| Association of Nepalese Agricultural Professionals of Americas (NAPA) |
Student Coordination Committee (2024-2026)
Chair
Mr. Bipin Neupane
Washington State University, USA
Email: bipin dot neupane at wsu dot edu
Bipin Neupane is a Ph.D. student at Washington State University, specializing in Small Grain Breeding, Genomics, and Bioinformatics. With a strong background in agricultural sciences and experience as a Graduate Research Assistant at North Dakota State University and Tribhuvan University, he brings a unique perspective and a relentless drive for learning to his research. Bipin has contributed to cutting-edge projects in plant breeding, genome sequencing, and crop stress tolerance evaluation. His technical expertise spans DNA extraction, PCR, genotyping, sequencing, disease screening, and data analysis. He actively serves on professional committees, including NAPA, where he demonstrates his creativity and leadership, while also dedicating himself to mentoring students and engaging in community service.
Members
Ms. Sadikshya Poudel
Washington State University, USA
Email: sadikshya dot poudel at wsu dot edu
Sadikshya is a PhD student in Plant Breeding at Washington State University, focusing on developing heart-healthy, biofortified naked food barley. She completed her Master's in Agronomy from Mississippi State University and hold a Bachelor's degree from the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science in Nepal. Her research explores crop resilience to heat and drought, contributing to multiple high-impact publications. She specialize in data analysis and scientific writing, and is actively involved in leadership and community service through various professional affiliations and volunteer work.
Ms. Shreesha Pandeya
Kentucky State University, USA
Email: shreesha dot pandey24 at gmail dot com
Ms. Shreesha Pandeya joined the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources in August 2023 as a graduate student at Kentucky State University. She is working as a graduate research assistant in the Department of Environmental Studies. Prior to joining KYSU, she completed her undergraduate degree from Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal. Her interest lies in climate change studies, environmental changes, ecosystem services, land use land cover change modeling, water quality assessment, integrating geospatial applications and human dimensions. She has received outstanding master’s student award from Kentucky State University and Association of Nepalese Agricultural Professionals of Americas (NAPA) in the year 2024 based on her academic excellence. She is passionate about continuous improvement and achievements embracing personal and professional growth.
Mr. Siddant Ranabhat
North Dakota State University, USA
Email: siddant999 dot me at gmail dot com
I completed my bachelor's degree at Tribhuvan University and am currently pursuing a master's in Plant Pathology at North Dakota State University. My passion for plant science and research has driven me to choose this path in my career. Currently, my research focuses on studying plant parasitic nematodes affecting soybeans. In addition to my academic pursuits, I have a diverse range of hobbies and interests. I enjoy hiking, cycling and playing outdoor games, which provide a balance to my academic work and allow me to stay active and engaged with nature. I also like to remain abreast of the political activities around the world. Professionally, I have gained valuable experience through internships and research assistant positions, where I have worked on various projects related to plant health and disease management. These experiences have honed my skills in laboratory techniques, data analysis, and project management, preparing me for a successful career in plant pathology.
Mr. Dinesh Ghimire
Cornell University, USA
Email: dineshghimire01 at gmail dot com
I am Dinesh Ghimire, born and raised in Nepal where I completed my bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science. In Nepal, I worked in a seed company and did an internship on a Maize research project. Following my interest in Plant Breeding, I joined West Virginia State University for an MS in Biotechnology and worked on a tomato breeding project in the Liedl Lab. Currently, I am a first-year PhD student in Robbins lab at Cornell University, where my research focuses on using advanced statistical models, quantitative genetics, and sensor data for modeling crop growth and plant-environment interactions, working on alfalfa, maize, soybean, cotton, and canola. Apart from academic responsibilities, I have been keeping myself engaged in various organizations since my undergrad. Even now, I am part of a couple of organizations at Cornell. To keep up my passion for contributing to the community and staying involved, I am excited to serve in NAPA.
