Academic awarded top Indian government fellowship

Professor Rattan Yadav

An Aberystwyth genetics expert has received a prestigious fellowship from an Indian Government agency.

Professor Rattan Yadav, who is an expert in plant genetics, has received the honour from the Indian Government’s Science and Engineering Research Board.

The SERB-VAJRA scheme is designed to recognise the value of international collaborative research in solving complex problems.

It was developed exclusively for overseas scientists and academics to work for up to three months in a year at a hosting Indian public-funded academic or research institution.

Professor Yadav is an elected Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales and holds a personal chair at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth University.

Since 1996, the world-leading academic has been working on developing the crop pearl millet which is a naturally drought resistant nutri-cereal that is a staple in many African countries, as well as in India and South Asia.

The fellowship will also allow scientists, students and fellows from India to visit Aberystwyth University.

Professor Yadav from Aberystwyth University said:

"It is a personal privilege for me to receive this fellowship, and it is fantastic for the University to be part of the scheme. International collaboration is vitally important so that we are able to tackle the global challenges of our time. Developing crops that can withstand climate change and also possess nutritional traits that can help combat diet related illnesses, such as type-2 diabetes and obesity, are extremely important. This is particularly the case at a time when the world’s population is rising, and diet related illnesses are increasing at an alarming rate.

“I am really looking forward to all the opportunities for us in Aberystwyth and in India to take advantage of as we exchange ideas and skills over the coming years."        

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