Rakesh Sharma is Assistant Professor (PHT) in the Department of Postharvest Technology, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni, Solan (HP) 173230, India. He has born on 26th January, 1976 in a rural village 'Kot', Tehsil Ghumarwin District Bilaspur of Himachal Pradesh. Besides his Post-graduation and Doctorate in Postharvest Technology from Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP), he has also done PG Diploma in Agriculture Marketing from Pondicherry University and Certificate Course in Food and Nutrition from IGNOU. Dr Sharma has good experience in research, teaching and extension in the field of Postharvest management of horticultural crops. He has guided more than 05 BTech/MTech/ MSc students for their research project/ Master's thesis research in the capacity of major advisor and co-advisor. He has also handled three Ad hoc research/ teaching projects including ICAR's Experiential Learning (ELP) in Fruit and Vegetable Processing, Horticulture Technology Mission and DST. He has to his credit more than 68 publications including about 40 research papers published in journals of national and international repute, along with reviews, popular articles and book chapters, besides being author of one book, 2 manuals. He has also presented research papers/lectures as resource person and also chaired the technical sessions in different National as well as International Seminars/Conferences/Symposia. Dr Rakesh Sharma has also served Department of Horticulture, Haryana (India) as Consultant- Postharvest Management under National Horticulture Mission during 2007-2008. He is life member and full member of many professional associations/ societies of India. Dr Sharma is recipient of NN Mohan Memorial Award (2005) & JS Pruthi Memorial Award (2011) by All India Food Processor's Association, New Delhi; Best Research Paper Award (2007) under the category Food Technology by Association of Food Scientists and Technologists (India), CFTRI, Mysore and ISHA Best Research Paper Award (2010) by Indian Society of Hill Agriculture, Ranichauri, Uttrakhand. He has also been appointed as member editorial board, referee of reputed Indian journals and paper setter-cum-evaluator by many universities.
