Samjhana Khanal wins the Schlumberger & McNamara Grant

This article originally appeared in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences News. The full article, written by Trina Kleist, can be found here.

Samjhana Khanal, a second year doctoral student studying disease resistance in lettuce in the Richard Michelmore lab, has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Schlumberger Foundation. This nonprofit organization supports science and technology education.

Samjhana Khanal seeks to develop high-yielding crops that require fewer chemical inputs. (Courtesy Samjhana Khanal)

Khanal is a graduate student in the horticulture and agronomy group, with an additional focus on biotechnology. She studies with Richard Michelmore, a distinguished professor and world-renowned geneticist in the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences. Her research integrates genetic and biotechnological advancements to tackle critical challenges in modern agriculture.

The Schlumberger Foundation’s Faculty for the Future program will support her work, which she hopes would drive innovation and support underserved communities, including in her native Nepal.

M. McNamara Education Grant

Khanal also has received a $15,000 Margaret McNamara Education Grant (MMEG). MMEG is a nonprofit, public charity founded in 1981 that aims "to improve the lives of women and children by supporting the higher education of exceptional women from developing countries who will catalyze change.” To learn more about the eight 2024 Grantees including our very own Samjhana check out the list of FY24 Grantees here.

Read the full article here
To learn more about the Michelmore lab, click here