Navin Sharma

About Navin Sharma

A seasoned research scientist with extensive experience to drive scientific excellence, innovation, and strategic growth. My expertise spans multiple sectors, including industrial research [Unilever and ITC], international research organizations [CGIAR-World Agroforestry, Nairobi], and academia [BLiSc at TIFR-National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore; TDU, Bangalore; and Amity University, Noida].My educational background includes a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge (UK) and a Postdoc from the University of York (UK). Recipient of several prestigious scholarships during PhD including Nehru Scholarship, FCO scholarship by the British Council, ORS Scholarship from the Vice Chancellors and Principals of UK.I am a life time Fellow of Cambridge Commonwealth Society.Throughout my career, I worked on deep science driven translational research projects, developed and deployed radical technogies, contributed to policy briefs and strategy developments. I authored influential publications / patents and have received several awards for the development of technologies. I have been a keynote speaker at over 25 international conferences and participated in panel discussions on TV on subjects related to agriculture, foods and nutrition. I have been invited on Research Advirory Council of CSIR- IHBT, Palampur and other prestigious research organisations. I also serve as a reviewer of research grant applications for some philanthropic organisations. Was also a member of Expert Committee on Access and Benefit Sharing of National Biodiversity Board (NBA), Govt of India: 2018 and an Observer at GBEP (FAO, Rome).My research experience includes leading teams at Unilever as Principal Scientist; ITC as Chief Scientist; and World Agroforestry (CGIAR) as Program Director (Biofuels). Worked on signal transduction for aroma volatile generation and C/N metabolism for Theanine biosynthesis in tea, sustainable smart feed-stock production systems for food and energy security, genome sequencing and epigenetics. Additionally, I have collaborated internationally with research partners in Kenya (Unilever), Japan (Unilever), Brazil (EMBRAPA), Australia (CSIRO), The Netherlands (Key Genes), Israel (Futura Genes), South Africa (CSIR), and the UK (Unilever).Currently, serve as a Goodwill Ambassador to CIMMYT and also as a Scientific Advisor to Microvioma Pvt Ltd.Have a strong passion for advancing research and development, international collaborations, development and deployment of technogies.

Experience

1. Goodwill Ambassador

   CIMMYT

   Dec 2025 — Present · IN

Education

• J N Agriculture University, Jabalpur

  M Sc, Genetics

  1982 — 1984

• Pt L S Jha Model High School, Jabalpur

  Higher Secondary, Biology

  1977 — 1978

• J N Agriculture University, Jabalpur

  B Sc

  1978 — 1982

• University of Cambridge

  Ph D, Applied Biology

  1985 — 1989

• University of York

  Post Doctoral Fellow , Botany/Plant Biology

• J N Agriculture University

  Ph D, Genetics

  1984 — 1985

Skills

• Strategic Planning
• Capacity Building
• Genetics
• Proteomics
• R&D Management
• Molecular Biology
• Patents
• Strategy
• Biotechnology
• Biochemistry
• Research and Development (R&D)
• Functional Foods
• Agri Sciences
• Organizational Leadership
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Hplc
• Life Sciences
• Strategic Leadership
• Chief Scientist
• Product Development
• Technology Transfer
• Business Strategy
• R&D
• Management
• Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (Fmcg)
• Agriculture
• Team Leadership
• Project Management
• High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (Hplc)
• Science
• Lifesciences
• Protein Chemistry
• Cell Biology
• Leadership
• Research
• Microbiology
• Fmcg
• Genomics
• Team Management