MAHENDERGARH, 17.11.25-A three-day national workshop titled “Empowering Beginners: Hands-on Training in Plant Genome Editing Tools” commenced today at the Central University of Haryana (CUH), Mahendergarh. The program is jointly organised by the Department of Biotechnology and the Research Development Cell (RDC). The workshop was inaugurated with the blessings of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tankeshwar Kumar, who emphasised the importance of genome-editing technologies in shaping the future of agricultural biotechnology and sustainable crop improvement.
A total of 30 students from across India, including Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Haryana, have been selected to participate in this highly specialised training program. The overwhelming national participation reflects the rising interest of young researchers in cutting-edge molecular breeding and genome engineering tools.
The inaugural session was graced by senior university officials, including Dean Research Prof. Neelam S. Sangwan, the Convener of the program, who welcomed the participants and encouraged them to make the most of the hands-on training opportunities. Prof. Sangwan also guided the students about the structure and expectations of the workshop.
The Organising Secretary, Prof. Rupesh Deshmukh, along with his research team, introduced the workflow planned for the upcoming three days. The biotechnology laboratory at CUH, known for its active research in plant genome editing, will host intensive hands-on sessions where participants will learn practical applications of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technique.
Dr. Humira Sonah, along with the research scholars from the genome editing group, will train the participants on experimental design, gRNA selection, vector construction, transformation strategies, and analysis of edited plant tissues. Faculty members Dr Ravi Kumar and Dr Neelam Yadav also contributed to the inaugural session. The workshop aims to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical expertise, empowering beginners to utilize genome editing tools in real research scenarios. The inaugural day concluded with enthusiasm and high expectations as students prepared to begin laboratory sessions guided by experienced faculty and researchers. The workshop will continue until 19th November 2025, offering young scientists a unique national-level platform to build their foundational skills in modern crop genome engineering.