Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Varshney  completed his Master in Geology in 1984 from Aligarh Muslim University with University Medal for obtaining the first position He pursued research at the University of Delhi during 1985-1990 on Himalayan river systems, sedimentation, diagenetic and tectonic modifications. He was also awarded the Dr DN Wadia Research Fellowship in 1986 for his research on Himalayan Geology.
 

Dr. Varshney is a Life Fellow of the Geological Society of India, Bangalore; Nepal Geological Society, Kathmandu and member of the International Association of Sedimentologists, Oxford. He  taught at Kurukshetra University in 1990 and  wrote several articles on Science Policies focusing on International Scientific Cooperation. He is also involved in science popularization for which he writes in newspapers and magazines.

 

He was Indian Co-Chair, Governing Body, Indo-German Science & Technology Centre and Indo-US Endowment Fund; Member, Board of Directors of a private limited company, Global Innovation & Technology Alliance (GITA) and is Member, Governing Councils of the: (1) US- India Education Foundation (USIEF), and (2) International Advanced Research Centre of Powder Metallurgy (ARCI). He was the Indian Focal Point for BRICS Working Group on Science & Technology and OECD Committee on Science & Technology Policy. He was the Member of, Board of Research Studies in the Department of Geology, Aligarh Muslim University.
He has worked as Counsellor (S&T) with the Embassy of India in Moscow to facilitate bilateral scientific cooperation between India and Russia from April 2008 - June 2011.

Before superannuation on 31 January 2024, Dr.  Varshney was the  head of the International Scientific Cooperation in the Ministry / Department of Science & Technology, Government of India. He joined DST in 1990 and facilitated  international scientific cooperation from the Department of Science & Technology with its bilateral, multilateral and regional scientific partners.   He contributed significantly for  the promotion of international scientific cooperation as well as scientific–industrial cooperation.