Samuel Gnanamanickam

Samuel S. Gnanamanickam (born July 18, 1945) is an Indian plant pathologist. He is known for his research on diversity of rice pathogens, molecular breeding of indica rices for disease resistance and for developing superior strains of beneficial strains of rhizosphere bacteria for biological control of rice diseases. He is a fellow of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences and National Academy of Biological Sciences of India and was Chair of the biological control committee at the American Phytopathological Society.

Early life and education
Gnanamanickam was born in Kannanallurr, Tamil Naduu, India, on July 18, 1945. He acquired a bachelor's and master's degree from Agricultural College and Research Institute Coimbatore, India, class 1969, and obtained his PhD degree in Plant Pathology from the University of Hawaiʻi in Honolulu, class 1976. He then earned a postdoctoral fellowship from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and worked for Agri-Food Canada.

Career
Gnanamanickam has been associated with the University of Madras and was professor of plant pathology since 1898. He was also among the visiting scientists and a professor on a Biotechnology Career Fellowship visits to University of Hawaiʻi, Kansas State University, and University of Wisconsin. Since 2004, he has been recognized as an adjunct professor of plant pathology at the University of Arizona, Tucson.

Honors
Gnanamanickam is the recipient of the Tamil Nadu Scientist Award.