Dr. Sudesh Kumar Yadav (DOB: 02-01-1976; POB: Bhiwani, Haryana) obtained his MSc in 1999 and PhD in 2002 from the Department of Biochemistry, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. Subsequently, he worked as post-doctoral fellow at ICGEB, New Delhi (2002-2004). He joined CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur in 2004 and presently working there as principal scientist. Under his guidance, six students have obtained their PhD degrees. He has been working in the area of plant metabolic engineering and nanobiology.  In the plant metabolic engineering area, he has significantly contributed through his research towards understanding the caffeine metabolism in tea and reducing its caffeine levels through gene silencing. Also, flavonoid biosynthetic pathway genes from tea were explored in raising transgenic tobacco plants with improved flavonoid and antioxidants potential. His research work has provided the evidence to the production of low-seeded fruits through decreasing flavonols level by silencing of flavonol synthase. Currently, his focus is on understanding epigenetic regulation and role of small RNAs in the metabolic processes of plants. In nanobiology, his main work is on the exploration of plants for the synthesis of noble metallic nanoparticles and characterizing their phytochemicals involved therein. Such nanoparticles are very useful in various agricultural, medical and food applications. Secondly, he has been working towards improving the solubility, bioavailability and efficacy of important phytomolecules possessing activities like antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer.He has published more than 100 research articles in peer reviewed journals and 10 book chapters so far. For his outstanding research contributions in the area of plant sciences, he has been honoured with many prestigious awards; Indian National Science Academy (INSA)-Young Scientist Award-2008, The National Academy of Science, India(NASI)-Platinum Jubilee Young Scientist Award-2009, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Young Scientist Award-2010. He has been awarded BOYSCAST Fellowship during 2008 by DST, GOI for conducting advanced research at UCR, Riverside, USA for one year. He has been also selected “NAAS-Associate” by the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences from 2013 and conferred “Prof. Hira Lal Chakravarty Memorial Award” of Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) for the year 2012-2013 during 100th Session of Indian Science Congress at Kolkata. Adding another feather to his achievements, he has now been selected by Haryana State Council for Science and Technology, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of Haryana for the “Haryana Yuva Vigyan Ratna Award” 2011-12 for his excellent research contributions.

• 1. Nanoscale materials in targeted drug delivery.- 2. Biodegradable nanoparticles and their in vivo fate.- 3. Metallic nanoparticles, toxicity issues and applications in medicine.- 4. Liposomal and phytosomal formulations.- 5. Nanocellulose and nanocomposites.- 6. Theragnosis: Nanoparticles as a tool  for simultaneous therapy and diagnosis.- 7. Cellular response of therapeutic nanoparticles.

Dr. Sudesh Kumar Yadav (DOB: 02-01-1976; POB: Bhiwani, Haryana) obtained his MSc in 1999 and PhD in 2002 from the Department of Biochemistry, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. Subsequently, he worked as post-doctoral fellow at ICGEB, New Delhi (2002-2004). He joined CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur in 2004 and presently working there as principal scientist. Under his guidance, six students have obtained their PhD degrees. He has been working in the area of plant metabolic engineering and nanobiology.  In the plant metabolic engineering area, he has significantly contributed through his research towards understanding the caffeine metabolism in tea and reducing its caffeine levels through gene silencing. Also, flavonoid biosynthetic pathway genes from tea were explored in raising transgenic tobacco plants with improved flavonoid and antioxidants potential. His research work has provided the evidence to the production of low-seeded fruits through decreasing flavonols level by silencing of flavonol synthase. Currently, his focus is on understanding epigenetic regulation and role of small RNAs in the metabolic processes of plants. In nanobiology, his main work is on the exploration of plants for the synthesis of noble metallic nanoparticles and characterizing their phytochemicals involved therein. Such nanoparticles are very useful in various agricultural, medical and food applications. Secondly, he has been working towards improving the solubility, bioavailability and efficacy of important phytomolecules possessing activities like antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer.He has published more than 100 research articles in peer reviewed journals and 10 book chapters so far. For his outstanding research contributions in the area of plant sciences, he has been honoured with many prestigious awards; Indian National Science Academy (INSA)-Young Scientist Award-2008, The National Academy of Science, India(NASI)-Platinum Jubilee Young Scientist Award-2009, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Young Scientist Award-2010. He has been awarded BOYSCAST Fellowship during 2008 by DST, GOI for conducting advanced research at UCR, Riverside, USA for one year. He has been also selected “NAAS-Associate” by the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences from 2013 and conferred “Prof. Hira Lal Chakravarty Memorial Award” of Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) for the year 2012-2013 during 100th Session of Indian Science Congress at Kolkata. Adding another feather to his achievements, he has now been selected by Haryana State Council for Science and Technology, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of Haryana for the “Haryana Yuva Vigyan Ratna Award” 2011-12 for his excellent research contributions.

• 1. Nanoscale materials in targeted drug delivery.- 2. Biodegradable nanoparticles and their in vivo fate.- 3. Metallic nanoparticles, toxicity issues and applications in medicine.- 4. Liposomal and phytosomal formulations.- 5. Nanocellulose and nanocomposites.- 6. Theragnosis: Nanoparticles as a tool  for simultaneous therapy and diagnosis.- 7. Cellular response of therapeutic nanoparticles.