Dr Hari Sankar Nayak, a post-doctoral research associate in the System Agronomy for Global Development program with Associate Professor Andrew McDonald, has been awarded the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute merit medal for outstanding academic performance for his PhD degree completed in 2022.  He achievement was recognized  by the Vice-President of India at a national ceremony in February where he was also awarded with the Prof K N Synghal Gold medal from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute. His research uses data driven approaches for empowering sustainable intensification transitions in Indian agriculture.