Career

Professional

Applied entomologist, biosecurity scientist, and international development practitioner with 13+ years of experience in pest management, biological control, invasive species surveillance, and agricultural innovation. My work combines field research, data science, spatial analysis, and statistical modelling to support evidence-based decisions for biosecurity, food systems, and sustainable agriculture. I currently lead coconut rhinoceros beetle surveillance and biocontrol programmes across the South Pacific and contribute to pest surveillance initiatives for New Zealand's pastoral systems.

Sulav Paudel

Education

  1. Ph.D., Entomology

    The Pennsylvania State University · University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

    Dissertation focused on insect-plant interactions, climate change, and crop losses from insect pests, with applications to food security and agricultural sustainability.

  2. M.Sc., Entomology & International Agriculture and Development

    The Pennsylvania State University · University Park, Pennsylvania, USA

    Dual-title master's programme combining applied entomology with international agricultural development, focusing on sustainable agriculture and global food systems.

  3. B.Sc. (Hons.), Agriculture

    Tribhuvan University · Rampur, Nepal

    Undergraduate training in agricultural sciences, providing a foundation in crop production, pest management, agricultural economics, and rural development.

Career timeline

  1. Senior Scientist — Entomology & International Development

    Bioeconomy Science Institute (formerly AgResearch) · Lincoln, NZ

    Leads applied research in biosecurity, pest management, and agricultural development, combining field science, data analytics, and stakeholder engagement to address complex biological and environmental challenges.

  2. Post-Doctoral Scientist

    AgResearch Ltd. · New Zealand

    Research on biological control agents and IPM strategies for invasive insect pests in Pacific Island agricultural systems.

  3. Agriculture Program Manager

    International Development Enterprises (iDE) · Kathmandu, Nepal

    Led the agricultural component of USAID's $13M PAHAL project, improving livelihoods for 100,000 rural households. Designed and implemented the $2M ENBAITA programme, expanding agricultural input access for 50,000 farmers, and managed USAID's IPM Innovation Lab and Horticulture Innovation Lab programmes, reaching 62,000 households with eco-friendly pest management technologies. Co-principal investigator and site coordinator for both Innovation Labs.

Consultancy & Short-Term Work

  1. Business Development Consultant

    Chemonics International · USA | Aug 2021 – Aug 2022

    Supported the design and development of two major USAID proposals in Nepal, including the Nepal Agricultural Inputs Management System (NAIMS) and the Nepal Agricultural Transformation Activity, each valued at more than USD $20 million.

  2. International Agriculture Specialist / Consultant

    Strategic Impact Advisors / USAID · USA | Aug 2020 – Nov 2020

    Assessed Nepal's agricultural input market systems and developed recommendations on how digital technologies could improve efficiency, service delivery, and market access for farmers.

  3. Consultant

    CABI · India | Jun 2018 – May 2019

    Conducted research on climate change impacts affecting smallholder farmers in Nepal and India, identifying adaptation and coping mechanisms to strengthen food and nutritional security.

  4. Technical Consultant

    Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry · Bhutan | Mar 2015 – Apr 2015

    Led a scoping study to support expansion of agricultural input and extension activities from Nepal into Bhutan, including technology demonstrations and government stakeholder training.

  5. IPM Consultant

    iDE Cambodia · Cambodia | May 2015 – Jun 2015

    Designed and delivered an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme, training local staff and promoting environmentally sustainable crop protection practices.

  6. Research Scholar

    Moscow State Agro-Engineering University · Russia | Apr 2012 – May 2012

    Conducted research examining agricultural transformation in Russia before and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, with emphasis on structural and policy changes affecting agricultural development.

