Prof. P.V. Vara Prasad
PRAVASI FELLOW, ELECTED 2024

Born in Hyderabad, India on 20 July, 1970. Obtained B.Sc (Agriculture) in 1991 and M.Sc. (Agriculture) in 1993 from Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, India; and Ph.D. (Agriculture) in 1999 from The University of Reading, United Kingdom.

Director, Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab (October 2014 onwards); University Distinguished Professor, Crop Ecophysiology (July 2016 onwards); and R.O. Kruse Endowed Professor of Agriculture (August 2018 to present)

Professor, Crop Ecophysiology, 2013-16; Director, Center for Sorghum Improvement, 2009-15; Associate Professor, Crop Ecophysiology, 2009-13; Assistant Professor, Crop Ecophysiology, Agronomy Department, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA, 2005-09; Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Agronomy, University of Florida, Forida, USA, 2000-15; Research Scholar, Department of Agronomy, Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, India, 1993-95.

Awards/Honours: Distinguished Service Award from Crop Science Society of America (2023); International Crop Science Award from Crop Science Society of America (2023); K.K. Nanda Memorial Lecture Award from Indian Society of Plant Physiology (2023); Lifetime Achievement Poshak Anaj Award from Nutrihub, Indian Institute of Millets (2023); L.R. Ahuja Agricultural Systems Modeling Award from Soil Science Society of America (2022); President of Crop Science Society of America (2021); Irvin E. Youngberg Award from University of Kansas (2017); Martin & Ruth Massengale Lectureship Award from Crop Science Society of America (2017); Distinguished Faculty Award from Gamma Sigma Delta, The Honor Society of Agriculture, Kansas State University (KSU) (2017); Outstanding Scientist Award from Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, KSU (2017); Dr. Ron and Rae Iman Outstanding Faculty Award from KSU (2016); Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award from Commerce Bank and W.T. Kemper Foundation, KSU (2015); Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award from College of Agriculture, KSU (2015); International Educator Award from KSU (2013); Outstanding Agricultural Scientist from Association of Agricultural Scientists of Indian Origin (2013); Outstanding Research Award (2012) and Early Carrer Award (2009) from Gamma Sigma Delta, The Honor Society of Agriculture, KSU.

Fellow: American Society of Agronomy (2014); Crop Science Society of America (2015); American Association for the Advancement of Sciences (2016); Indian Society of Plant Physiology (2022)

Research Areas: Crop Physiology; Climate Change; Abiotic Stresses; Crop Production and Management; Crop Simulation Modeling; Soil Fertility Management; Sustainable Intensification; Farming Systems

Address: Distinguished Professor, Department of Agronomy and Sustainable, Intensification Innovation Lab, College of Agriculture, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, USA; 2028 Skyler Circle, Manhattan, Kansas 66502, USA; [Tel: Off. +1 (785) 532 3746; Res. +1 (785) 537 2547; Email: vara@ksu.edu; vvpagadala@hotmail.com]