OWSD Early Career
Dr. Prativa Pandey
Awards
About me
Dr. Prativa Pandey is a scientist, entrepreneur, and policy advisor from Nepal dedicated to advancing research-based innovation and inclusive development. She is the Founder and CEO of Herveda Botanicals and Catalyst Technology Pvt. Ltd., and serves as Scientific Advisor and OWSD Research Fellow at the Research Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology (RIBB). A Ph.D. graduate in Chemistry from Northwestern University (2013) with training from Harvard and Kellogg, she leads R&D in green chemistry, medicinal plants, and sustainable bioprocessing. Recipient of the South Asia Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2022, NAST-NABIL Science & Technology Award 2019, and OWSD Early Career Fellowship 2019, she also mentors women scientists and youth innovators in transforming research into enterprise and impact.
Dr. Prativa Pandey is a multidisciplinary scientist, entrepreneur, mentor, and policy advisor committed to translating science into sustainable enterprise and inclusive innovation. She currently serves as Principal Investigator and Scientific Advisor at the Research Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology (RIBB) in Nepal, leading research in natural product chemistry, green extraction, and bioactive compound development using Nepal’s rich biodiversity.
Dr. Pandey earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Northwestern University, USA, in 2013, specializing in organic synthesis and nanotechnology. She also holds a Management Certificate from the Kellogg School of Management and a Leadership Certificate in Organizational Leadership from Harvard University’s Center for International Development. Before returning to Nepal, she worked in the U.S. and Singapore as a research scientist at Cabot Microelectronics Corporation, contributing to multiple U.S. patents and peer-reviewed publications in advanced materials and sustainable processes.
Motivated to bridge science, enterprise, and local empowerment, she founded Catalyst Technology Pvt. Ltd., a research-based enterprise pioneering innovation in Nepal’s medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) sector. Under Catalyst, she launched Herveda Botanicals, a natural skincare and wellness brand rooted in scientific validation, ethical sourcing, and women-led production. Her enterprises employ inclusive business models that engage hundreds of women, youth, and marginalized communities, creating livelihoods and strengthening Nepal’s bioeconomy.
A 2019 OWSD Early Career Fellow, Dr. Pandey has received multiple honors including the South Asia Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 (WCIC Sri Lanka), Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 (New Business Age & Standard Chartered Bank Nepal), NAST-NABIL Science and Technology Award 2019, and the Nepal Vidhya Bhusan Class “A” Presidential Award 2016. Her work has been featured by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), UNESCO-OWSD, and global innovation networks for advancing women’s leadership in science and sustainability.
She serves on various boards, think tanks, and government councils, including the Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy Implementation Council (MoEST), Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS), Nepal Economic Forum, and Gandaki University, contributing to science-policy integration and entrepreneurship strategy.
A passionate mentor and trainer, Dr. Pandey guides women scientists and youth innovators in research translation, value-chain development, and enterprise creation. Through her leadership, she envisions fostering South–South collaboration, amplifying women’s scientific voices, and building ecosystems where innovation and inclusivity shape the future of sustainable development across Asia and the Pacific.
Other Memberships/Affiliations
Degrees: