Dr. Suseelendra Desai
Dean , School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology
Dr. Suseelendra Desai is a Doctorate in Agriculture from Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University with more than 3 decades of experience in research, teaching and outreach activities. He worked for Indian Council of Agricultural Research for 34 years and superannuated as Head of Division of Crop Sciences from ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad in 2021. He was also a Visiting Scientist at International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics. Prior to joining ICAR, he worked for Bank of India as Agricultural Finance Officer during 1986-1987. He was a DAAD post-doctoral fellow during 1991-1994 at Justus Liebig University, Germany followed by DAAD Re-Invitation Fellow during 2007,2011,2015. He had a brief Industry stint in Varsha Biosciences and Technology India Private Limited as Vice President (Research & Business Development).
His salient research accomplishments include integrated management of foliar diseases of groundnut; HACCP-based integrated aflatoxin contamination management package in groundnut; Trichoderma biocontrol strain possessing rhizosphere-competence through protoplast fusion; harnessing microbial diversity for microbe-mediated crop health management; "Multi-nutrient tasking microbes" possessing biocontrol ability and their commercialization; managing Integrated Bioresources Centre, ICAR-CRIDA; abiotic stress tolerant bioinoculants and the molecular basis stress tolerance and climate change impacts on plant pathogens and biocontrol agents.
He has handled several externally funded projects on basic and applied aspects in agriculture and conferred with several distinctions. He has guided 4 doctoral students 3 Masters students; and more than 40 student interns. He has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed research papers; >30 book chapters; delivered >100 keynote/lead/invited lectures in national and international seminars and symposia; 12 technical bulletins; 10 popular articles; and edited 5 books.
He is a Member of Scientific Panels "Microbial Hazards of Food" and "Contaminants in Food Chain" of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India during 2009-2022; Fellow of Indian Phytopathological Society; Plant Protection Association of India; Indian Society of Oilseeds Research and Telangana Academy of Sciences. Agriculture Today has conferred on him "Life Time Achievement Award for Eco-agriculture 2021". He is a recipient of Dr. A.N. Mukhopadhyay Oration Lecture Award in 2022.
In October 2021, he joined NMIMS as Dean, School of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Shirpur. He was instrumental in inking collaboration pacts with 6 industries and ICRISAT; revision of the syllabus; establishing huge crop cafeteria; initiating seed production programs with Mahabeej and Nirmal Seeds; motivating the students and faculty and organizing two-month long industry internships to all students.
