Our Team

The people behind the research

Mallikarjuna Rao Kovi

Mallikarjuna Rao Kovi

Research Scientist / Group Leader / Principal Investigator (PI)

Research Scientist at the Department of Plant Sciences, NMBU (since 2015) and R&D Scientist (20%) at Graminor AS, Hamar. Over 15 years of post-PhD experience in sustainable forage systems and climate-resilient crops. Focuses on the genetic basis of nitrogen use efficiency, yield, quality, and stress tolerance (cold acclimation, freezing, winter survival), and on potato late blight resistance and quality traits. Applies genomics, phenomics, genomic selection, AI/ML prediction models, and CRISPR functional genomics. Supervised 16 students (6 PhD, 10 MSc); currently supervising a postdoc and a PhD student, and co-supervising 3 PhD students.

Odd Arne Rognli

Odd Arne Rognli

Professor Emeritus

Extensive experience in forage grass genetics and breeding. Decades of contributions to understanding the genetics of winter hardiness, disease resistance, and quality traits in perennial ryegrass and timothy.

Akhil Reddy Pashapu

Akhil Reddy Pashapu

Postdoctoral Researcher

Research in Digital Twin modelling for Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) in perennial ryegrass and oats. Also expertise in computational genomics and bioinformatics.

PG

Precious Guevarra

PhD Student

Doctoral research focused on genetics and functional genomics (CRISPR-Cas9) studies in Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) for sustainable forage grass improvement.

Igor Ferreira da Costa

Igor Ferreira da Costa

PhD Student (Co-supervised)

Doctoral research within the DLT-Farming project at the intersection of robotics, phenomics, and plant modelling to improve nitrogen use efficiency in perennial ryegrass.

AHL

Axel Heintz Larsen

MSc Student

Nitrogen Use Efficiency in potato using functional genomics (CRISPR-Cas9).

ETMK

Emma Tomine Morvik Kragholm

MSc Student

Master thesis project contributing to research on nitrogen use efficiency, genomics, and forage grass improvement.

GD

Gargi Dutta

MSc Student

Potato genetics and genomics (CRISPR-Cas9) focusing on potato quality and disease resistance.

John Michael Alcantara

John Michael Alcantara

MSc Student

Functional studies on nitrogen transporter genes using CRISPR-Cas9.

Martin Theodor Steinkopf

Martin Theodor Steinkopf

MSc Student

Master thesis project contributing to research on nitrogen use efficiency, genomics, and forage grass improvement.

SEH

Sandra Elise Havnen

MSc Student

Master thesis project contributing to research on nitrogen use efficiency, genomics, and forage grass improvement.