Dr. Gopala Krishnan is Head and Principal Scientist (Rice Breeding) at Division of Genetics, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. 

He has made significant contributions towards basic and applied research in rice genetics and molecular breeding through development and release of 18 rice varieties including 13 Basmati rice varieties, Improved PB 1, PB 1509, PB 1609, PB 1637, PB 1728 and PB 1718, export of which earns about 36500 crores rupees in 2022-2023. Fifteen rice varieties including Improved PB 1, PB 1609, PB 1637, PB 1718, PB 1728, PB 1847, PB 1885, PB 1886, PB 1979, PB 1985, PB 1882, Pusa 1592, Pusa 1612, Pusa Samba 1850, Pusa Samba 1853 have been developed through integration of molecular breeding.

He has developed genomic resources, high-throughput screening technique and identified sources of Bakanae resistance, mapped QTLs governing bakanae resistance and grain quality, mined a novel allele of GS3, ALS, deciphered marker-haplotype association for salt tolerance, developed and validated a co-dominant marker for blast resistance gene, Pi9 in rice. He has developed and registered thirteen unique genetic stocks in guar, mung bean and rice.

Dr. Gopala Krishnan has published 161 research papers, 25 book chapters. He is involved in teaching three courses and guided 10 MSc and 3 PhD students as Chairman and 92 post graduate students as member of advisory committee.

He has been honored with Lal Bahadur Shastri Outstanding Young Scientist Award (For Crop and Horticultural Sciences) by ICAR, New Delhi, 2015; National recognition certificate for Basmati rice variety development by ICAR, New Delhi, 2009; Nanaji Deshmukh ICAR award for outstanding interdisciplinary team research in agricultural and allied sciences 2021; Dr. R. S. Paroda Young Scientist Award by ISPGR, New Delhi, 2014; Dr. P.N. Bahl Biennium Award by ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, 2014-15 and BOYSCAST Fellow 2010 by Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

He is the fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi; Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding, New Delhi; Indian Society of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi; Association of Rice Research Workers, Cuttack and was selected as an Associate of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi.