Dr. V.R. Rao
Fellow, Elected 1994

Born in Guntur, Andhara Pradesh on 21 June 1945. Educated at Hindu College, Guntur, 1963-66; M.S. University of Baroda, 1966-68; USSR Academy of Sciences, Institute of Microbiology, Moscow, 1968-74; B.Sc. 1966, M.Sc. 1968, Ph.D. 1974.

Microbiology Assistant, Department of Microbiology, Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal (A.P.) 1969-70; CSIR Pool Officer, 1974-75; Junior Soil Microbiologist, 1975; Senior Scientist, 1976; Principal Scientist, 1982; and Head, Division of Soil Science & Microbiology & I/c Head Crop Production, Central Rice Research Institute Cuttack, 1995-2007.

Awards/Honours: Principal Investigator of ICAR “All India Coordinated Project on Nitrogen Fixation” CRRI Center; Co-Principal Investigator, US-India Funded Project on “Pesticide Biodegradation”;Principal Investigator, DAE, Govt. of India Research Project on Nitrogen fixation in Rice Soils; Principal Investigator Joint FAO/IAEA Funded Research Project on Nitrogen Fixation in Rice Soils; Co-Principal Investigator, NATP Project on “Green House Gas Emissions”, Team of Excellence Member; Co-Investigator IRRI- Research Project on Methane emission in rice; Editorial Board, ORYZA, 1981-84; Member Secretary RAC/SRC (CRRI); ICAR- Nominated member of IMC, RAC Joint Council; Member RAC, WTCER, Bhubaneswar, 2005-09; Member Board of Studies Utkal University Bhubaneswar 2004-2008; Member, Board of Studies OUAT, Bhubaneswar 2002-06; Member Consortium Advisory Committee, National Agricultural Improvement Project on Green House Gas emissions and Carbon Sequestration, 2007-12; Member Research Advisory Committee (RAC), Central Tobacco Research Institute 2012-14; Member Institute Research Committee, CTRI, Rajahmundry. Member Editorial Board “Journal of Tobacco Research” 2011-2014.

Fellow: Life member, Association of Rice Research Workers (ARRW), Cuttack; Member, Association of Microbiologists of India; Life Member, Association of Retired Employees of ICAR 9RICAREA).

Research Areas: Microbiology, Soil Fertility and management, Natural resource management, Environmental Protection, management and conservation, Microbial biodiversity.

Address: F-4, Annapurna, KRV Towers I, Narayana Street, Alcot Gardens, Rajahmundry 533101, A.P.; [Tel: Cell. 09397106232; Email: drvrrao45@gmail.com]