Nauni varsity student selected for Dual Degree Programme in Australia

Vijay Kumar, a doctoral scholar at Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni, has been selected for a dual PhD program at the esteemed Western Sydney University (WSU) in Australia. Vijay will conduct his dual PhD research at both UHF Nauni and the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment at WSU, under the mentorship of Dr. Rachael Nolan. His research will focus on forest carbon stocks and fire dynamics. Dr. Nolan is an Associate Professor at Hawkesbury and the Director of the NSW Bushfires and Natural Hazards Research Center.

A native of Mandi district, Vijay completed his BSc in Forestry at UHF. He achieved AIR 1 in the ICAR (PG) examination in 2021, leading him to pursue a postgraduate degree at Kerala Agricultural University with an ICAR-JRF fellowship. In 2023, he secured AIR 3 in the ICAR (SRF) examination and returned to UHF to pursue his PhD under the guidance of Dr. DR Bhardwaj.

The dual doctorate programme is part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UHF and WSU, allowing students from both institutions to complete portions of their degrees at each other’s campuses. Vijay will undertake coursework and part of his doctoral research at Nauni under Dr. Bhardwaj, while also conducting research at the Hawkesbury Institute under Dr. Nolan’s guidance. Both mentors will collaborate to oversee his research.

Congratulating Vijay, Prof. Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, Vice Chancellor of UHF, emphasized that this partnership aims to enhance students' employability, skills and understanding of technology-based horticulture, forestry, biotechnology and food technology. He noted that this opportunity will allow Vijay to work alongside researchers in both countries, particularly in the vital area of forest fire impacts.

Vijay expressed gratitude to the University Vice Chancellor, Dean of Students’ Welfare Dr. K.K. Raina,Dean Forestry Dr CL Thakur, Dr. D.R. Bhardwaj, Dr. Rashmi Chaudhary, and WSU officials for their support in helping him pursue this joint PhD program. He stated that this research opportunity will significantly advance the understanding of the effects of wildfires on forest ecosystems and carbon cycles.