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Plant Stress Biology
A Bit About Me
I am a Research Associate at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati. My research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying acquired stress responses in plants, with a particular interest in plant stress memory. I aim to integrate transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic regulatory pathways to gain deeper insights into how plants perceive, respond to, and remember abiotic stress. Identifying key regulatory modules from these processes may contribute to future strategies for engineering stress-resilient crops.
I completed my PhD in 2026 from IISER Tirupati, where my work centered on plant heat stress responses and associated regulatory mechanisms.
Outside research, I enjoy playing football, reading books, and watching films and documentaries.
Work Experience
2019-2026
2017-2019
2014-2017
PhD. Biological Science, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati.
Master of Science (Plant Science), Central University of Kerala.
Bachelor of Science, University of Kerala.
2026-Present
Research associate, Biological Science, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati.
Achievements
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Fulbright Nehru Fellowship 2022-2023.
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Academic excellence award-PhD 2019 batch, Biology in IISER Tirupati.
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National level exams-JGEEBILS (2019), GATE (XL) 2019, CSIR-NET .
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First rank holder in B.Sc. Botany in St Johns college, Anchal (University of Kerala) (2014-2017).
Publications
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Nair, A.U., Vishwakarma, S., Guha, T., Kadumuri, R.V., Fritschi, F.B., Chavali, S. and Allu, A.D. (2026), Ethylene–jasmonate interplay involving ERF regulons modulates acute heat stress response in rice seedlings. Plant J, 126: e70850. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.70850
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Hafner, A., Kundariya, H., Sanchez, R., Nair, A.U. and Mackenzie, S.A., 2026. Intragenic methylation repatterning is associated with alternative splicing and unique epigenetic phenotypes. bioRxiv, pp.2026-02.
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Samantaray, D., Nair, A.U., Balazadeh, S. and Allu, A.D. (2025), JUNGBRUNNEN1, a Central Regulator of Plant Growth and Stress Response. Plant, Cell & Environment. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.15585.
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Nair, A.U., Vishwakarma, S., Guha, T., Kadumuri, R.V., Fritschi, F.B., Chavali, S. and Allu, A.D., 2025. ERF transcription factor regulons underpin growth-defence trade-off under acute heat stress in rice seedlings. bioRxiv, pp.2025-04.
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Nair, A.U., Kundariya, H.S., Samantaray, D., Dopp, I.J., Allu, A.D. and Mackenzie, S.A. (2024), Short-Term High Light Stress Analysis Through Differential Methylation Identifies Root Architecture and Cell Size Responses. Plant, Cell & Environment. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.15325
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Online Publication - http://reports.ias.ac.in/report/13755/extraction-of-dietary-fibre- fromsterile flowers-of-artocarpus-heterophyllus-lam
