About us.

Dr. Gyami Shrestha is the dynamic Founder, CEO, and Principal Consultant of carboneers.org by Carboneers LLC, leading the charge in advancing cross-disciplinary science, data, technology, and ethics-based knowledge, investments, and narratives. She most recently made significant strides as the National Program Leader at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA), where she successfully directed an $8M+ extramural funding program focused on data science and artificial intelligence, while also co-leading or advising over $40M in USDA and interagency investments across key areas such as biomanufacturing, nanotechnology, precision agriculture engineering, climate change, and the social implications of cutting-edge agricultural technologies.

Dr. Shrestha previously spearheaded the influential multiagency U.S. Carbon Cycle Science Program Office at the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) under the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) for 11 years. In this role, she expertly supported 13+ government agencies managing an impressive $100M+ in annual federal science funding dedicated to greenhouse gas, carbon, and climate research. Collaborating with thousands of program leaders, scientists, and stakeholders across all sectors, she catalyzed interagency and community science initiatives, digital knowledge platforms, and powerful partnerships, including the establishment of the first Interagency Carbon Dioxide Removal Coordination (I-CDR-C) Strategy Group, the first federal multiagency CDR database, the groundbreaking decadal USGCRP State of the Carbon Cycle Report (SOCCR2) alongside Mexico and Canada, and the inaugural U.S. Carbon Program and North American Carbon Program Leadership Award Program.

With an impressive portfolio spanning academia, non-profit, and private sectors, she has led, advised, and co-authored over 100 impactful products (including the U.S. National Climate Assessment), strategic plans, projects, and public engagement opportunities with both U.S. and international partners. Her professional journey commenced in Nepal, where she adeptly assessed the feasibility and impacts of renewable energy and water technologies while launching national and regional women’s rural technology initiatives. Her early academic research was pioneering, focusing on renewable resources, rainwater harvesting, soil carbon sequestration, biochar, prescribed forest fires, air quality, energy technology, and STEM immigrants. In 2009, she embarked on her U.S. science policy career as a Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Dr. Shrestha also volunteers as a Journal Editor for the American Meteorological Society and provides her expertise to various committees, boards, and organizations.