Autore: Jitendra K. Thakur

Dr. Jitendra K. Thakur graduated with Physics and Chemistry from Christian degree college, Lucknow. He did his Masters in Biotechnology from Goa University, Goa, and joined University of Delhi South Campus for M.Phil (Plant Molecular biology) and Ph.D. During Ph.D, he discovered and characterized auxin-induced genes in rice and demonstrated their feed-back regulation by auxins. He also demonstrated the nuclear localization of Osi EZ1 (a polycomb group protein in rice) and its importance in growth and development of rice seedlings. During his postdoctoral training in Dr. Anders Naar lab at MGH Cancer Center/Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA, he characterized nuclear receptor like transcription factors in yeast and other fungi. Before this nuclear receptors were believed to be confined to metazoans only. Furthermore, he showed that one nuclear receptor like protein, Pdr1p in Candida glabrata, and its interaction with the Mediator subunit Gal11p, can be targeted for co-therapeutic purpose. Currently, he is working as a Scientist in National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), New Delhi, where his lab is working on different biochemical and functional aspects of Plant Mediator complex and epigenetic regulation of gene expression in plants. Recently, group of Dr. Thakur characterized the family of KIX domain proteins in plants and showed their probable importance in rice seed development. Dr. Thakur has presented his work at several national and international conferences. His work has been published in reputed peer-reviewed international journals including Nature, JBC, and Genes & Development. For his scientific contributions, he has been bestowed with several national and international awards and fellowships including INSA Young Scientist Award, DBT’s Innovative Young Biologist Award, Keystone Fellowship, IUPTC&B Fellowship, and Fellowship for Medical Discovery (FMD). Dr. J.N. Govil (B. 1945): Obtained his Masters and Doctorate degrees from Agra University, Agra, India. In his career span of 41 years research experience at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, Dr.Govil has been involved in the breeding of cross-pollinated, often crosspollinated and self-pollinated crops. His research is mainly focussed on breeding for better quality, disease resistance, and for higher productivity in Pennisetum, Sorghum, maize, chickpea, and pigeonpea. Dr. Govil has been well exposed to the international scientific community through various training programmes. He took his training in “Plant exploration and collection techinques” through IBPGR in 1982. He was also awarded the prestigious FAO/IBPGR Fellowship in “Genetic resources, evaluation, and data preparation and management” at the University of Birmingham, UK.In 1983, he made visits to gene banks located in Europe. He also participated in various international seminars and conferences, including “Food and Legume Improvement for Asian Farming Systems” in Thailand in 1986. Dr. Govil is credited with more than ninety research papers in various journals of national and international repute in various aspects of genetics, crop breeding and topics on general agriculture. He has written and edited a number of books on medicinal Plants (2 Vols each of two Titles) and otherbooks with international authors. A new series “Recent Progress in Medicinal Plants” has been published by Studium Press, LLC, USA in 35 volumes under Dr. Govil”s Chief Editorship. Dr. Govil has been Editor-in-Chief of the Journals, New Botanist (An International Journal of Plant Research)and Glimpses in Plant Research, since 1988. He has also guided more than a dozen post-graduate students. Dr. J.N. Govil was actively engaged through his leadership on pigeonpea breeding with special emphasis on “Breeding short duration pigeonpea varieties for improved management and low input conditions.” Through his intensive efforts over the last 20 years, nine varieties of early pigeonpea in arhar-wheat rotation have been released at national level. Dr. Govil retired from ICAR service during the year 2007. Presently, he is working as Publishing Director and Managing Editor with Studium Press LLC, USA and has brought out nearly 300 academic publications during last five years. E-mail: [email protected];[email protected]