• Cotton Tissue Culture
• Cotton Transgenics and Genome Editing
• Insect RNAi
• Protein Biochemistry

• Significant Scientific Contribution: 
• Low-cost optimized dsRNA injection protocol for effective RNAi in cotton bollworm (Co-Developer; 2023).
• Nanofiber-immobilized carboxylesterase Ha006a from Helicoverpa armigera for bioremediation of environmental pesticides (Co-developer, 2024).
• Fabricated novel electroanalytical carboxylesterase-based biosensor using a modified carbon paste electrode (MCPE) for detection of organophosphate pesticide (Co-developer, 2024).
• PDB depositions: 
• The first ever crystal structure of an insect farnesol dehydrogenase- a rate-limiting enzyme of insect juvenile hormone biosynthesis pathway was determined from Helicoverpa armigera and PDB coordinates were deposited with accession ID of 7W61. The detailed description of the research and methodology was published in in a peer-reviewed journal cited as “Rakesh Kumar, Joy Das, Jai Krishna Mahto, Monica Sharma, Shah Vivek, Pravindra Kumar, Ashwani Kumar Sharma, Crystal structure and molecular characterization of NADP+-farnesol dehydrogenase from cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Volume 147, 2022, 103812, ISSN 0965-1748. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibmb.2022.103812.
• 9UOW: Crystal structure of Gossypium hirsutum (Cotton) 5-enol-pyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) in open conformation

Participated in the International conference on “Advanced sustainable Futuristic Materials” organised by Kamla Nehru Mahavidyalaya, Nagpur, Sharda University, Greater Noida, and CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI), Nagpur, held during April 26-27, 2024.

TRAINING ATTENDED 

• Undergone six-month short-term international training on “CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome editing in cotton” at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA, from March 25^th 2025, to September 26^th, 2025.

RESEARCH ARTICLES (not more than 10)

1. Jangid, K., Chaudhary, D., Verma, S., Das, J., Baksi, S., Sharma, A.K., Kumar, R*. and Kumar, P*., 2026. Structural and Biochemical Insights into Cotton 5-Enolpyruvylshikimate-3-Phosphate Synthase: Toward Inhibitor Design and Glyphosate Resistance. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. (*corresponding author)
2. Lal, S.K., Khatoon, G., Kumar, A., Kumar, K., Kumar, R., Pan, X., Kumar, S., Bhadana, V.P., Pandey, A., Kumar, M. and Soren, K.R., 2026. Genome Editing Enhanced Abiotic Stress Tolerance In Cereal Crops. Functional & Integrative Genomics, 26(1), p.13. (*corresponding author)
3. Kumar, R*., Das, J., Puttaswamy, R.K., Kumar, M., Balasubramani, G. and Prasad, Y.G., 2024. Targeted genome editing for cotton improvement: prospects and challenges. TheNucleus, 67(1), pp.181-203.
4. Kaur, H., Singh, S., Rode, S., Chaudhary, P.K., Khan, N.A., Ramamurthy, P.C., Gupta, D.N., Kumar, R., Das, J. and Sharma, A.K., 2024. Fabrication and characterization of polyvinyl alcohol-chitosan composite nanofibers for carboxylesterase immobilization to enhance the stability of the enzyme. Scientific Reports, 14(1), p.19615.
5. Singh, S., N, P., Kaur, H., Varshney, R., Khan, N.A., Kumar, R., Sharma, A.K., Singh, J. and Ramamurthy, P.C., 2024. Enzyme-based sensor for the real-time detection of atrazine: Evidence from electrochemical and docking studies. Scientific Reports, 14(1), p.17662.
6. Kaur, H., Rode, S., Lonare, S., Demiwal, P., Narasimhappa, P., Arun, E., Kumar, R., Das, J., Ramamurthy, P.C., Sircar, D. and Sharma, A.K., 2024. Heterologous expression, biochemical characterization and prospects for insecticide biosensing potential of carboxylesterase Ha006a from Helicoverpa armigera. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, 200, p.105844.
7. Kumar, R., Das, J., Rode, S., Kaur, H., Shah, V., Verma, P. and Sharma, A.K., 2023. Farnesol dehydrogenase from Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) as a promising target for pest management: molecular docking, in vitro and insect bioassay studies using geranylgeraniol as potential inhibitor. 3 Biotech, 13(6), p.175.
8. Das, J., Kumar, R., Shah, V., Raghavendra, K.P. and Sharma, A.K., 2023. Identification and functional characterisation of N-acetylglucosamine kinase from Helicoverpa armigera divulge its potential role in growth and development via UDP-GlcNAc salvage pathway. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 242, p.124674.
9. Das, J., Kumar, R., Shah, V. and Sharma, A.K., 2023. Simple cost‐effective larval injection method for dsRNA delivery to induce RNAi response in Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner). Journal of Applied Entomology, 147(4), pp.289-298.

