Dr. Pankaj Bhardwaj
Assistant Professor
Centre for Botany
School of Basic and Applied Sciences
Central University of Punjab
Bathinda- 151001
Email Id: pankajbhardwaj@cup.edu.in, pankajihbt@gmail.com
Mobile: +91 9501686709

 

Education :

Degree	University	Year	Subjects
Ph.D.	CSIR-IHBT, Palampur /Panjab University, Chandigarh	2011	Biotechnology/ Plant Genetics and Genomics
M.Sc.	Bangalore University, Bangalore	2003	Biotechnology
B.Sc.	Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla	2001	Biotechnology

Experience :

Institute	Position	Period
Central University of Punjab	Assistant Professor	May 2011 - Current

Citations of Research Publications :

My research publications have been cited 400 times with h-index of 9 and i10-index of 9 (Source: Google Scholar July 13, 2020). Total Impact Factor =65.339.

• Molecular Genetics and Genomics
• Adaptation of plant species to extreme environment.
• Climate Change and its effect on species survival.

1. Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, Young Scientist Award 2012.
2. CSIR Senior Research Fellowship.
3. CSIR-UGC National Eligibility Test.
4. Travel assistance award for Plant and Animal Genome XVIII conference at California, USA from CSIR and DBT.

Reviewer of many leading international reputed journals i.e. Journal of Experimental Botany, Gene, Genomics, Industrial Crops and products to name a few.

