Dr. Atul Kumar Singh, Vigyan Ratna Awardee of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, obtained his Ph.D. in Zoology from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, in 1981. He has since amassed 37 years of research experience, serving in various capacities, primarily under the Central Government.

Dr. Singh served as the Director of the National Research Institute ICAR-DCFR, where he coordinated and monitored R&D activities across all Himalayan states. After his retirement, he served as an Emeritus Scientist at ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

Dr. Singh made significant contributions to the understanding of thyroid hormones and melatonin's mode of action, both in vivo and in tissue culture. He worked extensively on the scientific management of India's fish germplasm, developing national guidelines for the import, culture, and management of exotic/invasive fish species. His work includes the development of production technology for monosex populations of tilapia, common carp, and mahseer for ecologically safe aquaculture. He contributed to Coldwater fisheries, aquatic resource management, and human resource development for responsible aquaculture and fisheries. He also played a crucial role in institutional infrastructure development, including campus development, research laboratories, and the construction of aquariums at NBFGR, Lucknow.

Dr. Singh has completed over 28 research projects and published more than 322 research papers in peer-reviewed international and national journals. He has also authored twelve books. Additionally, he has guided over a dozen Ph.D. students across various universities and developed academic collaborations while overseeing research projects at both institutional and inter-institutional levels.

He has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the S.Z. Quasim Gold Medal, Dutta Munshi Gold Medal, Dr. K.L. Sehgal Gold Medal, and Eminent Indian Zoologist Award of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). He has also received fellowships from several professional bodies and organizations, such as ICAR-CIFRI. Additionally, he has received ICAR-level recognitions, including the Best Annual Report Award and Hindi Publications Award.

Dr. Singh has participated in numerous national and international seminars, symposia, and meetings, delivering invited talks. He has chaired and served as a member of many national committees, including the Introduction of Exotics in Indian Waters Committee, Accreditation Committee for Agricultural Universities (ICAR), Task Force of the Department of Biotechnology, National Biodiversity Authority, and various academic councils and boards. He is a life member of several international and national professional societies and serves on the editorial boards of numerous international and national journals.