Sachin Rustgi

Sachin Rustgi serves as an Associate Professor of Molecular Breeding in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Clemson University's College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, and as a Faculty Scholar at the Clemson University School of Health Research. He also holds an adjunct appointment as Associate Professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at Washington State University, Pullman. His research program is housed at the Clemson University Pee Dee Research and Education Center in Florence, South Carolina.

• Ph.D. in Crop Biotechnology from C.C.S. University, Meerut (2006)
• M.S. in Botany from M.J.P. Rohilkhand University, Bareilly (2001)
• B.S. in Biology and Chemistry from M.J.P. Rohilkhand University, Bareilly (1999)
• D.I.S.M. Diploma in Information Systems Management from Aptech, Chandausi (2000)

Dr. Rustgi's research primarily focuses on developing dietary therapies for individuals with celiac disease or peanut allergies through molecular breeding approaches. His lab works on creating wheat and peanut genotypes with reduced immunogenicity using conventional breeding, genetic modification, and gene editing techniques. Additional research areas include identifying biomarkers for heat tolerance in major crops, developing novel pest management strategies using nucleic acid pesticides, and engineering cotton with annual growth habits. His work bridges plant science, human health, and food security, addressing critical challenges in food allergies affecting approximately 3% of the US population.

Analysis of Dr. Rustgi's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on food safety for immunologically sensitive populations, with significant work on reducing gluten immunogenicity in wheat and allergens in peanuts. His research increasingly incorporates advanced genomic techniques, including CRISPR/Cas systems and machine learning approaches for stress tolerance prediction. There's a notable trend toward interdisciplinary collaboration, with publications spanning plant physiology, food science, human nutrition, and computational biology, reflecting the complex nature of food allergy research.

• 2014 Faculty Excellence in Research Award from Washington State University College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences
• See Fellow Award from the Society of Extension Education, Agra, India

Dr. Rustgi leads a productive research program with multiple graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. His lab has secured funding for projects related to celiac-safe wheat development, peanut allergen reduction, and heat stress tolerance in crops. He actively collaborates with researchers across institutions including North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. His extension work includes publications on aflatoxin management in peanuts and wheat breeding for reduced immunogenicity, demonstrating strong connections between his research and practical agricultural applications.

The Rustgi Lab, established in 2016 at the Clemson Pee Dee Research and Education Center, maintains four primary research foci: development of nutritionally enhanced and allergen-free crops, increasing genetic diversity in cotton germplasm, development of eco-friendly pesticides for sugarcane aphid control, and breeding for recurrent flowering in rose and peach. The lab operates as a multidisciplinary team with expertise spanning molecular biology, plant pathology, genomics, and food science, working toward practical solutions for food allergies and agricultural challenges.