Alam, M.S., Sharma, M., Kumar, R., Das, J., Rode, S., Kumar, P., Prasad, R. and Sharma, A.K., 2023. In silico identification of potential phytochemical inhibitors targeting farnesyl diphosphate synthase of cotton bollworm (Helicoverpaarmigera). Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 41(5), pp.1978-1987.

1. Nisha, Mansi Jangir, Vaishnavi Rathod, Ankit Verma, K.P. Raghavendra, Rakesh Kumar, Joy Das, V.N. Waghmare, Y.G. Prasad 2024. Genome Editing in Plants via Meganucleases. Springer, Cham. (In revision)
2. G. Balasubramani, K. Baghyalakshmi, M. Saravanan, Rakesh Kumar, Joy Das, Rahul Phuke,K. P. Raghavendra, Vinita Gotmare, J. Amudha and Y. G. Prasad 2024. Management and Use of Cotton Genetic Resources: Springer, Cham. (in revision)
3. Balasubramani, G., Raghavendra, K.P., Das, J., Kumar, R., Santosh, H.B., Amudha, J., Kranthi, S. and Kranthi, K.R., 2021. Critical evaluation of GM cotton. In Cotton precision breeding (pp. 351-410). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
4. Raghavendra, K.P, Joy Das, Rakesh Kumar, Santosh H. B., Annie Sheeba, S. P. Gawande, Balasubramani, G. and V. N. Waghmare 2020. Exploration of genomic resources for trait characterization in cotton, Cotton Production Technologies in the Next Decade: Problems & Perspectives. Published in: Cotton Research and Development Association, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India
5. Keshav Kranthi, Joy Das, Rakesh Kumar, Mike McCue, Renuka Dhandapani, Kater Hake, Sandhya Kranthi, D. Blaise and Kai Hughes. 2020. The role of cotton in face masks. Brochure. ICAC, Washington, DC.
6. Raghavendra Kp Joy Das and Rakesh Kumar 2019. CRISPR/CAS9, TALENS and nucleases for gene editing in cotton improvement. ICAC Recorder, International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), Washington, USA. Volume XXXVII, No. 3 ISSN 1022-6303

International

1. Poster presentation on “RNA POL III promoters for improved sgRNA expression and genome editing in cotton” at International Conference on Innovative Technologies for Research and Development for Sustainable Production of Cotton, Oilseeds and Fibre Crops at Ela Old Goa from 13-15 November 2024
2. Oral Presentation on “Functional characterization of the Shadow gene (PgSAD) from Pink Bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella): Implications for Ecdysteroid Biosynthesis and Pest Management” International Conference on Advancements in Science, Engineering and Management ICASEM 2024, Vidya Vihar Institute of Technology, Purnea, Bihar, India & RSP Conference Hub, Coimbatore, Purnea, Bihar, 30th-31st May 2024

National (See the format below)

1. Oral presentation cum Invited Talk on “1st National Seminar on Crystallography (NSC51)” at National Seminar on Crystallography (NSC51)” to be held at VNIT Nagpur from 27-29, November 2024

Oral Presentation on “RNAi-as a promising tool for pest management in cotton” at National Conference on Frontiers in Science & Technology-2024 (FIST-24) organised by Mahatma Gandhi College of Science, Gadchandur, Dist-Chandrapur on 05^th  October 2024.​

Member, ICAR-CICR Bt-Referral Lab

• Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav