Dr. Virender Kumar is a Principal Scientist at IRRI specializing in Weed Science and Systems Agronomy. He leads the Climate-resilient Farming Systems Unit and coordinates the Direct-Seeded Rice Consortium. His research focuses on sustainable weed management, resource-efficient alternatives to puddled transplanted rice, and sustainable intensification of rice-based systems. Previously, he worked at CIMMYT and holds a PhD in Weed Science from Cornell University, along with a Master's in Agronomy from CCS Haryana Agricultural University. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles.