School of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
School of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
The School of Bioinformatics at ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi, serves as a leading center for advanced computational and analytical approaches aimed at addressing key challenges in agricultural biotechnology. The school is focused in conducting research involving the bioinformatics techniques like genome assembly and annotation, transcriptome analysis, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genomic breeding, alongside the development of comprehensive, user-friendly prediction tools and databases. Additionally, the School also emphasizes on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Agricultural Biotechnology for contributing to sustainable agriculture and genetic improvement of the agricultural commodities. By blending bioinformatics in plant, animal, fisheries and microbial sciences, the school represents a true interphase of the institute mandates. The school is also actively involved in teaching B. Tech (Biotechnology), M. Sc., and Ph.D. students enrolled at ICAR-IIAB, Ranchi, under the umbrella of ICAR-IARI, Mega University, preparing the next generation of bioinformatics professionals in various life sciences subjects.
Mandate and Vision
The School of Bioinformatics at ICAR-Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology is committed for advancing the field of computational biology and bioinformatics to address the evolving challenges in agriculture and biotechnology. The primary mandate of the school is to harness bioinformatics tools and techniques to improve food productivity, enhance sustainability in agriculture, and drive innovations in biotechnology.
Our vision is to establish the school as a leading center of excellence in bioinformatics, specializing in the application of computational approaches to decode complex biological systems. We aim to provide cutting-edge solutions for agricultural biotechnology, focusing on crop improvement, animal genetics, and sustainable farming practices.
In addition to research, the school is actively involved in the education and training of the next generation of bioinformatics professionals. We offer teaching programs at various academic levels, including BTech (Biotechnology), M.Sc., and Ph.D. students. Through these programs, we aim to cultivate a skilled workforce proficient in bioinformatics, prepared to contribute to the field’s growth and advancements.
Team and Expertise
The School of Bioinformatics is supported by a team of accomplished scientists with expertiseacross various domains. Dr. Kishor U. Tribhuvan, Senior Scientist (Agricultural Biotechnology),and Head (In-Charge), is specialized in transcriptome data analysis and de novo sequencing ofplant genomes. He successfully led the whole-genome sequencing of Psophocarpustetragonolobus, including its mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes. Dr. Tanmaya Kumar Sahu,Scientist (Bioinformatics), is proficient in transcriptome analysis, GWAS, structural biology andthe development of biological databases and machine learning based prediction tools. Dr.Kanaka K. K., Scientist (Animal Genetics and Breeding), is an expert in genomic breeding anddeveloping data analysis pipelines for population and quantitative genetics. Dr Sandip Garai,Scientist (Agricultural Statistics), is skilled in data modelling and in developing machinelearning models for managing and analyzing large-scale biological datasets. Together, this teambrings a diverse set of skills to drive the school’s research and educational objectives.
Projects
| Sl No. | Project title | Principle Investigator |
|---|---|---|
| Institute funded | ||
| 1. | Creation of variability, genome analysis and identification of genotypes/ QTL for trait of importance in Winged bean | Dr. Kishor U. Tribhuvan |
| 2. | Establishment of information resource and prediction servers for the genes related to yield traits, biotic stress, and abiotic stress in agriculturally important crops. | Dr. Tanmaya K. Sahu |
| 3. | Genomic exploration of lesser-known chicken population of Jharkhand. | Dr. Kanaka K.K. |
| 4. | Identification and characterization of genes involved in expression of apomixis component-traits in Polyploidy series of guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus) (Inter-institutional project: ICAR-IGFRI, Jhansi and ICAR-IIAB, Jhansi | Dr. Tanmaya K. Sahu (Co-PI) |
| Externally funded | ||
| 5. | Identification and characterization of fungal effectors and host factors in rice- false smut pathosystem Funding Agency: NASF | Dr. Kishor U. Tribhuvan (CCPI) |
| 6. | Enhancing climate resilience and ensuring food security with genome editing tools Funding Agency: ICAR | Dr. Kishor U. Tribhuvan |
| 7. | Identification of nutritionally superior climate resilient varieties of millets through evaluation of land races available varieties/germ plasm and development of good agronomic practices for their promotion funded by UPCAR, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh. Lead Center: RLBCAU, Jhansi | Dr. Tanmaya K. Sahu (Co-PI) |
Achievements of the School of Bioinformatics
The School of Bioinformatics has made significant achievements, including the successfulsequencing and submission of the complete genome of Psophocarpus tetragonolobus to theNational Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), which also includes the decoding of itsmitochondrial and chloroplast genomes. This accomplishment provides valuable insights into thegenetic makeup of this orphan crop species. Additionally, the school has developed advancedanalytical pipelines for variant calling, GWAS, population and quantitative genetics, andtranscriptome profiling, enabling comprehensive data analysis. Ongoing projects are focused oncreating user-friendly prediction tools to the identification of key genes for various productiontraits and disease resistance. Further the school is also engaged in developing biologicaldatabases for easy access and management of information on these genes. The tools anddatabases contribute to the additional bioinformatics resources of the institute for enhancing theresearch capabilities.
Infrastructure
Though in its early stages, the School of Bioinformatics is equipped with advanced computational facilities, including:
- An informatics lab with high-end computers for bioinformatics data analysis.
- Workstations of superior configurations for complex computational analysis.
- High-performance computing servers for large-scale genomic and proteomic data analysis.
This infrastructure supports the execution of large-scale bioinformatics projects such as genome assembly, transcriptome analysis, and database development, driving innovation and research excellence. The facility also supports to train the students about different aspects of bioinformatics.
Computational Facility
Dr. Kishor U Tribhuvan
Designation : Senior Scientist (Genetics & Plant Breeding)
Major Research Area :
Actively involved in the winged bean genome sequencing and identification of genes/QTLs for photoperiod sensitivity in winged bean.
Research interest:Research Area :
Genomics and Bioinformatics, Genome editing, Strawberry and Dragan fruit tissue culture
Email : kishor.tribhuvan@icar.gov.in
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Dr. Tanmaya Kumar Sahu
Designation : Scientist (Bioinformatics)
Major Research Area :
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Research interest:Research Area :
Machine learning, NGS data analysis, genome editing, Structural Bioinformatics
Email : Tanmaya.Sahu@icar.gov.in, tanmayabioinfo@gmail.com
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Dr. Sandip Garai
Designation : Scientist (Agricultural Statistics)
Major Research Area :
Artificial Intelligence, Modeling and Forecasting, Data Science, Wavelet Analysis, Feature Selection, Feature Extraction, Multivariate Analysis, Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery, Data Clustering, Statistical Learning, Applied Artificial Intelligence, Data preparation, Data Base Management, Genomic Analysis, Bioinformatics, Big Data, Software development, and Web-based Solution.
Research interest:Research Area :
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Email : sandip.garai@icar.gov.in , sudipasandipniani23@gmail.com
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Dr. Kanaka K. K
Designation : Scientist (Animal Genetics and Breeding)
Major Research Area :
Population Genetics, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Machine Learning
Research interest:Research Area :
Population Genetics, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Machine Learning