Experience

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  JOil Singapore Pte Ltd

  • Singapore
  • Biotechnology Research
  • 1 - 100 Employee

  • Head Research And Development (India & West Africa)

    • Apr 2023 - Present

    • Evaluate the progress of breeding research projects to ensure they meet deadlines and milestones domestically and internationally. • Guiding, auditing, and overseeing 1300 ha commercial plantation Operation for proper management and practices. Monitoring out-grower programme for 300 ha. • Coordinating the Certification work such as ISCC EU, ISCC plus, and Gold Standard of the company. • Manage the creation of new varieties that meet customers’ needs. • Coordination of breeding and research activities. • Develop a stock seed maintenance program that ensures both genetic and physiological quality for commercial production. • Consistent communication with breeding teams to ensure proper records are maintained and inventory is updated. • Evaluation of R&D trials and nursery.• Development of budgets for research and development departments and plan to drive cost efficiencies. • Lead every decision from strategic planning to tactical activities related to breeding trials, and evaluation. • Proposal review and approval for research funding.• Establish and manage relationships with universities, research labs, and other organizations that conduct research in areas related to the organization’s interests• Promote a positive company image while supporting research, and product development. • Work hand-in-hand with the breeding and agronomy team on-site domestically and internationally to develop, evaluate and produce deliverables • Responsible for compiling data about research and monitoring data in breeding software.

  • Breeding and Commercial Plantation Operational Manager (India & West Africa)

    • Jun 2014 - Mar 2023

    • Leading the evaluation trials of germplasm, open-pollinated variety, and inbred line development & hybrids.• Lead: o Breeder seed production, hybrid seed production, and seed inventory managemento New product developments and conduct nursery and yield trials to enhance productivityo Trial establishment, agronomic activity operation, pest & and disease control • Auditing and overseeing 1300 ha commercial plantation for management and practices. Monitoring out-grower programme for 300 ha. • Contribute to managing and actively participating in various components of a commercial breeding program. This includes aspects of line development, hybrid creation, testing, and product advancement in assigned target segments.• Generate and test new ideas in breeding schemes, execute proof of concept experiments and simulations that result in data-driven decisions, increased efficiencies, and genetic gain. • Document experiments, file invention disclosures, and communicate conclusions in reports and presentations. Create data summaries that allow data-driven decisions for the breeding programs• Learn, participate in, and contribute to research and development projects across the JOIL R&D organization. • Lead discovery and germplasm design projects dedicated to improving the germplasm and breeding method.• Maintain excellence in project management skills, scientific curiosity, result orientation, collaborative skills, and ability to successfully deploy new discoveries in germplasm enhancement and/or hybrid assessments and advancements.

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  Quinvita Plant Sciences NV Belgium

  • Cape Verde (West Africa)

  • Plant Breeder/ R & D Operational Manager (Breeding & Seed Production)

    • Nov 2010 - Jun 2014
    • Cape Verde (West Africa)

    • Managed breeder seed production, hybrid seed production, parent seed production, and seed inventory management• Supervised the research and development of tree & food crop in West Africa, including Data analysis, inbred line development, Male sterile and hybrid promotion decisions, molecular characterization• Spearheaded: o Back cross & mapping population development & marker-assisted backcrossing breedingo New product developments and conduct nursery and yield trials to enhance productivityo Germplasm evaluation, oil percentage & fatty acid profile analysiso Trial establishment, agronomic activity operation, pest & disease control• Evaluated the regional potential of Sorghum Bicolor & Cassava in ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) Countries• Managed the entire project activities with accountability for strategic utilization & deployment of available resources to achieve the project objectives

