DR. ARCHANA SACHDEV
A lifelong
curiosity.
For 37 years, Archana’s curiosity found a home at ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, where she served as Professor and Principal Scientist in the Division of Biochemistry. Her work explored how crops could nourish us better, including low-phytate soybean to improve mineral bioavailability.
Teaching and guiding students were part of that life, alongside the creative interests she has always held close. Since retiring in March 2022, there has been more room for paint, texture, and the quiet pleasure of making things by hand.
Leaves, flowers, familiar vessels, a little light: her work brings a gentle warmth to everyday things. Each piece is an invitation to pause, look closely, and find something lovely nearby.
Her years in science
A Delhi University graduate, Archana completed her Master’s and Ph.D. in Biochemistry at IARI. Her scientific work includes over 150 research publications, a patent for a soybean transformation protocol, and the development of gene-silencing and CRISPR/Cas9 vectors.
Fellowships took her to Max Planck in Germany (DAAD), Israel (FAO), and Australia (NATP-HRD). Her teaching and research were recognised with the IARI Best Teacher Award, the ICAR C. Subramaniam Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the ICAR Panjabrao Deshmukh Outstanding Women Scientist Award.
A glimpse of her scientific work ↗
