Ashmita Upadhyay, a doctoral student in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, has been selected as a member of the 2026 cohort in the prestigious Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) Fellows Program.
A multiyear program, FFAR provides mentorship and early-career guidance to graduate students in the agricultural and food research sector, exposing them to industry, government, and nonprofit groups to improve their leadership skills and professional networks to support their development in the workforce.
“What makes this opportunity especially meaningful is that FFAR not only supports research, it also invests in developing scientists as leaders,” Upadhyay said. “As a graduate student, much of my time is spent coding, conducting research and writing publications.”
Being selected for this program was recognition not only of the work I’ve done, but also of the potential impact I can make as a scientific leader in our agricultural community.”
Improving peanut genetics at HudsonAlpha
Upadhyay is a researcher in the Clevenger Lab at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville, Alabama. Led by UGA research scientist Josh Clevenger, Upadhyay and a team of scientists use state-of-the-art genomic technologies and computational tools to improve peanut genetics.
Her research focuses primarily on peanuts and blueberries, studying traits and developing new varieties that can benefit farmers and pollinators.
“Ashmita is a young scientist who enthusiastically strives to imagine all of the possibilities she can make come true. She is perfectly suited to being a pioneer, trying new ideas and forging new approaches to solve problems,” said Clevenger. “Ashmita is limited only by opportunity, which is why the FFAR Fellows program can be so impactful. It will give her the opportunity to grow in her leadership and be confronted with new ideas that will help shape her future as a leader in agriculture.”
Exploring the science behind the fieldwork
Born in Nepal, Upadhyay grew up in a small farming community where her family strongly contributed to her interest in agriculture. As she matured and developed a more technical skill set, she began to inquire more about the science behind the fieldwork.
Following her secondary education, she pursued earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Tribhuvan University and a master of science in agricultural and horticultural plant breeding from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville — eventually landing at CAES in January 2025.
Representing CAES in the 2026-2029 cohort, Upadhyay becomes part of a strong community of FFAR Fellows from UGA who are advancing research and leadership through the program.
Competing on a national level
“The strong representation of CAES graduate students in the FFAR Fellows Program reflects the exceptional caliber of our students, the strength of our faculty mentorship and the impact of the research conducted across the college,” said Harshavardhan Thippareddi, CAES associate dean for research. “This highly competitive national program complements the rigorous research training our students receive at CAES by providing unique opportunities for leadership development, interdisciplinary collaboration and engagement with leaders across the agricultural community.”
In addition to her role in the Clevenger Lab, Upadhyay is also a member of multiple graduate professional organizations affiliated with the UGA Institute for Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics, the American Peanut Research and Education Society, and the National Plant Breeding Association.
“These experiences broaden our students’ perspectives and help them connect their research to real-world challenges,” said Thippareddi. “It prepares them to become the next generation of leaders in food and agriculture.”
To learn more about Upadhyay and the FFAR Fellows program, visit storymaps.arcgis.com.
