CV

RAJKUMAR RATHINAVELU

Dr. Rajkumar Rathinavelu

SUMMARY

Innovative Principal Scientist with 25 years of experience in crop and technology development, specializing in plant breeding and genetics. Pioneered advanced genomics and AI analytics to enhance agricultural productivity, achieving significant growth in crop yield. Seeking to leverage deep expertise in automation and image analytics to drive advancements in agricultural sciences through cutting-edge research and development.

EXPERIENCE

Life Science & Technology Center, ITC Ltd, IN India

Principal Scientist in Crop & Technology Development

April 2015 - Present

• Led research 7 programs on accelerated tree improvement and allied technology in East and Southern India in the area of smart invitro / In vivo Gene Bank maintenance and use, deployment of translational genomics and bioinformatics resources, trait engineering, molecular biology, association mapping-based trait association, risk management for biotic and abiotic stress, seed systems and capability building.    
• Led bioinformatics platform involving, predictive analytics; deep mining; AI analytics; data modelling; Images and Text; Satellite Imaging; LLMs/NLPs for more than 10 full stack applications.
• Proven Leadership in release of more than 3 outperforming varieties in Casuarina (30% yield improvement), Corymbia (Global first) and implemented various Farmers' friendly Technology.

Life Science & Technology Center, ITC Ltd, IN Bangalore, India

Domain Head – Genomics & Bioinformatics

March 2008 - Present

• Directed multidisciplinary teams to streamline computational genomics pipelines, integrating high-throughput data analysis frameworks and facilitating impactful scientific publications.
• Developed various full-stack applications, used by Agri / Biosciences scientists and farmers.
• At Farmers' level various technologies / Mobile Apps implemented, utilizing AI analytics and Satellite imaging.

Life Science & Technology Center, ITC Ltd, IN India

Senior Lead Scientist – Genomics and Predictive Breeding

September 2010 - April 2015

• Proven leadership and deployed high-throughput bioinformatics platforms including AI analytics, satellite imaging, data modelling, and deep mining of images and text to enhance decision-making and project delivery in agricultural projects addressing climate change.
• Directed a 5-year, cross-continental initiative integrating agricultural science with next-generation sequencing and advanced phenotyping tools to improve crop yield prediction accuracy by 30% across 400+ field trials, aligning data management with FAIR principles and industry-leading ERP systems.
• Managed annual evaluation and dissemination of research outputs from 60+ multinational collaborative field studies over 5 years, utilizing Illumina sequencing, drone-based phenomics, and automated reporting to drive a 40% increase in peer-reviewed publications and data sharing KPIs.

University of Trieste (UNITS), Italy Trieste, Italy

Developer and Administrator of CoffeeDNA: A comprehensive database on coffee genomics

May 2002 - November 2012

• Developed EST based SSR markers for a various breeding applications using molecular Genomics & plant biology techniques.
• Designed and maintained a relational database leveraging open-source technologies and curation of high-throughput coffee genomic data for academic research collaborations, globally known for reach among the coffee researchers.

International Coffee Genome Network (ICGN) France

Co-ordinator – Bioinformatics (WG-6)

May 2004 - November 2010

• Coordinated Coffea canephora genome sequencing among scientists and bioinformaticians globally to streamline data management processes during project.
• Data from CoffeeDNA (a self-developed web service), merged into ICGN coffee database and later to Phytome.
• Demonstrated team leadership and team management across Italy (UNITS) and France (CIRAD) Team for the implementation of C. canephora genome sequencing and analytics.

University of North Carolina (UNC), USA Chapel Hill, USA

Computational Biologist

May 2006 - December 2007

• Integration of physical and genetic mapping: Involved in developing an integrated physical and genetic map of Mimulus, Tobacco and Eucalyptus.
• Microsynteny analysis between Mimulus and Arabidopsis to demonstrate the synteny/genome wide variability in Mimulus. The synteny analysis involves development of complex pipelines, annotation, BLAST, genome wide alignment, synteny analysis etc.

University of Trieste (UNITS), Italy

Post-doctoral Bioinformatics

September 2022 - May 2006

• Created CoffeeDNA: A comprehensive database for Coffee Genomics, globally known for coffee specific genomic resources.

International Center for Science and High Technology (ICS-UNIDO), Italy Italy

Fellow, Bioinformatics

May 2005 - May 2006

• Formulated comprehensive genomic databases by curating, standardizing, and integrating diverse molecular marker datasets, furnishing researchers with robust resources for comparative genomics and breeding strategy refinement.

