Sita R. Ghimire

Highly accomplished Agricultural Professional with extensive experience in crop protection, pest management, and agricultural R&D. Proven expertise in leading multidisciplinary research teams, developing strategic field trial programs, and driving innovation in plant health and biotechnology. Adept at stakeholder engagement, budget management, and technology transfer to support product development and commercialization.

• Managed multidisciplinary research on crop protection, plant health, and biotechnology, securing $35M+ in funding.
• Led development & commercialization of drought-tolerant forage, benefiting 500K farmers across 20 countries.
• Pioneered integrated disease management, microbial biocontrol, and mycotoxin mitigation strategies.
• Supervised 60+ scientists, fostered global public-private collaborations, and ensured regulatory compliance.

• Supervisor Certification Course, Management Concept, US, 12/02-12/12/24
• Leadership & Management Skills Course, hfp Connect, Germany, 10/13-10/15/18
• Molecular Characterization of Phytophthora infestans, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, UK, 09/99-01/00
• Identification of Fungi of Agricultural Importance, International Mycological Institute, UK, 08/03-09/11/92

• Led and managed large, multidisciplinary research teams, mentoring scientists, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students while fostering innovation and collaboration.
• Designed, managed, and executed agricultural research projects focusing on crop protection, pest management, plant health, and biotechnology to improve productivity and resilience.
• Conducted extensive research on plant pathogens, beneficial microbes, and integrated disease management strategies, leading to scalable solutions for farmers and industry partners.
• Established and maintained partnerships with government agencies, private sector actors, regulatory bodies, and research institutions to align R&D activities with market needs.
• Secured and managed multimillion-dollar research grants, oversaw budgets, and optimized research facilities and operations to enhance efficiency and output.
• Developed and commercialized agricultural technologies, including drought-tolerant crops and microbial solutions, ensuring impact at scale through public-private partnerships.

• Extensive experience in plant pathology, entomology, and nematology, focusing on disease and pest management for food, feed, bioenergy, and horticultural crops.
• Designed and conducted field and controlled-environment trials for evaluating crop protection strategies, disease management, and plant-microbe interactions.
• Led large, multidisciplinary research teams (scientists, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students), fostering collaboration, innovation, and high performance.
• Developed and implemented research programs that contributed to new agricultural solutions, including biopesticides, plant-microbe interactions, and resilient crops.
• Collaborated with government agencies, universities, private sector companies, regulatory bodies, and international research institutions to drive agricultural innovation.
• Secured and managed multimillion-dollar research grants, efficiently overseeing financial and operational aspects of research projects.
• Ensured research compliance with biosafety and regulatory requirements, securing permits for handling and testing regulated organisms.
• Developed and scaled up agricultural innovations such as drought-tolerant forage and bioenergy crops and microbial biofertilizers, benefitting millions of farmers.

• US Government Grants & Contracts Management (FAC-COR Level 1 & 2)

• Authored over 200 publications, including peer reviewed scientific publications, extension materials, and popular articles. For a complete list, visit my Google Scholar Page at https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=FTg-2WEAAAAJ&hl=en

• Native Fungal Endophytes and Compositions Thereof for Agricultural Application as Bio-fertilizers and Bio-pesticides., Ghimire S, Taghavi S, van der Lelie D, 03/15/13, 61/787, 443, 11/2013, US$ 22 million (as of 03/25)

• Early Career Author Award, 2012, RTI International, NC; Highly Published Author Award, 2012 & 2013, RTI International, NC; Visiting Scientist Fellowship, Royal Society UK, 1999-2000; Technical Cooperation Training Program Award of British Government, 1991 & 1994-95; and Merit Scholarships, Tribhuvan University, 1981-83 & 1984-88.

• Senior Editor, Phytobiomes Journal, American Phytopathological Society, 2017-19; Member, UKRI International Development Peer Review College, UK, 2017-22; Member, Institutional Biosafety Committee, RTI International, US, 2012-13; Member, Institutional Biosafety Committee, International Livestock Research Institute, Kenya, 2014-22; and Member, National Biotech Committee, Kenya Bureau of Standards, 2018-22.

• American Phytopathology Society, US
• International Mycological Institute, UK
• Society of Agricultural Scientist, Nepal