Mr. Dipak Khanal
Texas A&M University, USA
Email: khanald2114 at tamu dot edu
I am a dedicated PhD student at Texas A&M University, College Station, specializing in crop genome editing. My passion for agriculture and genetic research has led me to pursue my study to this field, particularly in understanding and improving crop resilience to abiotic stresses. I born and raised in a Buddha Bhumi municipality of Kapilvastu. My fascination with how plants grow and adapt to their environment guided my educational choices. I pursued my undergraduate studies in agricultural sciences in Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Lamjung Campus. At Texas A&M AgriLife Research, I have immersed myself in the study of crop genome editing. Outside the lab, I enjoy a well-rounded life. I have a keen interest in travelling and exploring new places.
Mr. Raju Thada Magar
Michigan State University, USA
Email: thadaraj at msu dot edu
I am Raju Thada Magar, a PhD student at Michigan State University in the Plant Breeding, Genetics, and Biotechnology program. My passion for genetics, plant breeding, and biotechnology has been the driving force in my career. I have completed my BS majoring in Agriculture and MS in Plant Biotechnology. After my MS, I joined Dr. Madhav P. Pandey's wheat breeding and genetics program as a research associate at AFU(Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal). These experiences have strengthened my desire to become a plant breeder, and I am now pursuing a Ph.D. at Michigan State University to further my knowledge and skills in these fields. Currently we are implementing genomic and phenomic selection in our breeding program. I am excited about the potential of phenomic-assisted genomic selection to improve the efficiency and accuracy of our breeding program and increase genetic gains in soybean.
Mr. Sahil Ojha
University of Maryland Eastshore, USA
Email: sahil dot ojha1997 at gmail dot com
Sahil Ojha is a graduate student at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's Department of Agriculture, Food, and Resource Sciences. He is pursuing a master's in Food and Agricultural Sciences, specializing in Agricultural Economics. He earned his undergraduate degree in Agriculture from Purbanchal University, Nepal. Sahil currently serves as a Graduate Extension Assistant at UMES Extension, where his research efforts focus on advancing food security, preserving biodiversity, and improving community well-being, particularly supporting small and minority farmers in Maryland. He is interested in research related to community economic development, natural resource management, and environmental sustainability.
Mr. Sujan Ghimire
Tennessee State University, USA
Email: sghimire dot ag at gmail dot com
Mr Ghimire is an MS Agribusiness and Leadership student at Tennessee State University, USA. He graduated with an MSc in Agricultural Economics from Agricultural and Forestry University in 2022. He is joining the University of Missouri for a PhD in Agricultural Economics next semester. Previously, he worked as a research assistant in the Asia Pacific Network for Global Change Research project in the Ganges Brahmaputra river basins of Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. He also attended the World Bank fellowship program for the capacity building of future water resource professionals of Nepal, held at Wuhan University, China. Currently, he is working as a research assistant in the USAID-funded Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Safety and Food Security in Nepal. He has published research articles and book chapters in reputed journals such as Elsevier. His primary research interests lie in the realm of agricultural policy, food security, experimental and behavioral economics, and international development.
Mr. Sujan Lamichhane
Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal
Email: lamichhanesujan629 at gmail dot com
Mr. Lamichhane is an undergraduate B.Sc. Agriculture student in the fifth semester at Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal. He completed two action research and has experience in coauthorship in over ten research and review papers. He has published two research papers. He is the author of Secrets of Applied Science Entrance Preparation Book, and Booster Knowledge Book from Grade 1 to Grade 7. He has recently published ‘A Complete Manual of Plant and Animal Science’ for the Diploma in Agriculture. Moreover, he has been awarded District second topper in SEE 2075, Merit-based scholarship by Kathmandu Institute of Science and Technology College (2019-2021), the KIST Scholar Award 2022, the Nandalal Jagateswori Award 2022, Merit-based Scholarship by Agriculture and Forestry University (2022-2026), University Grant Commission Scholarship (2022-2026), Golden Jubilee Scholarship (2023-2026). He is the Campus Ambassador of Eco Network Global and the University Ambassador of G-17 Nepal.
Advisor
Dr. Bhim Chaulagain