Manju Sharma (biologist)

Manju Sharma (born February 1940) is an Indian biologist working at the Indian Institute of Advanced Research in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, where she is also the president and executive director. Some credit her as being the pioneer of biotechnology in India^[1]

Life

Dr. Sharma trained as a Plant Scientists and took first class M.Sc. from Lucknow University (1961), graduating with first rank and receiving the Birbal Sahni Memorial Gold Medal.^[2] After moving to the United States Dr. Sharma worked at Purdue University as a post-doctoral researcher.^[3] Her work on doubling the production of latex through the use of etheral found commercial application in Malaysian rubber plantations. She is the winner of the Borlaug award and several honorary doctorates apart from receiving the Padma Bhushan in 2007.^[4] Following her work at Purdue she was offered a position as a visiting scientist at the Institute of Plant Anatomy and Cytology and the University of Copenhagen. In 1991, Dr. Sharma received the Smt. Chandaben Mohanbhai Patel Industrial Research Award for Women Scientists^[5] (sponsored by VASVIK)She served as president of the National Academy of Sciences, India from 1995-1996 and was the first woman president of the organization.^[6]

References

1. Menon, M.G.K (2004). "Chp 2: Development of New Biology in India: Science and Relevance". In Basu, Sandip K.; Batra, Janendra K.; Salunke, Dinakar M. Deep Roots, Open Skies: New Biology in India.
2. The Shaping of Indian Science. 2003.
3. "Dr. Manju Sharma". Purdue University. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
4. Anonymous. "About the Speaker. IISc Centenary Conference. India - A Knowledge Power: Opportunities and Challenges. December 14, 2008". Indian Institute of Science. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
5. http://www.vasvik.org/Women's_Award.html. Missing or empty |title= (help); External link in |website= (help);
6. "Past Presidents". National Academy of Sciences, India. Retrieved 1 October 2014.