Rakesh Kumar

Rakesh Kumar is a Scientist I at Ball Horticultural Company, specializing in advanced plant genotyping assays and utilizing ddPCR technology for genetic analysis since October 2019. Previous roles include Associate Scientist with experience in molecular laboratory methods and a Graduate Research Assistant at UMASS Amherst, focusing on iron homeostasis mechanisms. Rakesh has also served as a Teaching Assistant at various institutions, supporting courses in genetics and biology. Research experience encompasses diverse projects, including Agrobacterium-mediated transformations and rapid tuberculosis diagnostic assays, with foundational training in tissue culture and micropropagation techniques. Rakesh holds a PhD in Plant Molecular Biology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a Master’s in Biotechnology from California State University, Fresno.