Surendra Bhattarai, PhD.

Surendra Bhattarai brings a wealth of expertise in plant science and agriculture, cultivated through a dynamic academic and research journey. Raised in a mixed farm in Chitwan, Nepal, he embarked on a pursuit of knowledge, earning a BSc in Agriculture from Tribhuvan University in 2013.

In January 2015, Surendra ventured to Canada to further his education at the esteemed University of Saskatchewan. His academic journey reached its pinnacle with the completion of an MSc in Plant Science in 2017 and a Ph.D. in Plant Science in 2020, both under the guidance of Dr. Bill Biligetu. During his Postdoctoral Fellowship, Surendra demonstrated unwavering dedication to advancing plant science, focusing particularly on forage breeding. His impactful contributions are evident in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and presentations at national and international conferences, accessible on ResearchGate. Recognition for his excellence includes prestigious accolades, such as the Plant Sciences Outstanding MSc Graduate Student Award in 2016 and The Seed of the Year-West Scholarship in 2018.

Surendra’s academic pursuits revolve around plant physiology, agronomy, forage breeding and genetics, all honed at the University of Saskatchewan. Engaging actively in crop research projects, he showcased versatility in grant proposal writing, experimental design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, scientific manuscript writing, and dynamic presentations at scientific conferences and industry meetings. He conducts applied agriculture research in the Peace Region, AB, focusing on various crops, and actively contributes to the development of sustainable agricultural practices.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Surendra finds joy in soccer, camping, and spending quality time with his wife Sabita and their son Sarthak.