Awards & recognition

  1. Future Leader Fellow

    Association for International Agriculture and Rural Development (AIARD), USA

  2. Michael E. Duke Memorial Award in Entomology

    Pennsylvania State University

  3. U.S. Borlaug Fellow in Global Food Security

    Borlaug Fellowship Program, USA

Research focus

Selected publications

Cited by 620+ · full record on Google Scholar

  1. 2025

    Confirmation of presence of coconut rhinoceros beetle Oryctes rhinoceros from Timor-Leste and biosecurity implications

    Paudel, S., Soares, G., Ximenes, A., Richards, N.K., Jackson, T.A. et al. — EPPO Bulletin

  2. 2025

    Coconut rhinoceros beetle continues to devastate coconut palms around Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

    Jackson, T.A., Kemoi, M., Asigau, B., ... Paudel, S. et al. — EPPO Bulletin, 55, 151–157

  3. 2024

    Coconut rhinoceros beetle detection and monitoring: field notes from Papua New Guinea

    Paudel, S., Pakoawia, J., Ero, M., Marshall, S.D.G. — American Entomologist, 70(1)

  4. 2023

    Assessment of coconut palm damage caused by coconut rhinoceros beetle

    Mansfield, S., Asigau, B.B., van Koten, C. et al. (incl. Paudel, S.) — New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science

  5. 2023

    Tracking potential biosecurity incursions using publicly available images: a case of coconut rhinoceros beetle

    Paudel, S., Jackson, T.A. — Journal of Applied Entomology, 147, 661–666

  6. 2023

    The coconut rhinoceros beetle outbreak is well established on Efate, Vanuatu

    Paudel, S., Jackson, T.A., Boulekouran, S. et al. — EPPO Bulletin

  7. 2022

    Social media posts suggest that coconut rhinoceros beetle has established in the Western hemisphere

    Jackson, T.A., Nájera-Rincón, M., Paudel, S. et al. — Journal of Applied Entomology

  8. 2021

    Can biological control overcome the threat from newly invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle populations? A review

    Paudel, S., Mansfield, S., Villamizar, L.F., Jackson, T.A., Marshall, S.D.G. — Annals of the Entomological Society of America

See the full list on Google Scholar →

Collaborators & field sites

Where my co-authors, research partners and fieldwork are. Click a pin for details, or click the map once to enable scroll-to-zoom.

Books, Book Chapters & Reviews

  1. 2017

    Book Review: Organic Futures: Struggling for Sustainability on the Small Farm

    Paudel, S. — Agriculture and Human Values, 34(4), 1049–1050

  2. 2016

    Development and Dissemination of Vegetable IPM Practices and Packages in Nepal

    Paudel, S., Sah, L.P., Pradhan, K., Colavito, L.A., Upadhyay, B.P., Rajotte, E.G. & Muniappan, R. — Integrated Pest Management of Tropical Vegetable Crops (Springer), pp. 251–269

  3. 2016

    Introductory Plant Protection (Second Edition, Nepali)

    Paudel, S. & Acharya, R. — Heritage Publishers and Distributors Pvt. Ltd., Kathmandu, Nepal

  4. 2014

    Introductory Plant Protection (First Edition, Nepali)

    Paudel, S. & Acharya, R. — Heritage Publishers and Distributors Pvt. Ltd., Kathmandu, Nepal

Selected Invited Presentations

  1. 2023

    Monitoring and Surveillance of Insect Pests in the Face of Climate Change

    Bio-protection Research Alliance for Asia-Pacific · Bali, Indonesia

  2. 2022

    Invasive Species Management in Agriculture and Experiences of Working and Studying Abroad

    Tamil Nadu Agricultural University · India

  3. 2021

    Integrated Pest Management in Developed vs. Developing Countries

    University of Freiburg & Pennsylvania State University

  4. 2021

    Facing the Heat: How Increasing Temperature Might Affect Insect-Plant Interactions

    Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI), United Kingdom

  5. 2018

    A Multi-faceted Approach to Promoting the Use of Bio-pesticides in Nepal

    International Congress of Plant Pathology (ICPP) · Boston, USA

  6. 2016

    Conservation Agriculture in Cambodia and Nepal

    Horticulture Innovation Lab Annual Meeting · Siem Reap, Cambodia

Reports, Technical Publications & Other Dissemination

  1. 2016

    Integrated Pest Management Innovation Lab – Nepal Annual Newsletter (2014–2015)

    Paudel, S.

  2. 2015

    Integrated Pest Management Innovation Lab – Nepal Annual Newsletter (2013–2014)

    Paudel, S.

  3. 2013

    Agriculture Education and Training (AET) System in Nepal: Present Status, Challenges and Future Priorities

    Paudel, S., Gill, T. & Rajotte, E. · Virginia Tech / USAID