Hitasha Singh

Biography

Hitasha obtained a BSc. Agriculture (Honours) from Punjab Agricultural University, India. From this undergraduate course, she acquired skills in plant physiology and plant cell biology. To enhance her skills and knowledge, Hitasha opted to study at The University of Queensland where she pursued a Masters of Agricultural Science. As a part of Hitasha’s postgraduate study, she conducted an aquarium-based research trial which evaluated the effect of burial depth on growth of the water weed, Cabomba caroliniana L. During this research project, Hitasha developed a strong interest in studying the effects of various abiotic factors in cultivation of commercial crops using plant simulation models. After graduating, Hitasha worked as a research technician at The University of Queensland, mainly working on the response of wild oats to environmental stresses. The duties of this role included data collection, data handling as well as management, setup and harvesting of various pot, glasshouse and field trials. In 2021, Hitasha began a PhD with Dr. Megan Shelden, which is focused on salt stress response in Grapevines. Salt and drought are the two major abiotic stresses affecting crop plant growth and development. With food availability being a growing concern in many parts of the world, agriculture will increasingly need to operate under sub-optimal conditions where salinity and drought are prevalent. Unfortunately, our picture, specifically of the fundamental mechanisms and impact of salt uptake, transport and accumulation in plant tissues, is incomplete. Hitasha’s work will address these gaps in the research.