Gunvant Baliram Patil

Dr. Gunvant Baliram Patil is an Assistant Professor at Texas Tech University, jointly affiliated with the Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance (IGCAST) and the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. His research focuses on advancing genetic engineering and genomics to improve crop resilience and productivity.

• Institution: Texas Tech University
• School: Institute of Genomics for Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance
• Department: Department of Plant and Soil Sciences
• Position: Assistant Professor
• Email: gunvant.patil@ttu.edu
• Office: 210B, Experimental Science Building II

Dr. Patil holds a B.S. from North Maharashtra University, India, an M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Pune and National Center for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi. He previously served as a research scientist at the University of Minnesota-St. Paul, a postdoctoral associate at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a visiting researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

His research interests include genetic engineering, genome editing, translational genomics, and crop improvement under abiotic stress. He aims to develop genotype-independent transformation systems in recalcitrant crops such as soybean, cotton, and sorghum. His lab integrates CRISPR/Cas9, single-cell transcriptomics, and high-throughput phenotyping to dissect molecular mechanisms of stress tolerance and nutrient uptake.

The recent publications reflect a strong focus on soybean genomics, stress response mechanisms, and gene-editing technologies. Trends include the use of RNA-Seq, CRISPR-based editing, and functional characterization of gene families (e.g., SWEET, TIP, XIP) involved in transport, stress, and defense. His work increasingly emphasizes tissue culture-free editing and single-cell resolution in plant systems.

• 2nd place in Oral Presentation at PSS-Symposium-2024 (mentored student)
• 3rd place in Oral Presentation at SICNA Conference 2024 (mentored student)
• USDA – Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Grant (mentored student)

Dr. Patil advises multiple graduate students and postdoctoral researchers and leads a dynamic research team at the Patil Lab. His research is supported by grants from USDA-NIFA, United Soybean Board, Southern Soybean Research Program, and TTU-BASF (Project Revolution). He teaches graduate courses such as PSS5325: Transgenic and Plant Cell Genetics, emphasizing CRISPR, gene silencing, and recombinant DNA technology.

The lab is actively involved in projects on nutrient uptake efficiency, regeneration system development, and durable resistance to soybean cyst nematode. The team utilizes cutting-edge tools like protoplast transformation, single-nucleus RNA sequencing, and high-throughput phenotyping to achieve translational outcomes in crop improvement.