Surinder Kumar Sawhney obtained BSc (Agriculture) (1966) from Khalsa College, Amritsar. He then obtained MSc and PhD from Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi under the guidance of Professor MS Naik. He worked as Postdoctoral Fellow (1973-78) with Professor DJD Nicholas at Waite Agricultural Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia. He then served as Senior Lecturer (1978-80) in University of Nairobi, Kenya. Thereafter, he joined as Associate Professor (1983) in the Department of Biochemistry, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar and retired from there in 2003.

Academic and Research Achievements: Working in the area plant biochemistry, Sawhney made significant contributions to regulation of assimilation of nitrate, ammonium and sulfate in photosynthetic organisms. In addition, he was actively engaged in research on the impact of metal pollutants on nitrogen metabolism, photosynthesis and respiration of field crops. He also authored about 70 research papers, contributed chapters in several books and also edited two books.

Awards and Honours: Professor Sawhney was awarded Gold Medal by ICAR for highest OGPA during PhD.