About
Dr. Deepika Kandoi Gupta studied Biochemistry at Panjab University, Chandigarh, India, and obtained her postgraduate degree as MSc (Hons) in 2008. She earned her PhD in Biotechnology in 2017 under the guidance of Prof. B C Tripathy at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India, where she subsequently worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the same laboratory.
She is recognized for her expertise in genetic manipulation of plants aimed at enhancing their productivity. In 2018, she represented India at the BRICS Summit organized by the Ministry of South Africa in Durban, South Africa, for her contributions to Indian women in science.
Her research is focused on increasing plant productivity to meet the demands of the global population, projected to reach 9 billion by 2050. With the growing population and the impact of global climate change on food supply, there is an urgent need to improve crop performance, particularly in terms of grain productivity. Rice, a staple food, requires a substantial amount of water for cultivation, receiving a significant portion of the world's irrigation water. To address this challenge, efforts have been made to enhance rice grain productivity and yield potential through genetic engineering.
Dr. Gupta's current work involves the genetic transformation of C3 plants, such as Arabidopsis and rice, into single-cell C4 plants to achieve higher photosynthetic efficiency, reduce water consumption, and enhance tolerance to salinity and drought stress in crops. Converting C3 crops to C4 photosynthesis has the potential to increase yield by 30% while using only half the water. By developing crop plants with enhanced photosynthesis and stress tolerance, Dr. Gupta aims to contribute to global food security and sustainability.