Aakash Chawade

Associate Professor, SLU

Aakash Chawade is a principal investigator and leads Chawade lab. He has a PhD in plant biology from the Gothenburg University and after a postdoc from Lund University he joined SLU and established his research group.

His overarching research objective is pioneering innovative methodologies to expedite plant breeding and unraveling the intricate responses of plants to stress factors.

About Aakash chawade

Aakash Chawade leads research integrating genetics, genomics and phenomics to advance understanding and develop novel breeding tools for key agronomic traits in plants. His research spans cereal crops, potato, sugar beet, faba bean, and green peas.

Mentorship is vital for fostering professional growth, knowledge transfer, and career development. Recognizing the importance of mentorship, Aakash established a research group to nurture professional growth, knowledge transfer, and career development, fostering a sense of community. In parallel, he drives innovation in plant breeding methods to address food security challenges. 

The Chawade Lab aspires to contribute significantly to a sustainable and resilient future in agriculture through the synergy of research, innovation, and mentorship.

Please visit Google Scholar to see scientific publications. Most recent publications can be found here.

Academic background

Associate Professor of genetics and breeding informatics (2018 – Current), SLU

Assistant Professor of genetics and breeding informatics (2015-2018), SLU

Researcher (2014-2016), Lund University

Post Doc in computational proteomics (2012-2014), Lund University

PhD in Biology (2006-2011), University of Gothenburg

Masters in Bioinformatics (2003-2005), University of Skövde

BSc in Genetics, Microbiology, Chemistry (1997-2000), Osmania University, India

Chawade Lab Group Photo

CURRENT AND PAST MEMBERS

Researchers (3)

Vishnukiran Thuraga (2024-Ongoing),

Payam Delfani (2023-2024),

Firuz Odilbekov (2018-2020)

Postdocs (12)

Alexandre Aono (2024-Ongoing)

Amanda Karlstrom (2024-Ongoing)

Aditi Bhandari (2022-Ongoing)

Valentina Rosi, Industrial postdoc (2024-Ongoing)

Vishnukiran Thuraga (2021-2024)

Johanna Åstrand, Industrial postdoc (2022-2023)

Ajit Nehe (2021-2023)

Admas Alemu (2020 – 2023)

David Sewordor (2020 – 2020)

Dhananjay Kumar (2018 -2020)

Firuz Odilbekov (2016 -2018)

Rita Armoniene (2016-2017)


PhD students (13)

As Main supervisor (4):

Fernanda Leiva (2019-2023). Awarded PhD degree in May 2023

Main supervisor: Aakash Chawade

    Co-supervisor: Ramune Kuktaite


Mustafa Zakieh (2019-2023). Awarded PhD degree in June 2023

Main supervisor: Aakash Chawade

Co-supervisors: Firuz Odilbekov, Magnus Karlsson, Nidhi Pareek, Pawan Singh 


Su Myat Noe (2022-Ongoing): Licentiate student

Main supervisor: Aakash Chawade

Co-supervisors: Eva Johansson, Pawan Singh


Vaishnavi Losari (2023-just started): Licentiate student

Main supervisor: Aakash Chawade

Co-supervisors: Eva Johansson, Ramesh Vetukuri


As Co-supervisor (9):


Hannah Ohm (2019-Ongoing)

Main supervisor: Per Hofvander

Co-supervisors: Aakash Chawade, Åsa Grimberg, Cecilia Hammenhag


Mohamed Mambu Luseni (2018-Ongoing)

Main supervisor: Laura Grenville-Briggs

Co-supervisor: Aakash Chawade, Ranjana Bhattacharjee, Johanna Bergman Lodi


Yuzhou Lan (2018-Ongoing)

Main supervisor: Eva Johansson

Co-supervisors: Aakash Chawade, Ramune Kuktait


Poorva Sundararajan (2021-Ongoing)

Main supervisor: Ramesh Vetukuri

Co-supervisor: Aakash Chawade


Emilia Berndtsson (2023-Ongoing)

Main supervisor: Eva Johansson

Co-supervisors: Aakash Chawade, Helena Persson Hovmalm


Sbatie Lama (2019-2023) Awarded PhD degree in 2023  

Main supervisor: Ramune Kuktaite

Co-supervisors: Aakash Chawade, Pernilla Vallenback


Jakob Willfors, Lund University (2016-2019) Awarded PhD degree in 2019

Main supervisor: Fredrik Levander

Co-supervisors: Aakash Chawade, Erik Andreasson


Catja Selga, SLU (2017 – 2021) Awarded PhD degree in 2021

Main supervisor: Rodomiro Ortiz

Co-supervisors: Mariette Andersson, Aakash Chawade


Paritosh Kunwar, MNIT, India (2017-2021) Awarded PhD in 2021

Main supervisor: V. Vivekanand

Co-supervisor: Aakash Chawade


Monika Yadav, MNIT, India (2016-2020) Awarded PhD in 2020

Main supervisor: V. Vivekanand

Co-supervisor: Aakash Chawade



Master thesis supervision (13)

Siim Samuel Sepp (Master thesis student, 2021-2022), SLU, Main supervisor

Rishap Dhakal (Master thesis student, 2021-2022), SLU, Main supervisor

Marwan Alamrani (Master thesis student, 2019-20), SLU, Main supervisor

Djailey Gruijters (Erasmus exchange student, 2019), SLU, Main supervisor

Johan Lundmark (Master thesis student, 2020), SLU, Main supervisor

Jonathan Kunst (Erasmus exchange student, 2019), SLU, Main supervisor

Chiara Delvento (Master thesis student, 2019), SLU, Main supervisor

Avinash Bharti (MTech student, 2018), MNIT, India, Co-supervisor

Subodh Kumar (MTech student, 2018), MNIT, India, Co-supervisor

Alexander Koc (MSc thesis student, 2017), SLU, Main supervisor

Salvatore Caruso (Erasmus exchange student, 2016), SLU, Main supervisor

Jon Olsson (MSc thesis student, 2015), Department of Immunotechnology, Lund University, Main supervisor

Karin Carlsson (MSc thesis student, 2015), Dept. of Pure & Applied biochemistry, Lund University, 2014, Main supervisor