RAID Committee Member Spotlight – Krishna Chaitanya Alamuru
We are delighted to do our member spotlight on a new addition to the RAID central committee – Krishna Chaitanya Alamuru!
Krishna’s enthusiasm for plants is contagious! He is a PhD candidate at the University of Southern Queensland. His work explores how mungbean plants fight back against invisible enemies – microscopic pathogens that threaten harvests and farmers’ livelihoods across Asia and Australia and other parts of the world.
His research combines pathotyping, host range studies, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS). A blend of plant pathology, crop genetics and genomics that bridges the gap between lab discoveries and on-farm impact. As Krishna says:
“I like to think of it as understanding a plant’s battle plan…….I work with Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens, the bacterium behind tan spot disease in mungbean, and with powdery mildew. My primary aim is to find genetic markers linked to resistance so breeders can develop varieties that can stand strong against these threats.”
Krishna’s journey into the Ag4Dev space started when he was a boy. Growing up in a farming region in India, he watched his parents and neighbours nurture fields that could be wiped out overnight by unseen diseases.
“It fascinated me, how a small infection could turn a healthy crop into nothing. I wanted to understand why and how it happens.”
His curiosity drove him to pursue a master’s degree, where he worked at the World Vegetable Centre (WorldVeg) hosted at the ICRISAT campus, Hyderabad, India. Here he was first exposed to international agricultural research and its power to make global connections through science.
“That experience changed my perspective. I realised agriculture is not just about food production; it’s about people, resilience, and hope.”
This experience gave Krishna the inspiration and ethos that drives him today.
“My inspiration comes from the farmers whose livelihoods depend on these crops…. every disease-resistant line we develop means fewer losses in the field, fewer chemicals in the soil, and a more sustainable future for agriculture. That’s what keeps me going- knowing that our work, in some small way, protects both people and the planet.”
For Krishna, international agricultural research is more than collaboration; it’s connection. Food connects us all.
“I’ve always felt that agriculture has no passport. The soil may look different, but the struggle to grow food, protect crops, and sustain families is the same everywhere. Agriculture doesn’t recognise borders. The challenges faced by a farmer in India can echo in the paddocks of Australia or the fields of Africa………that’s why I’m so passionate about international agriculture and development. It’s not just about research or crops; it’s about people, shared learning, and collaboration. When we exchange ideas and work together across borders, we don’t just grow better plants, we build stronger, more connected communities.”
We asked Krishna for some advice for others hoping to pursue a career in international ag and development. Krishna emphasises the need for soft skills in your work; being a good researcher also means having empathy and pursuing genuine connections.
“Listen to local communities, understand their realities, and work with them, not for them. Respecting local knowledge and combining it with modern tools is where the real innovation happens. The best solutions grow from collaboration and respect.”
Research isn’t always smooth sailing, especially while you are still learning! Krishna tells us about how his first greenhouse trial that went completely off track – plants refused to germinate, contamination snuck into samples, and the data refused to make sense!! He also talks openly about moments of self-doubt and imposter syndrome that many early-career researchers feel, as they find their confidence in their field.
“There are days when you feel like you’re not good enough, but then you remind yourself why you started. Every small success even getting a clean DNA band on a gel feels like a celebration.”
When he’s not in the lab, Krishna finds peace in the kitchen! He loves cooking Paneer butter masala and vegetable biryani!! But alas, his favourite food is also his mungbeans!
“This might sound predictable……. after spending so much time studying them, I’ve grown quite attached in every sense!!”
The RAID Network is very excited to have such a passionate new central committee member, and we are excited to see what’s next! Welcome Krishna!!