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  D1 Plant Sciences UK

  • Cape Verde West Africa

  • Plant Breeder

    • Nov 2008 - Nov 2010
    • Cape Verde West Africa

    • Breed and develop hybrids of biofuel crops for in West Africa and Southeast Asia.• Develop and maintain a well-organized breeding program that provides a continuous pipeline of competitive hybrid products.• Make breeding crosses to incorporate multiple bases and value-added traits (e.g. disease resistance, fruit quality, productivity) into existing germplasm.• Establish breeding trials locally and internationally and undertake evaluation and analysis of product performance within the breeding stations and screening sites.• Use disease screens, visual assessments, and molecular markers to select desirable plants and fix traits.• Maintain breeder seed of parent lines with maximum genetic trueness, seed quality, and adequate inventory; provide assistance to foundation seed increases.• Communicate and discuss breeding strategies with other breeders to achieve breeding goals in the most effective manner.• Communicate with marketing and sales to update the needs and trends of the global markets.• Work with greenhouse and farm managers to achieve breeding tasks with the greatest efficiency.• Plan and execute crossing blocks to make new hybrids with the combinations of disease resistance, fruit, and plant characteristics required for the target market.• Set up crossing blocks to maximize the efficient use of greenhouse space and pollinating crew time.• Perform other incidental and related duties as required and assigned.• Interact with major customers, product development, and sales personnel to evaluate and identify new commercial hybrids• Stay current on new and emerging breeding technologies, evaluate their relevance, and incorporate them into the breeding program if practical and feasible.• Training, supporting and developing assistants, assess yearly performance, and monitor daily activities and progress.

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  T Shivaleekha Biotech Pvt Ltd.

  • Tamil Nadu, India

  • Head Research & Development (Breeding & Agronomy, India)

    • May 2008 - Nov 2008
    • Tamil Nadu, India

    • Conduct crossing, advancement, and screening of breeding traits important for yield under the dry direct-seeded situation.• Contribute to the preparation of reports, publications, and presentations by summarizing research findings and draft manuscripts for publication in refereed journals, provide inputs to project reports, prepare posters, and papers for presentation at local and international conferences.• Supervise the work of field staff and/or contract workers, contribute to the professional development of field staff and assist students and trainees. • Coordinate closely with project staff/partners to ensure a smooth flow of research activities.• Engage with Germany collaborate to help build capacity in breeding programs and for the effective transfer of knowledge, technology, and strategy.• Verify the progress of the research activities as defined by the agreed plans and objectives• Supervise and mentor a team of support staff• Represent the company to a wide audience by presenting at conferences/meetings• Write and publish articles in peer-reviewed journals and support timely submission of reports to donors.• Lead hybridization program of biofuel crops & Agroforestry trials with field crops viz. fodder crops, Pulses• Prepared molecular & biochemical assay laboratory• Worked with the project management team for identifying the market needs and developing innovative strategies for product positioning

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  ICAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute (CAFRI)

  • Uttar Pradesh, India

  • Senior Research Fellow

    • Dec 2004 - May 2008
    • Uttar Pradesh, India

    • Manage a breeding pipeline from population creation through field testing to evaluate and advance the highest performing germplasm. • Drive development and implementation of new breeding strategies, technologies, operational processes, and digital capabilities.• Contribute and influence strategic planning at division and group levels.• Demonstrate an expanded sphere of scientific influence.• Work across crops and global regions to execute the appropriate experiments that will thoroughly evaluate germplasm to achieve commercial portfolio targets. • Foster the breeding pipeline through close collaboration with logistics, operations, molecular laboratories, and advanced phenotyping teams.• Explore new breeding methodologies and technologies that will revolutionize the plant breeding process. • Develop molecular lab and perform the molecular analysis for biofuel and agroforestry crops

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  ICAR-Directorate of Mushroom Research

  • Himachal Pradesh, India

  • Research Associate

    • Oct 2001 - Oct 2003
    • Himachal Pradesh, India

    • Lead a project within the breeding program• Lead and support field and greenhouse work such as sowing, transplanting, harvesting, seed inventory management, and molecular marker sampling. • Involved in Trial data collection activities• Assist with the organization of pathology and molecular marker tests• Assist with domestic and international seed shipments• Collect, enter, and analyze experimental data• Database management using plant breeding database

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  ICAR- Indian Grassland & Fodder Research Institute

  • Himachal Pradesh, India

  • Research Associate

    • Jan 2001 - Oct 2001
    • Himachal Pradesh, India

    • In collaboration with the respective Breeders, assist in inspecting and evaluating trial programs of both on the station and off station trials. • Perform evaluations of 2nd screenings with respective Product Specialist as needed. • Estimate needed labor resources for sowing, thinning, and harvest of trial programs and coordinate with facility management. • Ensure that relevant breeding information is maintained in the applicable database/software. Information includes but is not limited to results of physical, marker, and disease tests. • Keep knowledge on breeding database systems current, through ongoing training. • Train and transfer knowledge of using database systems and data collection to technicians. • Plan and organize the work of the Technicians and contract labor. • Proactively look for ways to bring efficiencies in managing labor resources, resulting in cost containment. • Review and approve time cards of Technicians in a timely manner using the HR timekeeping system, under the responsibility of the (Sr.) Breeder or Crop Breeding Scientist.