Born and raised in the orange orchard in a small suburb of Nepal, I was always fascinated with the magic of plants. Various plant species, different in terms of their morphology and utility but a beautiful science behind it make me fall in love with plant science. Currently, I am a PhD scholar at Centre for Crop and Disease Management, Curtin University where I am working on molecular characterization of quantitative resistance during Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infection in Brassica napus (canola) plant.
There are two major focal points of my research. The first one, how canola plant defends itself towards this devastating disease and the second one about validation of small RNA of this pathogen that can act as a new effector. My career goal is to become a molecular biologist working with plant-pathogen interactions. Therefore, I strive to enhance my research skills in plant molecular biology. PhD is a roadmap to becoming a skillful researcher in my field. I am interested to conduct experiments and troubleshoot the problems in the plant due to various plant pathogens. I want to see myself as the next generation molecular plant biologist involved in dealing with the complex phenomenon of plant-pathogen interactions.
Right after my doctorate degree, I will be seeking a researcher position where I can use my skills that I would gain during my PhD. Science is useful when findings are shared for a better society and mankind. I will be always involved in the science community to discuss the recent findings and future needs. I could see myself playing with DNA and RNA whole day to answer questions for a better understanding of plant disease. After a year in my PhD journey I am learning various techniques related to molecular genetics. My typical day as a PhD student is spent workking with plant pathogens and plant trying to understand the disease mechanism. After gaining enough skill and collaboration at an international level through my degree, my career goal is to start an innovative research lab for molecular breeding back at my home country Nepal. Though more than 70% of the Nepalese population involved in farming, the agriculture system is still traditional. Given enough resources and suitable climate for farming, there is a need for commercial hi-tech agriculture not only to uplift the economic standard of farmers but also the economy of the country as a whole. To address this I will be focusing on two major goals; adding value to crops grown and finding disease-resistant varieties. Nepal is rich in plant species. From plant science perspective, there are numerous disease resistant wild-type cultivars. It is of great importance to bring those resistant varieties into domesticated one through traditional and molecular breeding approach. If it is done it will help in increasing crop productivity and enhance farmers' economic levels.