Your research journey spans India, Israel, and Italy. How have these experiences shaped your scientific philosophy?
My academic journey began in India at Banaras Hindu University and the ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, where I learned the importance of crop science in real farming conditions. This training taught me to think about how research can directly help farmers and food security. In Israel, at the Agricultural Research Organization and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, I experienced a highly innovative research culture. There, I learned to design experiments carefully, use advanced tools, and connect basic research with practical applications. In Italy, at the University of Milan and Roma Tre University, I worked in collaborative environments that strengthened my understanding of plant development and functional genomics. Together, these experiences shaped my philosophy: research should be scientifically strong, technologically advanced, and useful for improving crops and agriculture.
Your work spans fundamental and applied research across several crops. How do you choose impactful problems?
I choose research problems that address clear biological limitations in crops. For example, I focus on questions where understanding genes and pathways can help improve stress tolerance, yield, or quality. I also look for problems where modern tools like genome editing, transcriptomics, and functional genomics can make a real difference. Most importantly, I try to balance discovery with application. I want my work to advance science while also supporting farmers, food security, and sustainable agriculture.
What opportunities do you see for young scientists in genome editing and synthetic biology?
The next decade will be very exciting for young scientists. New genome-editing tools now allow very precise changes in plant DNA without adding foreign genes. This will help improve crops faster and more safely. Functional genomics will help researchers understand how genes work together as networks, not just individually. This creates opportunities for scientists who can combine biology with data analysis. Synthetic biology will allow us to design new genetic circuits and regulatory systems, opening new possibilities in agriculture and biotechnology. Young researchers who are curious, interdisciplinary, and open to learning new technologies will lead future breakthroughs.
How can young researchers succeed in multidisciplinary plant science?
First, they should build a strong understanding of basic plant biology. Technologies change, but biological principles remain important. Second, learning data analysis and bioinformatics is now essential. Third, researchers should stay focused on biological questions and use techniques only as tools to answer those questions. Collaboration is also very important. Modern science works best when people from different fields work together. Finally, patience, flexibility, and curiosity are key, because multidisciplinary research often involves challenges and long learning processes.
What habits helped you remain productive and creative throughout your career?
I try to keep a structured routine for reading, writing, and data analysis. I document experiments carefully and discuss ideas early with colleagues. Working with researchers from different backgrounds has always improved my thinking. I also see feedback as a chance to improve, not as criticism. For young scientists, I recommend developing strong skills in one area while learning basics of related fields. Good writing, data handling, and reproducible research practices are very important. Above all, staying connected to the larger purpose improving crops, helping farmers, and supporting global food and nutrition security gives long-term motivation and meaning to scientific work.
