Prof. Pramod Tandon, former Vice-Chancellor of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), is a widely recognized educationist, scientist and institution builder who has rendered exceptional and distinguished service to the people of the northeastern region for nearly four decades. He has very sound administrative acumen along with academic distinction. Prof. Tandon joined Biotech Park, Lucknow as Chief Executive Officer on 9th November 2015.

Born on October 6, 1950 at Lucknow, Prof. Tandon received his B.Sc. degree in 1969 and M.Sc. (Botany) in 1971 from Lucknow University. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from Jodhpur University in 1976. In 1977 he joined the North-Eastern Hill University as a lecturer and later rose to the position of Vice-Chancellor.

Contributions as Vice-Chancellor

As Vice-Chancellor of NEHU (2005-2010), Prof. Tandon articulated, designed and implemented new initiatives that have become the foundation for making NEHU as a seat of higher learning successfully competing amongst the prestigious academic institutions. Under his dynamic leadership, NEHU had received the distinction of ‘University with Potential for Excellence’ being one amongst the nine such Universities in the country at that time. He successfully inspired the NEHU community to secure ‘A’ grade through reaccreditation of the University by NAAC. He was able to secure more grants than ever before for infrastructure development, ensured higher enrollment of students and improvement of quality of education. He emphasized on making higher education inclusive, socially relevant and value-based and spearheaded excellence in teaching and research. Prof. Tandon has always maintained high standards of accountability and transparency.
In addition to his position as Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tandon helped in establishment of Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management, Shillong as its Project Director.
He hosted the 96th Indian Science Congress at NEHU during January 2009 that was the first ever Science Congress held in the entire northeastern region of India. The Hon’ble Prime Minister of India inaugurated it.
Contributions as an academician

Prof. Tandon’s earlier contribution focused on elucidation of abnormal growth hormone metabolism of mite-incited plants which he reported for the first time to be non-self-limiting showing hyper‑auxinity and auxin autotrophy.

He was awarded the prestigious National Scholarship for Study Abroad by Government of India and worked as a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at the University of California, Irvine, USA during 1978-‘79 and studied the genome organization and expression of chloroplast DNA. During 1989 to 1995, National Institute of Agro-biological Resources and several Universities in Japan invited him for research work that led to a long-term collaboration on Plant Conservation Biotechnology. 

During the last about four decades, he has made seminal contributions in micropropagation, re-establishment in nature, and recovery of critically endangered endemic plants of Northeast India. He also developed cryopreservation protocols for several rare, endangered and threatened (RET) plants. Mass micropropagation programme of forest plants by his group has direct relevance to societal needs and economic development of the region.

Prof. Tandon’s recent studies focus on the genetic makeup of RET plants. His work on molecular and cytological basis of rarity of endangered plants is useful in planning conservation strategies. Using single primer amplification reaction (SPAR) methods he could explain the rarity of some of the critically endangered and endemic species of the region. He has proposed molecular phylogenetics and taxonomic revision of Indian Nymphaea spp based on multi markers from different loci. ITS and matK regions have emerged as useful tools for genus specific barcode designing for Nymphaeales and orchid taxa.

He has published more than 198 research papers in journals of repute and edited 3 books on biodiversity and biotechnology. He has trained a large number of M.Sc. and Ph.D. students in the field of Plant Biotechnology over the last forty years.

A pioneer in establishing plant tissue culture facilities in North-East India in 1977, Prof. Tandon trained and motivated scientists in the region to adopt modern methods of research. He also established the Bioinformatics Centre (funded by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India) at NEHU in 1999.

Prof. Tandon is a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India and Indian Botanical Society, Linnean Society of London and International Society of Environmental Botanists, and served as a member of many Academic bodies and National Task Forces including Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet, GOI, National Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.

Contributions as CEO, Biotech Park

Prof. Pramod Tandon has promoted entrepreneurship in biotechnology-based industry. Biotech Park is regularly conducting skill development programmes for youth in various areas of Biotechnology, which have also been extended to the tribal students through collaborative efforts with Intuitions located in North-East India. Moving towards self-sufficiency, Biotech Park is preparing the foundation for long-term development of bio-economy that would assure benefit of Biotechnology to the people of Uttar Pradesh.

Awards and recognition

Prof. Tandon is the recipient of many prestigious awards and recognitions, notably:

• Padma Shri (2009) awarded by HE the President of India
• Award of Millennium Plaques of Honour (2008-2009) of Indian Science Congress Association, received from Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
• Professor Panchanan Maheshwari Memorial Lecture Award 2018
• Upbhokta Shree Award (2017) of Bharat Jyoti
• Prof. H.C. Arya Gold Medal & Lecture Award (2017) of Plant Tissue Culture Association (I).
• Felicitated as one of the most distinguished alumnus of Lucknow University (2015) by H.E. the Governor of Uttar Pradesh
• Prof. A.R. Chavan Memorial Lecture Award (2013) of the M.S. University of Baroda.
• Biodiversity Lecture Award (2013) of National Academy of Sciences, India
• Prof. Saligram Sinha Memorial Lecture Award (2011) of the National Academy of Sciences, India
• Professor R.N. Tandon Memorial Lecture Award (2008) of the National Academy of Sciences, India
• Gadgil Memorial Lecture Award (2006) of Plant Tissue Culture Association of India (2006)
• Dr. T.N. Khoshoo Memorial Lecture Award (2006) of The Orchid Society of India
• Professor Panchanan Maheshwari Medal Award (2004) of Indian Botanical Society
• B.P. Pal National Environment Fellowship Award on Biodiversity (2002-2004 in the scale of pay equivalent to the Secretary to the Govt. of India), Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India
• Platinum Jubilee Lecture Award (2000) of Indian Science Congress Association
• Science and Technology Agency Research Award (1994 & 1995) for Foreign Scientists by Prime Minister’s Office, Government of Japan
• National Scholarship for Study Abroad (1978‑1980), Ministry of Education, Government of India
• Merit Scholarship (1965‑1967) from U.P. Government