OSU Postdoctoral Association

Current OPA Board Members

(2026-2027)

Image

President

Desiree Farrell, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar, College of Forestry

Desiree is an environmental geographer and social scientist whose research centers on examinations of human-environmental interactions, synergies, and values of socio-ecological systems. She has an interdisciplinary background with a BS in Conservation Biology & Ecological Sustainability from Arizona State University, a MS in Coastal & Marine Environments and a PhD in Geography both from University of Galway (Ireland). Working in the collaborative space between policy, research, and science communication she held a previous Postdoctoral Fellowship with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Newport, OR. At Oregon State University, Desiree is part of an interdisciplinary research team project working to understand and overcome barriers to mainstreaming nature-centrism in sustainable organizations

Image

Secretary 

David Cevallos, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar, Oregon State University-Cascades, Human and Ecosystem Resilience and Sustainability Lab (HERS)

David leads research on seed transfer zones and water-saving technologies to improve ecological restoration in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. He holds a Ph.D. in Biology from Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary) and has extensive international experience in restoration ecology, applied field research, and data analysis. David has worked on native species restoration in Europe and the Galápagos Islands and has published widely on local adaptation, seed trait variability, and sustainable agriculture. His current research supports climate-adaptive restoration strategies across sagebrush steppe landscapes in the western United States.

Image

Professional Development Coordinator (Chair)

Nivetha Ramanathan, Ph. D., Postdoctoral Scholar 

Nivetha Ramanathan is a molecular entomologist driven by a deep curiosity to uncover the hidden biological codes that govern insect life. Her research explores the molecular and physiological mechanisms of insects, with a clear vision of translating these insights into next-generation, sustainable pest management strategies. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Madras, Chennai, India, where she graduated with gold medal honors for academic excellence. Currently a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Horticulture, Nivetha focuses on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), a powerful class of membrane proteins that orchestrate critical signaling pathways in insects. By probing these receptors, she is working at the frontier of identifying precision targets for innovative, environmentally responsible pest control technologies. Beyond the lab, she is an active advocate for the scientific community, with a strong commitment to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, supporting postdoctoral development, and building pathways for impactful research careers.

Image

Event Coordinator (Chair)

Elizah Stephens, Ph. D., Postdoctoral Scholar

Elizah studied soil nutrient cycling after wildfire at University of California Riverside for her Ph.D. In her postdoc at OSU she continues to investigate the impacts of disturbance on nitrogen cycling in natural ecosystems and somehow always finds a way to fit in weird side projects about fungi and lichens. She loves crafting, foraging, RPGs, and reading B-side fantasy.

Image

Event Coordinator (Co-Chair)

Sonu Koirala B K, Ph. D., Postdoctoral Scholar

I am a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University working in collaboration with USDA-ARS. I received my Ph.D. in Entomology from Pennsylvania State University in 2024. My current research focuses on identifying and functionally characterizing insect pest genes involved in regulating their physiology, with the goal of developing innovative pest management strategies. My broader research interests include understanding the evolutionary processes that shape pest and pollinator adaptation to chemical environments using integrative molecular approaches such as genomics, transcriptomics, gene editing, and proteomics.

Image

Treasurer

Rajat Pruthi, Ph. D., Postdoctoral Scholar

Rajat is a genomics researcher specializing in plant breeding, trait‑marker development, and transcriptomics. He earned his undergraduate degree from Punjab Agricultural University in India and completed his Ph.D. at Louisiana State University. As a postdoctoral researcher at Oregon State University, he is developing genomic resources for red raspberry and identifying marker-trait associations to support breeding and genetic improvement. His research interests include climate resilient crop improvement, multi omics data integration, and the development of genomic tools to accelerate breeding in specialty crops. Outside research, Rajat loves working out, playing soccer, and enjoying a good game of pickleball.

Interested in joining the Board?

Please contact us @ postdoctoral.association@oregonstate.edu or you may contact any of the current Board members directly

Current open position, responsibilities, and availability:

1 Vice-President – Support and complement the president's duties. With Desiree Farrell

Availability Date: Now

Image