Dr. Sarbjit Singh Chahal, is highly acclaimed scholar having held several prestigious academic positions including Professor Emeritus (University Grants Commission), Panjab University, Chandigarh , Vice-Chancellor of Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Desh Bhagat University, Punjab, Sr. Vice President, RBEF (Apex body for management of Amity Universities), Director of Research, Dean Faculty of Agriculture, Syndic, Senator, Chairman Postgraduate Education and Research Board, Member Finance Committee„ Academic Council and Research Degree Board of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Dean Postgraduate Studies, Registrar, Controller of Examinations and Professor of Epidemiology Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.
Prof. Chahal having an experience of over forty two years in education, has distinguished himself for carrying out basic and applied research in the field of disease resistance, epidemiology, histopathology, risk analysis, disease cycle and management of several serious diseases of cereals and sunflower. As a profile writer, he has to his credit 286 publications including research and review papers, books, book chapters, manuals and popular articles besides editing five volumes of the journal Plant Disease Research.
Recognizing his contribution in the field of Plant Pathology, he has been bestowed with Meritorious Teacher Award for Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Prof. Chahal is the winner of five National Awards viz. two time Prof. M J Narasimhan Merit Academic Award, Pesticides India Award . B. B. Mundakar Award and Borlaug Lecture Award. He has been conferred with the prestigious ISMPP Life Time Achievement Award and IPS Recognition Award. He was a visiting scientist, twice to the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (TCRISAT) and twice to Danish Government Institute of Seed Pathology (DGISP), Copenhagen, Denmark. He is on the editorial board of several journals, member and fellow of many professional societies. He is also an Honorary Fellow of Punjab Academy of Sciences and Indian Society of Plant Pathologists and mentor to fourteen postgraduate students.
Prof. Chahal has contributed immensely as a President of Indian Society of Plant Pathologists, Indian Society of Mycology and Plant Pathology and Indian Phytopathological Society; Chairman, Steering Committees of the Asian Congress of Mycology and Plant Pathology , Global Conference-II, III and 5th International Congress of Plant Pathology. Visitor to fifteen foreign universitie, Prof Chahal has attended several national and International Conferences and is serving as Chairman and member of a number of Academic, Search, Research and Advisory Committees of UGC, ICAR, ASRB, UPSC, Indian and Foreign universities. He is the Chairman of Agri Knowledge Foundation„ India, NAAC (Appeals) and member of Accreditation Board of ICAR. He has also served as Chairman of recommending committee for opening of private Universities in Rajasthan and Member Board of Directors Rajasthan Knowledge Commission Ltd (RKCL).