1. Comprehensive temporal reprogramming ensures dynamicity of transcriptomic profile for adaptive response in Taxus contorta. Aasim Majeed, Amandeep Singh, Ram Kumar Sharma, Vikas Jaitak, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Molecular Genetics and Genomics (2020). doi: 10.1007/s00438-020-01709-2 [Impact Factor (IF)= 2.79]
2. Elucidation of genetic diversity base in Calotropis procera- a potentially emerging new fiber resource. Aasim Majeed, Bhawana Goel, Vandana Mishra, Ravinder Kohli, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Plant Genetic Resources (2020). doi:10.1017/S1479262120000167. (In Press) [IF= 0.869]
3. Selection constraints determine preference for A/U-ending codons in Taxus contorta. Aasim Majeed, Harpreet Kaur, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Genome (2020) 63 (4), 215-224. [IF= 2.15]
4. Adaptability of Rhododendrons at high altitude habitats. Sapna Thakur, Shruti Choudhary, Aasim Majeed, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Journal of Forestry Research (2020). doi:10.1007/s11676-019-01081-x [IF= 1.68]
5. Comparative transcriptome profiling reveals the reprogramming of gene networks under arsenic stress in Indian mustard. Sapna Thakur, Shruti Choudhary, Preeti Dudey, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Genome (2019), 62 (12): 833-847. [IF= 2.15]
6. Insights into the molecular mechanism of arsenic phytoremediation. Sapna Thakur, Shruti Choudhary, Aasim Majeed, Amandeep Singh, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation (2020) 39, 532–543. Highlighted on the cover page [IF= 2.67]
7. Transcriptome characterization and development of functional polymorphic SSR marker resource for Himalayan endangered species, Taxus contorta (Griff). Aasim Majeed, Aman Singh, Shruti Choudhary, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Industrial Crops & Products (2019) 140: 111600. [IF= 4.24]
8. Molecular basis of transitivity in plant RNA silencing. Shruti Choudhary, Sapna Thakur, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Molecular Biology Reports (2019), 46: 4645-4660. [IF= 1.40]
9. Pseudomonas citronellolis; a multi-metal resistant and potential plant growth promoter against arsenic (V) stress in chickpea. Arindam Adhikary, Rajiv Kumar, Ranjna Pandir, Pankaj Bhardwaj, Ramakrishna Wusirika, Sanjeev Kumar. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry (2019), 142: 179-192. [IF= 3.72]
10. Comparative transcriptome profiling under cadmium stress reveals the uptake and tolerance mechanism in Brassica juncea. Sapna Thakur, Shruti Choudhary, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation (2019), 38: 1141-1152. [IF= 2.67]
11. Gene and metabolite profiling reveals flowering and survival strategies in Himalayan Rhododendron arboreum. Shruti Choudhary, Sapna Thakur, Vikas Jaitak, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Gene (2019), 690: 1-10. [IF= 2.98]
12. RNAseq-based phylogenetic reconstruction of Taxaceae and Cephalotaxaceae. Aasim Majeed, Aman Singh, Shruti Choudhary, Pankaj Bhardwaj.  Cladistics (2019), 35:461-468. [IF= 4.72]
13. Exploring microRNA profiles for circadian clock and flowering development regulation in Himalayan Rhododendron. Shruti Choudhary, Sapna Thakur, Aasim Majeed, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Genomics (2019), 111:1456-1463. [IF= 6.20]
14. Transcriptome characterization and screening of molecular markers in ecologically important Himalayan species (Rhododendron arboreum). Shruti Choudhary, Sapna Thakur , Raoof Ahmad Najar , Aseem Majid, Aman Singh, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Genome (2018), 61:417-428. [IF= 2.15]
15. Development and characterization of genomic microsatellite markers in Prosopis cineraria. Shashi Shekhar Anand, Sapna Thakur, Madhuranjana Gargi, Shruti Choudhary, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Current Plant Biology (2017), 9-10: 37-42. [IF= 3.7]
16. Development and characterization of genomic microsatellite markers in Tinospora cordifolia. Madhuranjanai Gargi, Sapna Thakur, Shashi Shekhar Anand, Shruti Choudhary, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Journal of Genetics, (2016). 96:e25-e30. [IF= 1.00]
17. Genetic diversity and population structure of Melia azedarach in North-Western Plains of India. Sapna Thakur, Shruti Choudhary, Amandeep Singh, Kamal Ahmad,  Gagan Sharma, Aasim Majeed, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Trees (2016), 30: 1483-1484. [IF= 2.12]
18. Identification and cross-species amplification of microsatellite markers derived from expressed sequence data of rose species. Sharma, R.,K., Chaudhary A., Sharma H.,  Bhardwaj P.,  Sharma V., Kumar R.,  Ahuja P.,S., Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology (2015), 24: 359-364. [IF= 0.77]
19. Development and characterization of genomic microsatellite markers in Rhododendron arboreum. Shruti Choudhary, Sapna Thakur, Ram Gopal Saini and Pankaj Bhardwaj. Conservation Genetics Resources (2014), 6: 937-940. [IF= 1.10]
20. SSR marker based DNA fingerprinting and diversity assessment in superior tea germplasm cultivated in western Himalaya. Pankaj Bhardwaj, Ram Kumar Sharma, Rahul Kumar, Himanshu Sharma, Paramvir Singh Ahuja. Proceedings of Indian National Science Academy (2014), 80: 157-162.
21. Development and utilization of genomic and genic microsatellite markers in Assam tea (Camellia assamica spp. Assamica) and related Camellia species. Pankaj Bhardwaj, Rahul Kumar, Himanshu Sharma, Rupinder Tewari, Paramvir Singh Ahuja and Ram Kumar Sharma. Plant Breeding (2013), 132: 748-763. [IF= 1.66]
22. India Hybrid Tea - an extraordinarily important event in the rapid origin and evolution, and widespread expansion of modern commercial tea - genetic structure and diversity among 1644 accessions and clones inferred by AFLP markers. Samoor Nath Raina, Paramvir Singh Ahuja, Ram Kumar Sharma, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Genetic Resource and Crop Evolution (2012), 59: 1527-1541. [IF= 1.07]
23. Identification and Characterization of 20 novel unigene derived microsatellite markers in Podophyllum hexandrum. Akshay Kumar, Pankaj Bhardwaj, Ram Kumar Sharma. Journal of Genetics (2012), 92:e2-e4. [IF= 1.00]
24. Identification and cross species transferability of 112 novel unigene derived microsatellite markers in tea (Camellia sinensis L). Himanshu Sharma, Rahul Kumar, Vikas Sharma, Vishal Kumar, Pankaj Bhardwaj, Paramvir Singh Ahuja and Ram Kumar Sharma. American Journal of Botany (2011), 10.3732/ajb.1000525. [IF= 3.03]
25. Quantitative trait loci mapping for yield in tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze). Samson Kamunya, Ram Kumar Sharma, Richard Korir, Vikas Sharma, Rahul Kumar, Pankaj Bhardwaj, Richard Chalo, Parmvir Singh Ahuja. Tree Genetics and Genome (2010), 6: 915-929. [IF= 2.08]
26. Identification, characterization and utilization of unigene derived microsatellite markers in tea (Camellia sinensis, L). Ram Kumar Sharma, Pankaj Bhardwaj, Renu Negi, Trilochan Mohapatra and Paramvir Singh Ahuja. BMC Plant Biology (2009), 9: 53. [IF= 3.49]
27. AFLP based genetic diversity assessment of commercially important tea germplasm in India. Ram Kumar Sharma, Madan Singh Negi, Satish Sharma, Pankaj Bhardwaj and Paramvir Singh Ahuja. Biochemical Genetics (2009), 48:549–564. [IF= 2.02]
28. Identification and cross-species amplification of EST derived SSR markers in different bamboo species. Vikas Sharma, Pankaj Bhardwaj, Rahul Kumar, Ram Kumar Sharma, Anil Sood, Paramvir Singh Ahuja. Conservation Genetics (2008), 10:721-724. [IF= 1.91]

