Dr Rakesh Pathak a obtained PhD from the Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, in 2008. He is an assistant chief technical officer in the Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan and is a fellow of the Institution of Chemists (India). Dr Pathak has published more than 100 research papers and book chapters on molecular characterization and genetic diversity studies of several crops and trees in journals and books of national and international repute. He has molecularly characterized and submitted more than 200 novel gene sequences belonging to plant varieties/germplasm, macro-fungi, fungal pathogens and PGPRs with NCBI, USA, to address Indian biodiversity. Dr Pathak has delivered several oral and poster presentations in national and international conferences. He has been regularly reviewing manuscripts as a referee for high-impact journals.