2025
Assistant Professor
Dr. Sarbesh Das Dangol
Principal Investigator, Genomics and Tissue Culture Laboratories Distinguished Scholar in Genome Editing, Genetic Engineering, and Molecular Biotechnology
+977 986-1035015
GIV Building Room 312/3 MBUST, Chitlang, Makawanpur, Nepal
Biography
Dr. Sarbesh Das Dangol’s primary research focuses on CRISPR-based genome editing in rice, genetic transformation of millets, plant tissue culture, and molecular biology. He also works on potato microtuber development, including the application of nanoparticles to enhance microtuberization, and has secondary research interests in food biotechnology, particularly kefir-based innovations. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Organic Agriculture program and is the former Editor-in-Chief and former Section Editor of the monthly newsletter MBUST Insights.
His professional experience includes previous roles as a Visiting Lecturer at the Central Department of Biotechnology, Tribhuvan University (July 2021- May 2024) and as a Research Assistant at the Nepal Academy of Science & Technology (NAST) in 2015. He has further strengthened his expertise through research internships at The James Hutton Institute, UK (2017), during his doctoral studies, and at AstraZeneca Pharma India Pvt. Ltd. (2010), gaining early exposure to industrial and pharmaceutical research.
Dr. Sarbesh has represented MBUST at the Federal Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST) in the Committee for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Annual Report, and publication. Similarly, he also represented MBUST at MoEST in the Committee for discussions related to research commercialization. He also reviewed the draft bills “a) Science, Technology and Innovation Bill, and b) Science, Technology and Innovation Fund Establishment Bill” as an expert at MoEST. He has recently been selected for the 2026 AAAS-TWAS Course on Science Diplomacy jointly held by UNESCO—The World Academy of Science (TWAS) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Outside of academia, he enjoys swimming, visiting beaches, exploring historic and modern cities, and learning about technologies, cultures, and civilizations around the world. He is fascinated by nature, history, and natural history museums, and always enjoys meeting new people—feel free to reach out to him for a coffee and a conversation.
Education
PhD.
Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Turkey
Agricultural Genetic Engineering
2021
Awards & Honors
- › Visiting Faculty Award from the Central Department of Biotechnology, Tribhuvan University, given to notable visiting scientists (2024)
- › Nepal Bidhyabhushan ‘Ka’ awarded by the Federal Government of Nepal (2023)
- › The President’s Award from the Society for In Vitro Biology (USA) (2023)
- › Honored for the PhD in Agricultural Genetic Engineering, awarded at the 30th general meeting program of Aincho Paincho. (Aincho Paincho Savings & Credit Co-operative Society Ltd.) (2023)
- › The Distinguished Service Award from the Society for In Vitro Biology (USA) (2022)
Research Areas
Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
Conservation of Indigenous and Nutrient-Rich Crops of Nepal and blast detection methods (PI), NPR 775,000, Completed July 16, 2025
Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
Small-scale production of probiotic kefir with different flavors (Co-I), NPR 720,000, Completed July 16, 2025
University Grants Commission
Collaborative Research and Innovation Grant – Genome editing of local rice cultivars for blast resistance (Co-PI), NPR 7.5 million, until 2026
Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST)
In vitro production and purification of polymerases, NPR 1.2 million, until 2026
UNESCO-The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)
Research Grants Program (2025), funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA)– Hormonal regulation of regeneration and transformation in millet, USD 23,900, until 2028
Tea research project
1. Plant tissue culture funded by Jun Chiyabari Tea Garden, until 2027 2. Molecular funded by the National Tea and Coffee Development Board (2026)
Potato transformation and microtuber project
Courses Taught
Masters, PhD.
Organic Agriculture
Selected Publications
2025
Meristem Culture, Callus Induction, and Regeneration Optimization of Cultivated and Unreleased Potatoes of Nepal Potato Research
2025
CRISPR Technologies to Combat Blast Disease in Rice: Insights and Perspectives from Nepal Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC)
2019