Principal Investigator
Mallikarjuna Rao Kovi
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.
Professor Emeritus
Odd Arne Rognli
Professor of plant genetics and breeding at NMBU for more than three decades, and mentor of Dr. Kovi. Former Vice Dean for Research at the Faculty of Biosciences (BIOVIT), NMBU, and former President of the European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO). Decades of contributions to the genetics of winter hardiness, disease resistance and quality traits in perennial ryegrass and timothy. Since retiring he continues as a senior advisor in the group's projects and takes part in the group meetings.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Akhil Reddy Pashapu
Research in Digital Twin modelling for Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) in perennial ryegrass and oats. Also expertise in computational genomics and bioinformatics.
PhD Students
Precious Guevarra
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
Doctoral research within the DLT-Farming project at the intersection of robotics, phenomics, and plant modelling to improve nitrogen use efficiency in perennial ryegrass.
Master Students
Axel Heintz Larsen
Nitrogen Use Efficiency in potato using functional genomics (CRISPR-Cas9).
Emma Tomine Morvik Kragholm
Master thesis project contributing to research on nitrogen use efficiency, genomics, and forage grass improvement.
Gargi Dutta
Potato genetics and genomics (CRISPR-Cas9) focusing on potato quality and disease resistance.
John Michael Alcantara
Functional studies on nitrogen transporter genes using CRISPR-Cas9.
Martin Theodor Steinkopf
Master thesis project contributing to research on nitrogen use efficiency, genomics, and forage grass improvement.
Sandra Elise Havnen
Master thesis project contributing to research on nitrogen use efficiency, genomics, and forage grass improvement.