Wricha was born in Rourkela (Orissa), did schooling in Ranchi (Jharkhand) and graduation from Delhi University in microbiology. Her post-graduation research in life sciences from Jawaharlal Nehru University led to better insight into role of calcium mediated signalling in abiotic stress in pea. PhD from ICGEB, New Delhi, in the area of plant molecular biology involved isolation and characterisation of vacuolar signalling components of Pennisetum glaucum involved in salinity stress.

Post-doctoral research at Hyderabad university focused on TILLING in tomato. While at Cornell University, molecular characterization of 400 O. rufipogon using SSR markers as well as design of first SNP chip in rice using Illumina platform was performed. Alongside, DHR (NADH-dependent dihydrofavonol reductase) promoter and underlying elements from rice were also characterised leading to identification of key cis-acting elements and minimal promoter involved in colour development in rice endosperm.

Since 2009, she has been engaged in teaching and research at India’s first Central Agricultural University. Joined ICRISAT as Principal Scientist and Cluster leader on August 01, 2022.

Trained in molecular biology, she has till date published a total of 112 publications including 53 peer reviewed papers and successfully completed eight projects with funding from various donors. The focus has been to provide long term solutions to problematic soils particularly acid soils using genomic tools where amelioration and amendment measures are not able to offer long lasting solutions. The genetic solutions contemplated are likely to pay dividends in crop improvement of cereals, legumes and oilseeds. Current work involves utilizing reverse and forward genetics tools for candidate gene discovery and creating biotechnological tools and platform technologies for genetic and gene engineering.