Keerthana Manickam is a PhD student in Bioscience at KAUST, focuses mainly on computational genomics to support sustainable agriculture and global food security.Her journey began as an intern at KAUST, followed by a Master’s in bioscience, where she gained experience in comparative genomics and genome assembly. Her research focuses on rice (Oryza sativa), using a k-mer-based genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genes and genomic loci associated with important grain-related traits.

This work aims to demonstrate the advantages of k-mer-based GWAS over traditional SNP-based GWAS approaches while providing deeper insights into genetic diversity, adaptation, and domestication. Ultimately, it will contribute to the development of advanced breeding strategies for crop improvement and sustainable food production.