Dr. R. Samundeswari

Dr. R. Samundeswari is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Crop Physiology at Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. in Plant Physiology, an M.Sc. (Agri.) in Crop Physiology, and a B.Sc. in Agriculture with specialization in Crop Physiology from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. She has qualified the National Eligibility Test conducted by the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board in Crop Physiology in 2017 and 2018. She has 8 years of teaching experience and 13 years of research experience in crop physiology and related areas.

Her research expertise encompasses crop physiology, physiological approaches to crop improvement, abiotic stress management, submergence tolerance, dryland agriculture, and physiological and biochemical responses in crops. Her research contributions include the genetic and physiological improvement of rice variety CO 43 for submergence tolerance, physiological approaches for enhancing the productive potential and nutritive value of small millets under rainfed conditions, identification of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, and studies on physiological changes associated with crop protection treatments. She has also presented research on validation of the Sub1 QTL in rice using key physiological traits and has participated in research and training programmes related to molecular and eco-physiological techniques.

Dr. Samundeswari has published 35 research articles in NAAS-, Scopus- and Web of Science-indexed publications. Her scholarly contributions include research in crop physiology, abiotic stress management, rice submergence tolerance, dryland farming, and related agricultural sciences. She has authored books including Applied Plant Physiology, Smart Agriculture, and Climate-Resilient Farming Systems, and has contributed chapters on plant hormones and growth regulators and stress physiology in plants. Her recognitions include the UGC National Fellowship, Summer Course Fellowship on Sustainable Agricultural Solutions at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Best Poster Presentation Award, Best Researcher Award, Best Women Researcher Award for dryland farming systems, Professor M.S. Swaminathan Award for Agriculture, Dr. Sundaresan Award and Gold Medal for Best Ph.D. Student in Crop Physiology, Best Book Contributor Award, and awards for excellence in reviewing.

She has undertaken several academic, laboratory, accreditation and student-support responsibilities, including NAAC/IQAC, NIRF, AQAR and QS Ranking coordination, ICAR Coaching Coordinator, Mentor, Student Project Coordinator, Discipline Coordinator and Crop Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory In-charge. She has also served as Tissue Culture Laboratory In-charge, IAESTE Coordinator, Culinary Club Unit Coordinator, NSS Unit Coordinator and Newsletter Coordinator. Her professional contributions include coordinating and organizing academic programmes, workshops and conferences, guiding students, and supporting institutional academic and quality-assurance activities. She holds life memberships in the Indian Society of Plant Physiology, Bose Science Society and Valarum Velanmai, along with annual membership in the Madras Agricultural Journal.