डा. टिस्टा प्रसाई जोशी

Dr. Tista Prasai Joshi has been a senior scientist at the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology
(NAST) for the last 21 years. Dr. Tista has made wonderful contributions in the field of water
purification and sanitation through her research outputs. She has developed synthetic and natural
adsorbents for the removal of arsenic and heavy metals from water. She received a M.Sc. Degree in
Environmental Microbiology and an MA Degree in Anthropology from Tribhuvan University and a
Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering in 2017 from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
(UCAS) with the UCAS Excellent International Student Award. Dr. Tista’s research contributions
have appeared in many leading professional and multidisciplinary journals. She has supervised nearly
four dozen Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral Degree students from multiple disciplines, including
microbiology, environmental science, chemistry, zoology, and biotechnology. Majority of her
students are female. She is also serving as a member of editorial board in several national and
international journals. She also writes several science awareness articles in her native language. She
has presented her research in over 90 national and international conferences/seminars. Dr. Joshi is a
member of research council (2024) of University Grants Commission of Nepal. She has also
contributed her professional expertise as an expert committee member for development of
Curriculum of Masters in Environment Science (2025 to date), Faculty of Science and Technology,
Far Western University and Expert committee member for development of Curriculum of Masters in
Environment Science (2024 to date), Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering, Rajarhsi
Janak University, and expert member of subject Committee (2022 to date) of M.Sc. Mountain and
Mountaineering Science (MMS) at Nepal Mountain Academy (NMA). She has been awarded the
2024 TWAS-Samira Omar Innovation for Sustainability Award, Short Video Competition, Bronze
Award, My research Journey in China, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2025, the
OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award in Biological Sciences, 2019, and the UNESCO-OWSD Early
Career Fellowship, 2019. She was nominated as one of the 50 visionaries of Nepal. She received Best
Performing Awards from NAST in 2018, 2021, and 2024. Dr. Tista has been decorated with Nepal
Vidya Bhusan “Ka” by the honorable President of Nepal in 2017. Dr. Tista’s scientific contribution
has been featured in several international media including the Elsevier Foundation, OWSD Vision
Project, and Chinese Academy of Science (CAS-Newsletter). Dr. Tista Prasai Joshi is an energetic
woman scientist in Nepal. Currently, Dr. Tista is a Chair of The Organization for Women in Science
for the Developing World (OWSD)-Nepal Chapter. She is a founding member of Women Scientists
Forum Nepal (WSFN) of NAST.