SRINAGAR: Saika Bashir, a PhD scholar at the Division of Plant Biotechnology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), under the mentorship of Dr. Sajad Majeed Zargar, Associate Professor, has been selected for the prestigious 2025 Indo-Japan Talented Youths in Science Programme (LOTUS Fellowship), supported by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).
As part of this fellowship, Saika will conduct advanced research at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, under the guidance of Prof. Kenji Miura, a renowned expert in plant molecular biology. Her research will focus on the functional characterization of key enzymes involved in rutin biosynthesis in buckwheat, utilizing high-efficiency transient expression systems, subcellular localization techniques, and pathway gene validation.
Additionally, Dr. Sajad Majeed Zargar, the Indian Principal Investigator, will visit the University of Tsukuba for one month to strengthen ongoing collaborations and coordinate joint research activities between the two institutions.
This fellowship will provide Saika with valuable technical training and international exposure, further enhancing the research partnership between SKUAST-K and the University of Tsukuba in the field of crop omics. Dr. Zargar’s research on buckwheat has been published in several prestigious journals and recently highlighted by the Crop Science Society of America (CSA) News on social media.
Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-K, commended Dr. Zargar for this collaborative initiative, which elevates the university’s global outlook and promotes international learning and innovation among students.