Education Qualification
• Ph.D. Entomology (2024)
• M.Sc. Entomology (2019)
• B.Sc. (Hons.) Agriculture (2017)
Designation
Department
Research Area
RESEARCH AREA
Research work done
M.Sc. Thesis Title: Diversity of insect pollinator on potential bee flora in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh
Ph.D. Thesis Title: Mechanism of resistance to Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) in introgressed lines of upland cotton
Research interests
• Bee-keeping
• Palynological studies
• Pollinator diversity studies
• Host plant resistance
• Integrated pest management
Student Research Projects- KKIASR: NIL
General Information
PUBLICATIONS
Research papers
1. Kaur H, Kumar V, Pathak D and Sangha M (2024) Antibiosis mechanism and bases of resistance to the whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) in upland cotton introgression lines. Phytoparasitica 52: 1-22.
2. Kaur H, Sharma S K and Mehta V (2022) Activity of honey bees on Brassica crops in Himachal Pradesh. Indian Journal of Entomology 84: 470-72.
3. Kaur H and Sharma S K (2020) Foraging fidelity of honeybees and abundance of insect visitors on some horticultural crops. International Journal of Chemical Studies 8: 1974-78.
4. Kaur H, Sharma S K and Sharma P C (2019) Palynological study of pollens of some important bee floral plants in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Journal of Agricultural Research 45: 66-75.
AWARD AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Dr. Harsimran's achievements extend beyond her academic and research endeavours. She has received several prestigious awards and recognitions for her outstanding contributions to the field of entomology:
1. Young Entomologist Award (2023): Dr. Harsimran was honoured with the Young Entomologist Award for her remarkable contributions to the field of Entomology. The award was presented during the 6th international conference on "Strategies and Challenges in Agricultural and Life Science for Food Security and Sustainable Environment" at Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, recognizes her significant impact and potential as a young researcher in the field.
2. 1st Prize in Paper Presentation (2018): Dr. Harsimran's paper presentation on the ‘Palynological study of pollens of some important bee floral plants in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh’ earned her the first prize at the conference on "Doubling Farmers' Income: Challenges and Strategies" at CSK HPKV, Palampur.
3. Gold Medal in B.Sc. Agriculture Hons. (2017): This acknowledges Dr. Harsimran's academic excellence during her undergraduate studies in agriculture. It reflects her dedication and commitment to her field of study.
Profile
Dr. Harsimran is an exceptional individual with a strong academic background and extensive research experience in Entomology. Her qualifications include a master's degree from CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavdalya, Palampur and a doctorate from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, both prestigious government institutions in India. Her academic achievements are further evidenced by her successful completion of the ASRB-ICAR NET exam in 2021, demonstrating her proficiency and knowledge in the field of entomology. Her research spans various areas within Entomology, including Apiculture, Palynological studies, Pollinator Diversity, Host Plant Resistance and Integrated Pest Management.
During her Ph.D., Dr. Harsimran made a significant contribution to the field by studying novel germplasm of cotton and investigating its resistance against Bemisia tabaci, a major devastating pest. Her work resulted in the identification of four resistant introgression lines, marking the first report of whitefly resistance in that specific germplasm cross. This achievement underscores her expertise in Host Plant Resistance and highlights her capability to make ground breaking discoveries in the field of Entomology. In addition to her doctoral research, Dr. Harsimran conducted valuable studies during her master's degree, particularly focusing on Pollinator Diversity in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Her research efforts led to the report of three new species of pollinators, thus expanding our understanding of pollinator biodiversity in the Kangra region.
Beyond research, Dr. Harsimran actively engages in academic activities, including delivering lectures on various courses such as Fundamentals of Entomology, Principles of Integrated Pest Management and Management of Beneficial Insects. Her passion for teaching and her expertise in laboratory development and beekeeping are evident in her commitment to fostering learning and practical skills development among students. Moreover, she has contributed to the scholarly literature with few research article publications, further solidifying her reputation as a prolific researcher in the field of Entomology. Her dedication, qualifications and teaching abilities make her a valuable asset to GUNI-KKIASR and to the field of entomology as a whole.