Priti Krishna
Distinguished Professor, School of Health Science & Technology and the Himalayan Institute for Learning & Leadership (HILL), UPES
Profile Summary
Professor Priti Krishna is an internationally recognised scientist, listed among the world’s top 2% scientists. She has an outstanding interdisciplinary academic background spanning Microbiology (M.Sc.), Biochemistry (Ph.D., Canada), postdoctoral training in the USA, Plant Molecular Biology, and Sustainable Agriculture. With more than three decades of academic leadership across Canada and Australia, she has built a distinguished record of pioneering research, innovation, and institutional development.
She has held continuous NSERC Discovery Grants throughout her academic career in Canada and participated in major collaborative projects funded by the Networks of Centres of Excellence, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Ontario Research Fund, and the Future Food Systems Cooperative Research Centre in Australia.
Her most impactful research contributions include establishing the role of brassinosteroids in stress tolerance, characterising the Heat Shock Protein 90 (Hsp90) chaperone complex in plant disease resistance, and supporting the development of Ontario’s nutraceutical sea buckthorn industry through research.
Work Experience
After two years of postdoctoral research in the USA, Prof. Krishna built a 20-year academic career at Western University, Canada, where she was promoted to Full Professor in 2005 and now holds the title of Professor Emeritus.
From 2012 onward, she continued her academic journey in Australia, serving as the Foundation Chair in Sustainable Agriculture at Western Sydney University until 2023. Prior to joining UPES, she also served in senior leadership roles including Dean of Life Sciences, Vice President International, and Head of Research at institutions in India and Australia.
Research Interests
Protein-DNA Interactions, Protein-Protein Interactions, Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Stress Tolerance, Hormone Biology, Omics Technologies, Functional Foods, Biotechnology Regulation, Sustainable Agriculture Systems and Practices.
Teaching Philosophy
Prof. Krishna believes that students of today should be deeply engaged with the global challenges of climate change, food security, sustainability, and socio-economic resilience. Alongside building strong disciplinary foundations, she emphasizes empowering students to innovate and lead technological and sustainability transitions across sectors.
She advocates for multidisciplinary teaching, strong partnerships with industry and community stakeholders, and exposure to global perspectives that help students become effective problem-solvers and future leaders.
Awards and Grants
- Listed in Stanford University’s Top 2% Scientists in the World
- Vincent Fairfax Foundation Chair in Sustainable Agriculture, Western Sydney University, Australia
- NSERC Faculty Award, Western University, Canada
- DAAD Award, Federal Republic of Germany
- Plant Molecular Genetics Institute Award, University of Minnesota, USA
Her research has been funded by NSERC, OMAFRA, AAFC, ORF, Australian CRDC, FFS-CRC, and various university and industry sources in Canada and Australia.
Courses Taught
Microbiology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Plant Biology, Gene Regulation, Genetic Engineering, Hormone Signalling, Plant Structure and Development, Cell Biology and Metabolism, Sustainable Food Production, Sustainable Agriculture, and related interdisciplinary subjects.
Scholarly Activities
Prof. Krishna has served on numerous academic and governance committees at Canadian and Australian universities, including the Senate Review Board Academic at Western University. At Western Sydney University, she served as Program Leader for International Engagement, Global Centre for Land-Based Innovation, and Industry Engagement Leader at the National Vegetable Protected Cropping Centre.
She has reviewed extensively for leading journals such as EMBO Journal, PNAS, and Plant Cell, as well as for major funding agencies including NSF, DOE, NSERC, CIHR, and AISRF. She has served as Senior Director of the Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists and continues editorial responsibilities for journals such as Scientific Reports, Agronomy, and Frontiers in Agronomy.
She has supervised numerous Ph.D., M.Sc., undergraduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research staff, while leading curriculum renewal and programme development in Sustainable Agriculture.
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