Sagnika Das

Sagnika grew up in the eastern part of Odisha, a region in India where farming shapes the rhythm of daily life. Although her own family worked in technology and medicine, she was surrounded by farming communities whose livelihoods depended on fragile crop systems and unpredictable monsoons. Stories of the Bengal Famine, still deeply embedded in the region’s collective memory, left a lasting impression on her. Even as a child, she understood how vulnerable food systems could be and how profoundly they shaped people’s lives. 

She did not grow up working in her own fields, but she witnessed the struggles of neighboring farmers: crop failures, resource limitations, and food insecurity. These early experiences sparked a commitment to sustainable agriculture and a desire to create solutions for communities where resources are scarce, and resilience matters most. 

Motivated by this call, Sagnika pursued a bachelor’s degree in agriculture in Odisha, where she built a strong foundation in crop science, plant health, and agricultural systems. Seeking deeper expertise, she moved to northern India to complete her master’s degree in Agricultural Entomology at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). Her research on trap designs and seasonal dynamics of melon fruit fly strengthened her interest in insect-crop interactions and the practical challenges growers face. 

Sagnika is now completing her Ph.D. in Crop Sciences and Agronomy at the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign. Her work focuses on developing digital workflows for monitoring and managing western corn rootworm, one of the most economically damaging pests in U.S. corn production. By integrating entomology, crop science, and machine learning, she builds tools that help growers make more informed, timely, and sustainable decisions. 

Sagnika joined the Science for Success team in the summer of 2026 as an Outreach Assistant, where she is contributing to creating new website and social media content.  Sagnika’s professional interests extend into business consulting and ag-tech industry research and development, where she hopes to bridge scientific insight with strategic decision-making.  Outside of work, Sagnika enjoys being outdoors, exploring new places, and staying connected to her community. Whether she’s refining a workflow, mentoring peers, or crafting clear narratives, her work is grounded in a simple motivation: to help people make better decisions in complex systems.