AS

Arun K. Shanker

Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Central Agroforestry Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Central Potato Research Station

ORCID iD 0000-0001-5635-878X
Follow

About

Dr. Arun K. Shanker is a distinguished Principal Scientist (Plant Physiology) at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) in Hyderabad, India. With over 30 years of experience in agricultural research, development, and extension, he has specialized in the physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of crops to abiotic stresses such as drought, heat, salinity, and heavy metals. His research primarily focuses on identifying traits that enable crops to withstand the impacts of climate change, with particular emphasis on chlorophyll fluorescence induction kinetics and Photosystem II dynamics in crops like maize and pearl millet under water-deficit and heat stress conditions.

Dr. Shanker’s work has earned him international recognition, including the Endeavour Executive Fellowship from the Government of Australia and listing among the top 2% of world scientists for several consecutive years. He has also made substantial contributions to understanding the molecular pathways involved in abiotic stress, developing hypotheses around stress tolerance mechanisms in crops through biochemical and physiological assessments.

He has held leadership roles as an editor and reviewer for several high-impact international journals, including Scientific Reports, PLOS ONE, and Frontiers in Plant Science. His research has been widely cited, with over 7,000 citations, an h-index of 31, and numerous publications in prestigious journals. Additionally, his proficiency in bioinformatics and three-dimensional protein structure modeling has paved the way for advancements in plant molecular biology, particularly in relation to climate-resilient agriculture.

Dr. Shanker has also been involved in several international collaborations and projects, including a stint at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute and a project at CSIRO Australia on high-resolution phenotyping and photosystem dynamics under water and heat stress in wheat. His expertise continues to guide efforts to develop climate-ready crop varieties, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and resilience in the face of global environmental challenges.

Employment

  • Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture Principal Scientist (Plant Physiology)
    2009 - Present
  • Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture Senior Scientist (Plant Phyiology)
    2006 - 2009
  • Central Agroforestry Research Institute Senior Scientist (Plant Physiology)
    1996 - 2006
  • Central Potato Research Station Scientist (Plant Physiology)
    1994 - 1996
  • Central Potato Research Institute Scientist (Plant Physiology)
    1994 - 1994
  • Central Plantation Crops Research Institute Scientist (Plant Physiology)
    1993 - 1994
  • National Academy of Agricultural Research Management Scientist (Plant Physiology)
    1993 - 1993

Education

  • Tamil Nadu Agricultural University PhD
    1999 - 2003
  • Tamil Nadu Agricultural University M.Sc (Ag.)
    1988 - 1990
  • Tamil Nadu Agricultural University B.Sc (Ag.)
    1983 - 1987

Projects & Funding

Projects & funding information is unavailable.

Publications (74)