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NeSDiN Harvard · MIT · Boston and beyond
Nepali Scientists Diaspora Network

Nepali scientists across Harvard, MIT, Boston biotech — and across the United States.

NeSDiN was established by scientists and professionals from Harvard University, MIT, Tufts University, and the Greater Boston biotechnology community. The network brings together Nepali scientists, researchers, and professionals from leading academic institutions, the Greater Boston biotech ecosystem, and across the United States to foster meaningful connections, strengthen collaboration, and promote the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and ideas. NeSDiN is dedicated to developing long-term partnerships with the Government of Nepal and mobilizing the collective expertise, innovation, and resources of the Nepali scientific diaspora to support advances in research, education, technology, and sustainable development in Nepal.

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About Us

Our mission

NeSDiN is an umbrella organization that aims to connect Nepali scientists and innovators across leading academic institutions, including Harvard, MIT, the Greater Boston biotech ecosystem, and the broader diaspora, with a mission to create a common platform to engage, communicate, and collaborate, while building lasting partnerships with the Government of Nepal.

I.

Connect

Convene Nepali researchers and clinicians across Boston-area universities, hospitals, and biotech firms through seminars, salons, and an active member directory.

II.

Collaborate

Partner with the Government of Nepal, universities, hospitals, and research institutions to advance joint research, grant proposals, and capacity-building initiatives across borders.

III.

Cultivate

Mentor early-career students and scholars through career talks, application clinics, scholarships, and structured one-on-one guidance programs.

Leadership

Leadership team

Founding Members

Danda Chapagai, MS, PhD

Founding Member

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Harvard Medical School

danda.chapagai@nesdin.org

Nirajan Shrestha, PhD

Founding Member

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Harvard Medical School

nirajan.shrestha@nesdin.org

Sudip Paudel, PhD

Founding Member

Technology Development Scientist
Wyss Institute, Harvard University

sudip.paudel@nesdin.org

Sushil Pangeni

Founding Member

PhD Candidate
Harvard Medical School

sushil.pangeni@nesdin.org

Bishnu Joshi, PhD

Founding Member

Senior Scientist
Gel4Med

bishnu.joshi@nesdin.org

Executive Committee

Danda Chapagai, MS, PhD

President

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Harvard Medical School

danda.chapagai@nesdin.org

Sudip Paudel, PhD

Vice President

Technology Development Scientist
Wyss Institute, Harvard University

sudip.paudel@nesdin.org

Bishnu Joshi, PhD

Secretary

Senior Scientist
Gel4Med

bishnu.joshi@nesdin.org

Nirajan Shrestha, PhD

Treasurer

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Harvard Medical School

nirajan.shrestha@nesdin.org

Sushil Pangeni

Outreach Director

PhD Candidate
Harvard Medical School

sushil.pangeni@nesdin.org

Prabhat Kattel

Committee Member

PhD Candidate
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute & Harvard Medical School

prabhat.kattel@nesdin.org

Prajwal Niraula, PhD

Committee Member

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
MIT

prajwal.niraula@nesdin.org

Preeti Kumari Chaudhary, DVM, MS, PhD

Committee Member

Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Tufts Medical Center

preeti.chaudhary@nesdin.org

Programs Lead

Member-at-Large

Volunteer to lead seminars, workshops, and the annual symposium.

Mentorship Lead

Member-at-Large

Volunteer to lead mentorship programs for students and early-career scholars.

Student Representative

Member-at-Large

Volunteer to represent graduate and postdoctoral voices.

Advisory Board

Senior Scientific Advisor

To be announced

Faculty member at a Boston-area university or research institute

Industry Advisor

To be announced

Senior scientist or executive in the Boston biotech ecosystem

Clinical Advisor

To be announced

Physician-scientist at a Boston-area hospital

Nepal Liaison Advisor

To be announced

Senior academic or government official based in Nepal

Events & News

Upcoming events

Seminars, networking salons, and workshops — open to members and invited guests.

Sep 6 2026

Taming the Himalayan Cascades: Actionable Disaster Resilience for Nepal

Responding to Nepal’s Recent Flood (Himalayan Tsunami) Disaster

Confirmed Panelists

Sanjaya Poudel
Chief Advisor, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology

Janak Raj Joshi
Joint Secretary & Executive Director, Land Management Training Centre

Dr. Sanam Aksha
Assistant Professor, UCF — natural-hazards and climate-risk researcher, affected by the floods

Pukar Bam
Member of Parliament, Federal Parliament of Nepal

Prof. Dr. Gopi Upreti
Emeritus Professor, Tribhuvan University

Dr. Basanta Raj Adhikari
Director, Center for Disaster Studies, Institute of Engineering, TU

Moderator · Sushil Pangeni, Outreach Director, NeSDiN

Key recommendations will be submitted to relevant Government of Nepal authorities in a post-webinar memorandum.

Sunday, Sept 6, 2026 · 10:15 AM EDT (US) / 8:00 PM NPT (Nepal) · Zoom Meeting ID 925 9858 8803, Passcode 859684

Questions for the panel: info@nesdin.org

RSVP →
Oct TBD 2026

Inaugural Scientists' Meet-Up — Harvard, MIT & Boston Biotech

Our kickoff gathering for Nepali postdocs and graduate students at Harvard and MIT, alongside scientists working across the Boston-area biotech ecosystem. Casual introductions, lightning self-intros, and an open conversation about what NeSDiN should be.

Cambridge, MA · October 2026 · Date & time will be announced shortly
RSVP →
Nov TBD 2026

Know Your Options: Immigration Q&A with an Immigration Attorney

A session with an immigration lawyer to address visa, work-authorization, and status questions many in the Nepali diaspora are currently facing. Open Q&A format.

Virtual (Zoom) · November 2026 · Date & time will be announced shortly
RSVP →
Get Involved

Join the network

Membership is open to Nepali scientists, postdocs, graduate students, physicians, and biotech professionals at Harvard, MIT, and across the Greater Boston area, as well as students and trainees in any scientific field. There are several ways to participate.

Membership inquiry

Tell us a bit about yourself and we'll be in touch within a few days.

Thank you — your message has been recorded locally. A volunteer will contact you at the email provided.

Ways to contribute

  • Become a member. Add your name to the directory and receive event invitations and the quarterly newsletter.
  • Mentor. Volunteer one to two hours a month to support a student in Nepal or a trainee in Boston.
  • Speak. Present your research at a member seminar or community science talk.
  • Partner. Bring your institution into a collaboration with one of our partner organizations.
  • Sponsor. Support student travel awards, mentorship programs, and the annual symposium.
AreaGreater Boston, Massachusetts
StatusVolunteer-led, non-profit chapter