S. No	Title of Project	Funding Agency	Grant Received	As PI or Co PI
1.	Genetic diversity assessment of highly endangered species Taxus wallichiana and Ulmus wallichiana by DNA markers and geospatial technologies for effective conservation strategies	MoEF, GOI	35 Lakhs	PI
2.	Analysis of genetic variations and structure of Rhododendron, a Rare and endangered tree species in western Himalaya. (Completed)	SERB, GOI	17 Lakhs	PI
3.	Development and characterization of simple sequence repeat markers providing genome wide coverage and high resolution in Rhododendron arboreum. (Completed)	UGC-BSR	6 Lakhs	PI
4.	Transcriptomic investigations of active gene networks in hyper-accumulator plant species in response to heavy metal toxicity.	CSIR-India	25 Lakhs	PI
5.	Transcriptome characterization in Rhododendron arboreum(Completed)	CUPB	3 Lakhs	PI

Ongoing ( 4)

1. Aasim Majeed (CSIR JRF)
2. Amandeep Singh (Project JRF)
3. Hari Shankar Gadri (UGC JRF)
4. Vikas Sharma (CSIR JRF)

Completed:

S. No.	Name	Current Affiliation
1.	Shruti Chaudhary	Post Doc. Fellow, Dept. of Ecology, University of  Lunds, Sweden
2.	Sapna Thakur	Research Associate, Dept. of Biotechnology, CSIR-IHBT, Palampur

M.Sc. Students
Year 2020
Ms. Josepheena Joseph, Amitozdeep kaur, Sreemoyee Das
Year 2019
Priyanka Padhi, Harpreet Kaur, Saba Anwar, Chaudhari Aniket Anant
Year 2018
Bhawana, Harpreet Kaur.
Year 2017
Vandana, Diksha Bisht, Souradeep Banerjee
Year 2016
Damini Nayital, Jagpreet D. Brar, Preeti Dubey, Avinash Kumar.
Year 2014
Shashi Shekhar Anand, Harmeet Kaur, Gaganpreet Kaur, Jatinder Kaur, Anju.