International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Trieste, Italy ITALY

ICTP - Fellow

May 2004 - May 2005

• Formulated comprehensive genomic databases by curating, standardizing, and integrating diverse molecular marker datasets, furnishing researchers with robust resources for comparative genomics and breeding strategy refinement.
• Demonstrated excellence in proposal writing, achieved project sanctions, created a Medicinal and Aromatic database from African countries to help catalogue the biodiversity.

Centre for Cellular and Molecular biology (CCMB), IN India

Post Doctoral Fellow - Molecular Biology

January 2000 - September 2002

• DNA Fingerprinting of Rice and Coffee Germplasm: Actively involved in f-AFLP based DNA fingerprinting of Indian ‘Basmati’ rice types as a result of which the elite Basmati variety, protected under ‘IPR protection Act’.
• Involved in Indian coffee germplasm typing, which involves fingerprinting of large Indian coffee germplasm through various molecular markers, sequencing and analysis.
• Development of markers: Actively developed various markers systems including genome wise SSRs, EPICs, COSs, SNPs, DArTs in Eucalyptus/Tobacco/Coffee/Casuarina/Corymbia. The validated markers, used in various breeding pipelines.
• Engineered high-throughput genotyping workflows using advanced molecular techniques, supporting large-scale quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and accelerating trait discovery in plant populations.

Centre for Plant Molecular Biology (CPMB), TNAU, IN

Senior Research Fellow

June 1999 - January 2000

• Development of molecular linkage map in Rice (Oryza sativa) for drought tolerance.
• Conducted field trials across 5 drylands sites over 18 months, utilizing SSR marker analysis to assess drought-responsive genotypes and increased yield selection accuracy by 27% compared to control groups.

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India India

Fellow - ICFRE Forest College and Research Institute (FCRI)

June 1996 - June 1999

• Micropropagation and molecular characterization of Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus).
• Conducted participatory field studies with smallholder farmers over a 12-month period, utilizing AFLP / SSR genotyping and stakeholder interviews to assess adoption barriers and sustainable propagation practices for Red Sanders, enabling data-driven extension recommendations to 50+ local growers.
• Partnered with interdisciplinary teams for 8 field workshops and laboratory data sessions using ArcGIS and R, fostering a collaborative research approach that improved protocol adoption rate among stakeholders by 25% within the project year.

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India India

Fellow - ICAR Centre for Advanced Studies in Plant Breeding and Genetics (CPBG)

June 1994 - June 1996

• Project: Investigation on twin seedlings for exploitation of apomixis in Rice (Oryza sativa).

EDUCATION

Ph. D - Genetics and Plant Breeding IN

Minor in Cytology • Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India • 96.3% (OGPA: 96.3 / 10) 1999

• ICFRE-GOI Senior Research Fellow Award – by Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, India - 1996
• Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Award (Gold Medal) –Best student in Plant Breeding and Genetics – by Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India – 1999
• Dr. R. Appadurai Award (Gold Medal) – Best student in Population Genetics and Biometrics – by Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India – 1999
• Dr. K. Ramiah Award – (Gold Medal)- Best student in Plant Breeding and Genetics – by Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India – 1999
• Dr. Mercy Ponnaiah Award and B.W.X. Ponnaiah Award (Gold Medal) - Best Research Worker in Plant breeding and Genetics – by Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India – 1999

INVOLVEMENT

Life Science and Technology Center India

DRO (Divisional Risk Officer) - Corporate

April 2022 - Present

• Resource mobilization in the development and execution of risk management processes within the division and Life Science and Technology Center.
• Seamless adhering to corporate governance and mitigation protocols through adoption of ISO 31000 standards.

Life Science and Technology Center India

EpiGenetic Platform

April 2020 - Present

• Having the difficulties in Indian regulatory, demonstrated strategic thinking by a an new breeding (Epi (Epigenetics),entices), Team managed, and established the SOPs for sustainable execution and strategized the business translation of outcome and impact.
• Epigenetics Trails demonstrated more than 40% yield improvement and in place for business demonstration.

Life Science and Technology Center India

Abiotic risk Management Facility

April 2019 - Present

• Established Crop Protection facility and Pipelines with necessary team building, which ensured the business risk management in Tree Crops such as Eucalyptus, Casuarina, Corymbia and Subabul.

