Om Rajora

Dr. Om Rajora is a Professor and Senior Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Forest and Conservation Genomics and Biotechnology at the University of New Brunswick's Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management. He holds a PhD in Forest Genetics from the University of Toronto and has over four decades of experience in forest genetics research. Previously, he served as a Professor and StoraEnso Senior Chair in Forest Genetics and Biotechnology at Dalhousie University, and held roles at the University of Alberta and the National Research Council of Canada. His research focuses on forest tree genetics, genomics, and biotechnology, addressing issues like climate change adaptation, genetic conservation, and sustainable forest management.

Dr. Rajora's education includes a BSc in Biology, MSc in Botany, and LL.B. from Meerut University, India. His work spans basic and applied research, including genome mapping, transcriptome sequencing, and the genetic basis of tree responses to environmental stressors. He coordinates international research units like IUFRO's Population, Ecological and Conservation Genetics, and serves on editorial boards of journals like Botany and Forests.

His research interests emphasize genetic diversity, population structure, evolutionary potential of forest trees, and conservation strategies. Notable contributions include pioneering studies on eastern white pine, red spruce, and Scots pine, as well as the development of a Population Genomics book series. He is a frequent keynote speaker at international conferences and has authored hundreds of peer-reviewed publications.