Prakriti Nepal

College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Plants, Soils, and Climate

Born and raised in Butwal, a small city in Nepal, Prakriti's fascination with plants began at an early age and led to a bachelor’s degree in plant production at the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan, on full scholarship. During her undergraduate studies, Prakriti gained expertise in tissue culture, conducting in vitro seed germination and embryo rescue of Phalaenopsis hybrid, which laid the foundation for her research career. Seeking a graduate program that fosters innovation in plant science, Prakriti joined Utah State University, where her research focuses on the effects of plant biostimulants on onion growth and production under greenhouse and field conditions. She also studies the effects of controlled-release fertilizer on Ceanothus velutinus and assesses salt tolerance in ornamental plants. Prakriti serves as a teaching assistant and mentors students in plant propagation techniques. She has received multiple awards to support her research and publications, including USU’s open access funding initiative and graduate student travel grant. Prakriti received the Graduate Student Poster Presentation Award at the USU Student Research Symposium in 2023 and the American Society for Horticultural Science Outstanding Graduate Horticulture Student Award in 2024. Passionate about sustainable agriculture and innovation, Prakriti aims to leverage her expertise to address global agricultural challenges.