Prem Jauhar, a research geneticist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service Northern Crop Science Laboratory and an adjunct professor of plant sciences at NDSU, has provided funding for four scholarships that will benefit academically bright students in financial need. Jauhar set up these scholarships on Sept. 15.
Jauhar’s own life has been full of struggles. While growing up in British India, he struggled with oppression and poverty while his country fought for independence. From studying under streetlights and borrowing books from other students, he knew firsthand what it was like to be poor and scholarly, and therefore was motivated to set up these scholarships.
Jauhar’s father Ram Lal Jauhar resented the British rule and relentlessly struggled for social justice and rights for all. He taught Prem persistence and perseverance, often telling him “Quitters don’t win, and winners don’t quit.”
The Maya Jauhar Memorial Emergency Fund will support and continually replenish the emergency fund managed by the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Global Outreach. The $500 gift is named in memory of Prem’s mother.
The Prem and Raj Jauhar Book Scholarship, in the amount of $500, will help a student offset book expenses.
The Ram Lal Jauhar Memorial Scholarship will provide an annual scholarship in the amount of $500 to a student demonstrating high academic standing and financial need. Prem gave $12,500 for the endowment, which is named in the memory of his father.
The Prem Jauhar Crop Science Research Award will provide an annual $500 cash award for a graduate student demonstrating top academic achievement in the field of crop science research (genetics, cytogenetics, plant breeding and biotechnology) at NDSU. Prem gave $12,500 for the endowment.
Prem’s research involves genetic enhancement of wheat using tools of classical and molecular cytogenetics and biotechnology. His 152 publications include five books and research papers in journals like Nature, Theoretical and Applied Genetics, Genome, Journal of Heredity and Crop Science. He has served as associate editor of the Journal of Heredity, an international journal of genetics, since 1990. He was elected Fellow of the Crop Science Society of America in 1995, Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy in 1996 and Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 2003.
“These scholarships and awards will benefit many bright and needy students for years to come,” Evie Myers, vice president for equity, diversity, and global outreach, said. “We cannot thank Dr. Jauhar and his wife, Raj, enough for these outstanding, generous gifts.”