1. Aasim Majeed, Raoof Ahmad Najar, Shruti Chaudhary, Sapna Thakur, Amandeep Singh, and Pankaj Bhardwaj (2017). Biocomposite based on natural fibers: Concept and Biomedical applications. Chapter 3. In. Biocomposites: Biomedical and Environmental Applications. Editors: Shakeel Ahmad, Saiqa Ikram, Suvardhan Kanchi and Krishna Bissety. Pan Stanford Publishing Pte Ltd.
2. Raoof Ahmad Najar, Aasim Majeed, Gagan Sharma, Villayat Ali and Pankaj Bhardwaj. (2017). Biocomposites Based on Natural Fibers: Concept and Biomedical Applications. Chapter 5. In. Biocomposites: Biomedical and Environmental Applications. Editors: Shakeel Ahmad, Saiqa Ikram, Suvardhan Kanchi and Krishna Bissety. Pan Stanford Publishing Pte Ltd.
3. Aasim Majeed, Wahid Ul Rehman, Rauf Ahmad Najar, Shruti Choudhary, Sapna Thakur, Amandeep Singh, Gagan Sharma and Pankaj Bhardwaj. (2017). Starch: A Precise Account covering its Multidimensional aspects. In: Natural Polymers: Derivatives, Blends and Composites, Editors; Saiqa Ikram and Shakeel Ahmad: Volume II, Publisher: Nova Science Publishers, New York. Pp. 37-54
4. Aasim Majeed, Rauf Ahmad Najar, Wahid Ul Rehman, Shruti Choudhary, Sapna Thakur, Amandeep Singh, Gagan Sharma and Pankaj Bhardwaj. (2016). Cellulose: A multifaceted Biopolymer. In: Natural Polymers: Derivatives, Blends and Composites, Editors: Saiqa Ikram and Shakeel Ahmad Volume I, Chapter: 2, Publisher: Nova Science Publishers, New York. pp.23-64.
5. Tea Applied Genomics: utilizing genetic variability and current genomic tools to enhance productivity. R. K. Sharma, P. Bhardwaj, R. Kumar, H. Sharma, P. S. Ahuja Science of Tea Technology, Chapter: Tea Applied Genomics: utilizing genetic variability and current genomic tools to enhance productivity, Editors: P. S. Ahuja, pp.63- 88.

1. Shruti Chaudhary, Sapna Thakur, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Active gene networks in response to arsenic stress in Brassica juncea. Micro and metabolic regulators in plants. EMBO, 01-04 Feb 2017, Trivandrum, India.
2. Sapna Thakur, Shruti Chaudhary, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Transcriptome analysis reveals putative cold-responsive genes in Himalayan Rhododendron. Micro and metabolic regulators in plants. EMBO, 01-04 Feb 2017, Trivandrum, India.
3. Sapna Thakur, Shruti Chaudhary, Pankaj Bhardwaj. Reference-based assembly of arsenic stress and identification of differentially expressed genes. International Seminar on Oilseed Brassica. SIAM & ICAR- Directorate of rapeseed mustard research, Rajasthan, 23-27 Feb, 2017.

Invited talks

1. Influence of Climate and Landscapes on Genetic Diversity, at Workshop “Sanger Sequencing and its application”. Organized by Central instrumentation facility, Central university of Punjab and Thermo Fisher Scientific on 17th Feb, 2017.
2. Effect of climate and landscapes on genetic diversity of Himalayan tree species, at FICCI, National Conference, New Delhi on “Recent trends in Environmental Pollution and Disaster Risk Reduction” on Feb 7th, 2020.

Molecular Genetics and Genomics (2020). doi: 10.1007/s00438-020-01709-2

Gene (2019), 690: 1-10.

Transcriptomic investigations of active gene networks in hyper-accumulator plant species in response to heavy metal toxicity

Genome (2019), 62 (12): 833-847,
Journal of Plant Growth Regulation (2020) 39, 532–543.
Journal of Plant Growth Regulation (2019), 38: 1141-1152