Dr. Nurun Nahar has been with USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) as a Program Specialist since December 2021. Prior to joining NIFA, Dr. Nahar was an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at North Dakota State University. Her research focused on the sustainable use of agricultural resources for food, chemicals, fuel, biomaterials, and biochemical production. She holds a B.S. in Biology, M.S. in Soil Science, and Ph.D. in Environmental and Conservation Science. Her academic backgrounds and skillsets are relevant to biological sciences that combine physical, chemical, and biological interactions of plants, microbes, and soils to ensure economic development while maintaining a sustainable environment. Dr. Nahar is passionate about identifying and addressing hurdles in growing tech and agribusinesses. Within the USDA Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, she can combine her passion for supporting the agricultural industry.