Dr. M. Shamshad

Sugarcane Breeder && Computational Biology Researcher

Career Objective

To contribute to improving the quality and sustainability (both environmental and economic) of life on Earth by developing plants that fit better into the natural world and produce more with less by means of plant breeding and agronomic methodologies.

Professional experience

Sugarcane Breeder

Present

PAU Regional Research Station, Kapurthala, Punjab, India

  • Development and evaluation of improved sugarcane varieties for high sugar yield, disease resistance, and adaptability to Punjab agro-climatic conditions
  • Management and characterisation of sugarcane germplasm collections for breeding objectives
  • Multi-environment field trials for varietal testing and evaluation of ACRIP programme clones
  • Crossing programs targeting early maturity, ratoonability, and resistance to red rot and wilt diseases
  • Application of genomic and molecular tools for marker-assisted selection in sugarcane improvement
  • Coordination with state and national sugarcane improvement networks for germplasm exchange and variety testing

Plant Breeder – Cotton

Previous

PAU Regional Research Station, Faridkot, India

  • Breeding and evaluation of G. hirsutum and G. arboreum for yield, fibre quality, and pest/disease resistance
  • Development and maintenance of cotton germplasm for pre-breeding and variety improvement programmes
  • Molecular marker-based assessment of genetic diversity and marker-assisted selection
  • Crossing programs targeting bollworm resistance, drought tolerance, and improved lint yield in upland cotton
  • Collaboration with national cotton research (ACRIP) for multi-location testing and variety release

Post Doctorate Research Associate (TIGR2ESS)

Aug 2020 – Mar 2022

University of Cambridge, UK · Collaboration with PAU

  • Pre-breeding and germplasm characterisation using novel genomics, phenomics, and statistical tools for irrigated, rainfed, and hybrid wheat breeding
  • Development of core panels and identification of potential trait gaps in phenotypic variation
  • Extensive field trials, crossing, phenotyping, and multi-environment data collection
  • Double haploid breeding in wheat using wheat × maize crosses

Junior Research Fellow

Aug 2019 – Jul 2020

Plant Breeding & Genetics, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana

  • Quantitative genetic analysis of field trials
  • Genome-wide analysis and genomic predictions for nitrogen use efficiency
  • Crosses in wheat for grain yield, heat, drought, salt, and stripe rust resistance

Research Assistant

Jan 2015 – Dec 2015

Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, PAU, Ludhiana

  • Development of germplasm and core panel for yield, quality, and quantity oils
  • Extensive field trials, crossing of A, B, and R lines, and data collection of Advanced Variety Trials

Qualifications/Certificates

Ph.D., Plant Breeding and Genetics, Specialization in Wheat Breeding and Genetics
Punjab Agricultural University - Ludhiana, India, September 2019

  • Advisor: Dr. Achla Sharma
  • Dissertation: “Genetic and physiological basis of nitrogen uptake and utilization in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)”

M.S., Plant Breeding and Genetics
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India, November 2014

  • Advisor: Dr. Satwinder Kaur Dhillon
  • Dissertation: “ Assessment of morphological and genetic diversity and its association with heterosis and F1 performance in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)”

B.S., Agriculture [Hons]
Punjab Agricultural University - Ludhiana, India, June 2012

NET-Qualified, 2014

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Articles

Book chapters

Talks

Fellowships and Awards

  • Travel Grant Award Indo UK project for the Nitrogen improvement (INEW). Link
  • Junior Research Fellowship Indo UK project for the Nitrogen improvement (INEW). Link
  • University Merit Certificate (M.Sc. Plant breeding & Genetics) (2014). Link
  • Qualified ASRB National Eligibility Test 2014, 2015 and 2016 for Assistant Professorship. Link

Professional Training

  • Work shop on Cereal data base, CerealsDB and use of snps array, database and emble plants. Life Sciences, School of Bioscience, University of Bristol. September 18-19, 2018. Link
  • Work shop Precision nitrogen nutrition in wheat: integrating genetics and precision agronomy for improving nitrogen use efficiency, March 1-5, 2018 Borlaug Institute for South Asia (CIMMYT), Ludhiana, India
  • workshop on Wheat genomic data analysis for improvement in nitrogen use efficiency. February 27 to March 2, 2019, ICAR- National Bureau of plant genic resources (NBPGR), New Delhi, India
  • Short term bioinformatics training (RNA-seq and DNA-seq). ArrayGen Technologies, India, Pune . 23 Oct-21 Nov. 2018. Link
  • Fundamental writing skills workshop researchers. ICRISAT, Hyderabad. January 2020.
  • Write Wining Grant Proposals, University of TIGR2ESS, ICRISAT, Hyderabad, January 18, 2020.

Posters

  • Shamshad, M., Dhillon, S.K., Tyagi, V., and Singh, S.: Studies on sunflower (_Helianthus annuus_ L.) germplasm evaluation for drought tolerance. Indraprastha International Conference on Biotechnology, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India October 22-25, 2013. P97BDE17

  • Shamshad, M., Tyagi, V., and Dhillon, S.K.: Estimation of drought susceptibility index in sunflower (_Helianthus annuus_ L.) germplasm. National Seminar on Plant Biotechnology: Challenges and Opportunities in 21st Century, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India March 03-04, 2014. P28

  • Tyagi, V., Dhillon, S.K., Shamshad, M., and Singh, S. Assessment of response of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) genotypes to water stress. Indraprastha International Conference on Biotechnology, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India October 22-25, 2013. P95 BDE15

  • Tyagi, V., Singh, S., Shamshad, M., and Dhillon, S.K.: Effect of moisture stress on correlations between yield and component traits in sunflower. Indraprastha International Conference on Biotechnology, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India October 22-25, 2013. P96 BDE16

  • Tyagi, V., Dhillon, S.K., Shamshad, M., and Akhatar, J.: Genetic diversity in sunflower (_Helianthus annuus_ L.) germplasm under water stress environment. National Seminar on Plant Biotechnology: Challenges and Opportunities in 21st Century, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India March 03-04, 2014. P29

  • Shamshad, M., Sharma, A., Srivastava, P., Kaur, S., Brar, A., Bains, N.S.: Genetic variability for root traits in relation to nitrogen use efficiency in structured population of wheat (_T. aestivum). International Conference Genomics and Breeding for Crop Improvement, Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut, UP, India December 04-06, 2019. P133

  • Ankita, Sharma, A., Srivastava, P., Kaur, S., Shamshad M., Kaur, A., Sarlach, R.S., Sharma, H., and Singh, S.: Morphological characterization of Mexican wheat landraces under simulated salinity stress. International Conference Genomics and Breeding for Crop Improvement, CCS University, Meerut, UP, India December 04-06, 2019. P109

  • Kaur, S., Sharma, A., Ankita, Srivastava, P., Shamshad, M., Sarlach, R. S., Sharma, H., and Singh, S.: Yield component and their association for enhancing grain yield in Iranian wheat landraces under saline field conditions. International Conference Genomics and Breeding for Crop Improvement, CCS University, Meerut, UP, India December 04-06, 2019. P154

Skills

Quantitative Skills

  • GBS data analysis and SNP calling
  • Big data handling and analysis
  • Cloud computing
  • Quantitative Genetics: QTL Mapping, GWAS, Genomic selections etc.
  • Statistical tools: R and SAS
  • Operating Systems: LINUX, OS X, Windows

  • Content-description Languages: XHTML, CSS, LATEX, Markdown

  • Wet Lab Skills
    • DNA extractions, PCR, real-time PCR, electrophoresis, SSR marker and KASP marker genotyping
Dr. Mohammad Shamshad
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