Venkataramana Chapara has joined NDSU as the Extension Service’s area crop protection specialist at the North Central Research Extension Center near Minot. 

He will work on integrated pest management systems for all crops grown in the region. He also will interact with Extension agents and specialists, researchers, producers, field scouts and agribusiness representatives to help solve entomology and plant pathology problems in crop production in north central North Dakota. 

Chapara earned a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University in India, a master’s degree in agricultural entomology from Gujarat Agricultural University in India and his doctorate in plant pathology from NDSU. 

Before joining NDSU, he was a postdoctoral research scientist in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois in Urbana. 

“We are pleased to have Venkat here with advanced degrees in both entomology and plant pathology to help us with all the insect and disease issues affecting our crops,” said Jay Fisher, the North Central Research Extension Center’s director. 

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.