Dr Anusree Saha

Research Group

Plant Physiology and Symbiosis

Biography

I am originally from Calcutta, India, where I completed my bachelor’s degree in Botany. I then moved to the southern part of India and completed my master’s and PhD at the University of Hyderabad. During my PhD, I worked extensively to understand the role of ribosomal protein genes in abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in rice. Following this, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher at NIAB, focusing on understanding the role of Strigolactone in wheat nitrogen responsiveness. In the Luginbuehl group, I will be exploring the molecular mechanisms that allow plants to regulate carbon transfer to mycorrhizal fungi. I will also test whether carbon allocation, and therefore the cost–benefit balance of the symbiosis, can be manipulated by genetic engineering of host plants.

Previous Positions

2023 to 2025 – Postdoctoral Research Associate – Niab, Cambridge, UK

2019 to 2023 – Assistant Professor – Raja Narendra Lal Khan Women’s College, India

Qualifications

2022 – PhD in Plant Molecular Biology – University of Hyderabad, India

2015 – MSc in Plant Biology and Biotechnology – University of Hyderabad, India

2013 – BSc in Botany – Presidency College, Calcutta University, India

Key Publications

'Study on Transcriptional Responses and Identification of Ribosomal Protein Genes for Potential Resistance against Brown Planthopper and Gall Midge Pests in Rice', (2021), Current Genomics.

'Genome-wide identification, transcript profiling and bioinformatic analyses of GRAS transcription factor genes in rice', (2021), Frontiers in Plant Science.

'Gain-of-function mutagenesis through activation tagging identifies XPB2 and SEN1 helicase genes as potential targets for drought stress tolerance in rice', (2021), Theoretical and Applied Genetics.

'Constitutive expression of Ribosomal Protein L6 modulates salt tolerance in rice transgenic plants', (2021), Gene.

'Genome-Wide Identification and Comprehensive Expression Profiling of Ribosomal Protein Small Subunit (RPS) Genes and their Comparative Analysis with the Large Subunit (RPL) Genes in Rice', (2017), Frontiers in Plant Science.

Awards & Fellowships

2017 – Junior Research Fellowship – DBT, India

2016 – Newton Bhabha PhD Placement Fellowship

Teaching

2023 – Michaelmas term supervision for IB Plant and Microbial Sciences – University of Cambridge, UK

2019 to 2023 – Assistant Professor – Raja Narendra Lal Khan Women’s College (Autonomous), India