Cross divisional - Life Science and Technology Center (LSTC) and Paper Boards & Specialty Paper division (PSPD) PSPD division, ITC Limited, India

Lead - Translational Research and Stakeholder management

April 2021 - July 2023

• Established Translation Center for seamless integration of research outcome.
• Involved in Translational Research of Varietal Release and Technology Implementation with interpersonal skills and relationship building.
• Strategized research programs and established metrics based the translation success as per the stakeholder engagement, communication skills and leadership qualities and stakeholder management.

Life Science and Technology Center India

Corporate EHS coordinator,

April 2014 - April 2018

• Coordinated Corporate EHS (Environmental Health and Safety) for the seamless integration and practices.
• Audited both by internal and external team as per the ISO 14001 standards with zero non-conformity throughout the period.

Life Science and Technology Center India

Lead Project Manager - Genome Sequencing

January 2009 - November 2015

• Deep sequenced 4.2GB of Nicotiana tabacum Genome using BAC approach and set up the Genome and comprehensive genome browser for application in Trait improvement.
• Sequenced Casuarina, Corymbia (DArT) for used for Association mapping and achievement-oriented.

AWARDS & HONORS

1. S2.0 Excellence Award in Decarbonization by ITC SUSTAINEXT'24

ITC Limited - Nation-wide • 2024

Released fast growing varieties that are (a) Incremental 2.3L million tons of CO2 sequestered over 4 years ; (b) varieties with highest water use efficiency of 785 Lit /kg of biomass; (c) Additional annual income of Rs.18000 (eucalyptus) & Rs.60000 (Casuarina; (d) Scalable and sustainable.

1. Plantation SHIVIR Award (By Plantation Board, Govt of India)

Coffee Board, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt of India. • 2024

• Awarded for the various contributions and Member in Research Advisory Board in Coffee Board, Ministry of Commerce, Govt of India.
• Sustained RAC (Research Advisory Committee member) of Coffee Board, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India.

1. LSTC - PRIDE Award 2023, Life Science and Technology Center
2. Life Science and Technology Center, ITC Limited • 2023

• Excellence Award for new model for Carbon sequestration through release and distribution of high yielding varieties.

1. CII national Award for Environmental Best practices
2. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) • 2021

• National Excellence award for Novel Planting Geometry for improved CO2 sequestration.

1. LSTC - PRIDE Award 2021, Life Science and Technology Center
2. Life Science and Technology Center, ITC Limited • 2021

• Excellence Award for reverse engineering of Transgressive Segregants"
• The analytics released a variety, commonly called by farmers as "Jumbo" - ITC2325

1. ICS-UNIDO Fellow Grant
2. International Centre for Science and High Technology, Trieste, Italy • 2004

• One of the Unique awards joints by European Commission and UNIDO

1. ICTP Fellow Grant

Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy • 2002

• Awarded based on the best research project

1. Dr. M.S. Swaminathan Award (Gold Medal)

Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India • 1999

• Gold medal awarded for Best student in Plant Breeding and Genetics

1. Dr. R. Appadurai Award (Gold Medal)

Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India • 1999

• Gold medal awarded for topper in university 1996

1. Dr. K. Ramiah Award – (Gold Medal)

Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India • 1999

• Gold medal Awarded for topper in Biometrics

1. Dr. Mercy Ponnaiah Award and B.W.X. Ponnaiah Award (Gold Medal)

Centre for Plant Breeding and Genetics, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India • 1999

• Gold medal awarded for Best Research Worker in Plant breeding and Genetics

1. ICFRE-GOI Senior Research Fellow Award

Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, India • 1996

• National Level competitive Exam based award

1. Outstanding Science Exhibit Award

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India • 1995

• Most futuristic creative idea

1. Junior research Fellow Award

Indian council of Agricultural Research, India • 1994

• Award based on national level competitive exam

PUBLICATIONS

Refer Google Scholar

Journals and conferences

• In the last 20 years, published more than 51 high-impact publications in peer reviewed journals and Conferences, spanning Theoretical applied Genetics, Genome, Mol. Ecology, BMC genomics, Crop Sci and Biotech and Pure and Appl. Sciences.

SKILLS

1. Genetics and Plant Breeding, Translational Research, Bridging Genomics to Phenomics in Plants for trait enhancement; Genome sequencing, DArT systems, Project Management, collaboration, Translational Research.
2. Predictive analytics; Deep mining; AI analytics; Data modelling; Deep mining of Images and Text; Satellite Imaging; LLMs/NLPs
3. GUI, Server-Side Scripting, DB schema, Bioinformatics pipelines, Annotation, Curation, Synteny analysis, Gene finding, Systematics, Server-side scripting.