Jawahar Singh
Postdoctoral researcher
University of Cambridge
My research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of nitrogen acquisition in plants and their symbiotic interactions, with a specific emphasis on legumes and their association with rhizobia for biological nitrogen fixation. Currently, I am a Post-doctoral Research Associate in Dr. Sebastian Schornack's group at the Sainsbury Laboratory (SLCU), Cambridge University, United Kingdom (UK) where I am investigating legume nodule symbiosis. My overall objective is to improve nitrogen fixation and field performance in legumes such as Medicago, soybean, and others, utilizing molecular, genetic, and cell-biological approaches.
During my first postdoctoral research at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico, I focused on studying the nodulation process in bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under phosphorus deficiency. By exploring the influence of internal phosphate levels on the establishment of the bean-rhizobia symbiosis, I aimed to develop a comprehensive model for better understanding and managing the nutritional requirements of beans, thereby improving crop productivity.
In my Ph.D. research at the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), Delhi, India, I concentrated on the root nodule symbiosis in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). I specifically investigated the role of LysM-RLKs in chickpea, which are key receptors involved in perceiving Nod factors (NFs) during the formation of symbiotic interactions with rhizobia. Additionally, I identified MAP kinase as the downstream signaling molecule responsible for transmitting the NF signal from the plasma membrane receptor to the nucleus in chickpea. These findings significantly advanced our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the chickpea-rhizobia symbiosis.
My ultimate goal is to contribute to crop improvement by enhancing our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying plant-microbe interactions and nutrient acquisition