Association of Nepalese Agricultural Professionals of Americas (NAPA)

Student Coordination Committee (2026-2028)

Advisor

Sita Thapa, PhD

Research Scientist, Crop Protection Nematology, Corteva Agriscience, Indianapolis, IN, USA

Dr. Sita Thapa is currently working for Corteva Agriscience at Indianapolis headquarter as a Research Investigator. As a biologist, her role at Corteva is split between discovery and development. In discovery she is leading the screening cascade of chemistries at the initial phase of the pipeline against several species of nematodes. However, for the development role she supports the chemistry at the development phase towards the end of the pipeline and nematicides launched in the market. She has a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from HICAST Nepal, she graduated as a gold medalist. She was honored from ex-President of Nepal Ram Baran Yadav for scoring highest scored among the girls during the last year of undergraduate in 2009.  After graduation she worked almost a year for FORWARD, Nepal. Then she moved to US for her master’s study. She did her masters and PhD from University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Her PhD project was funded by fellowship called Schlumberger Foundation, Faculty for the Future program. After completing her PhD, she moved to Michigan State University as a Postdoc and learned applied research to diversify her basic research expertise from her Graduate school. She has published several peer-revied articles in reputed journal with high impact factors. She was an editor for NAPA’s newsletter for over a year and NAPA’s life member. Beside NAPA, she is a member of Society of Nematologist from 2015, She is an active member participating and presenting every year in the conferences.  Besides work, she enjoys gardening, movies, and spending time with her family. She lives in Westfield Indiana with her husband and daughter.

Members

Sadhana Chhetri

Sadhana Chhetri is a Ph.D. student in Entomology at Purdue University and a 2026–2029 FFAR Fellow. Her research explores the integration of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies into agricultural decision-making, with a particular emphasis on evaluating large language models (LLMs) as decision-support tools for integrated pest management of field crops. Her interests lie at the intersection of AI, precision agriculture, and sustainable crop production, with the goal of developing practical, technology-driven approaches to support farmers and agricultural professionals. Beyond her research, Sadhana is passionate about leadership, community engagement, and professional service. She serves as the President of the Nepali Society at Purdue (NEPSAP) and as the Graduate Chair Forum representative in the Department of Entomology at Purdue University. Through these roles, she works to foster collaboration, cultural exchange, and a strong sense of community among students. Outside of academics, Sadhana enjoys exploring the outdoors, visiting national parks, and cultivating her love for indoor plants. She finds inspiration and balance through connecting with nature and creating moments of reflection and renewal beyond her academic pursuits.

Ms. Shristi Adhikari is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Environmental Studies at Kentucky State University. Her research focuses on understanding perceptions of farmers and non-farmers regarding extreme weather events using mixed-method research approaches. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the 'Agriculture and Forestry University', Nepal. Prior to joining Kentucky State University, Ms. Adhikari served as the country lead coordinator for 'SHE Changes Climate,' where she contributed to climate advocacy and youth engagement initiatives. She has experience as a researcher, project coordinator, and advocate, with a strong commitment to promoting climate resilience, gender equality, and sustainable development. Her work has primarily focused on empowering grassroots and underprivileged women farmers, educating youth on climate change, and conducting interdisciplinary research using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Ms. Adhikari was also listed as one of the top 100 global youth leaders at the 'Youth Ag Summit 2021' for the noble vision of advancing gender equality in the food sector. Additionally, she has also actively participated in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conferences of the Parties (COP) in 2021, 2022, and 2023, contributing to global discussions on climate action and sustainable development. Her achievements have been recognized through several awards, including the Regen Grant (2021), the SHE Changes Climate Ambassador Fellowship (2023), the Graduate Research Paper Award (2026), the Rural Sociological Society (RSS) Student Travel Grant Award (2026), and the Diversity Award for HBCU and Global South Scholars (2026).

Sadikshya Poudel

Amrit Poudel

Amrit Poudel is a Nepalese veterinarian, researcher, and animal welfare advocate. He completed his Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc. & A.H.) from the Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal, and is a licensed veterinary doctor. His research interests lie in zoonotic diseases, infectious diseases, microbiology, immunology wildlife health, and epidemiology. Beyond research, Dr. Poudel is passionate about animal welfare, wildlife conservation, and community engagement. He enjoys working with local communities to promote animal health and public awareness while continuously expanding his knowledge through research collaborations and international scientific networks. Outside his professional life, he enjoys travelling, exploring nature, photography, and learning new technologies that can advance veterinary science and One Health initiatives.

Dipak Khanal

I am a PhD candidate in Plant Breeding at Texas A&M University, College Station Texas with anticipated graduation in May of 2027. My research focuses on Prime Editing and CRISPR-Cas9 in rice and mung beans to enhance traits related to nitrogen-use efficiency and grain quality respectively. I also employ transcriptomics to study gene function in resistant starch rice lines. I am passionate about science, communication and leadership. My best hobbies are long road trips with friends and exploring new places. The moment when I realized that innovation discovered in lab as a new crop cultivar gets transferred to the farmer field in the form of seed and seed is the foundation of farming that heavily determines the yield and quality, I am always inspired to pursue my future career in the seed industry.

Arjun Acharya

Arjun Acharya is a recent Master of Science graduate in Animal Science from Tuskegee University, Alabama. His research focused on evaluating the effects of silvopasture and open pasture grazing systems on forage quality, goat performance, and enteric methane emissions in the southeastern United States. His research interests include forage-based livestock production, grazing management, ruminant nutrition, sustainable animal agriculture, and greenhouse gas mitigation. He has presented his research at scientific conferences and has contributed to peer-reviewed publications in animal science. He is passionate about advancing sustainable livestock production through research and innovation.

Niranjan Pokhrel

Niranjan Pokhrel is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Complex Biosystems program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where his research focuses on improving nitrogen use efficiency in maize through an integrated approach combining quantitative genetics, genomics, high-throughput phenotyping, and crop growth modeling. He holds a master’s degree in Horticulture Physiology from Oklahoma State University and a bachelor’s degree from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. Throughout his graduate studies, he has been actively engaged in student organizations, contributing to leadership and community-building efforts. Outside the lab, he enjoys camping, cooking, and sports.