Punjab Agricultural University student bags BR Barwale best thesis award

NEW DELHI: Neha Verma, a student at Punjab Agricultural University's Department of Vegetable Science, has been awarded the prestigious BR Barwale best thesis award by the Indian Academy of Horticultural Science for her Ph D research in horticulture biotechnology for the year 2023.

Neha received a gold medal, a certificate, and a cash reward of Rs 25,000/- during the inaugural ceremony of the 10th Indian Horticulture Congress held at Guwahati, Assam on November 6, 2023.

She worked on ‘Inheritance and molecular mapping of gene(s) associated with Yellow Vein Mosaic Virus Disease (YVMVD) resistance in pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne)’ under the guidance of Ajmer Singh Dhatt. Her research will be valuable for developing virus resistant varieties and hybrids using molecular markers in pumpkin.

Also read | Study Abroad: MBA enrolment declined after UK visa rule change, says survey

SS Gosal, vice-chancellor; PK Chhuneja, dean, postgraduate studies; Gill, dean, College of Horticulture and Forestry; and TS Dhillon, department head of Vegetable Science; congratulated Neha and her guide for their achievement.

Last year Pooja Arora, a student of the department of chemistry, PAU, has been conferred Sabu Thomas best thesis award for the thesis— Synthesis of sepiolite-metal sulfide nanocomposites for antifungal seed treatment during storage— in the category of nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Arora was awarded a cash prize of Rs 3,000 from Sabu Thomas golden group alumni, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala.