varieties offering resistance/ tolerance to coastal salinity.

Dr. Parida has guided/ guiding over Twenty Ph. D. students and published over 60 peer reviewed research papers, many in books and conferences and seminar proceedings.

Dr. Parida has played major role in organization of several multistakeholder dialogues in the area of biotechnology application, dissemination and biosafety issues. He has served on the National Biosafety Regulatory Committee and currently a member of advisory board of the BINAS Biosafety Network of the UNIDO.

Dr. Parida is Elected Fellow of the National Academy of Agriculture Sciences (NAAS) and National Academy of Sciences of India (NASI). He is a recipient of Prof. Umakant Sinha Memorial Award of the Indian Science Congress, B. M. Birla Prize of the Birla Science Foundation and National Biosciences Award of the Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India. Dr. Parida serves on many committees of the Govt. of India, and much international organization.