Faculty Profile

Shekhar Pokhrel is an Assistant Professor at Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) in Rampur, Nepal, where he teaches graduate-level courses in Veterinary Epidemiology, Zoonotic Diseases, Food Hygiene, and Public Health. With a Master of Veterinary Studies in Veterinary Public Health from Massey University, New Zealand, and a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Science from Tribhuvan University, his work sits at the intersection of animal health, food safety, and infectious disease control. His research focuses on understanding the transmission dynamics of zoonotic diseases with significant public health implications. His Master’s thesis explored how contact networks influence the spread of Campylobacter jejuni in New Zealand’s commercial poultry industry, and he continues this line of inquiry in Nepal through studies on antimicrobial resistance, cysticercosis, and gastrointestinal parasites. His current projects include investigating Salmonella in retail buffalo meat and assessing knowledge and practices around cysticercosis among pork consumers.
Shekhar has extensive experience in epidemiological research and data analysis, with training in applied Bayesian statistics, geospatial analysis, and molecular diagnostics. He is proficient in using R for mathematical modeling, as well as tools like QGIS and EpiInfo for spatial and outbreak analysis. He has led multiple research projects as Principal Investigator, supervised undergraduate and graduate students, and contributed to publications in journals such as the Journal of Applied Mathematics and the International Journal of Tropical Disease & Health.
Beyond academia, Shekhar has worked in development and field-based roles, coordinating livestock value chain projects with organizations like FORWARD Nepal, Heifer International, and Practical Action. These experiences have strengthened his ability to translate research into practice, particularly in resource-limited settings. A recipient of the New Zealand Development Scholarship (NZAid), Shekhar is committed to advancing One Health approaches in Nepal. He is passionate about mentoring students, fostering critical thinking, and developing cost-effective, evidence-based strategies to mitigate infectious diseases. His work reflects a deep commitment to improving public health through integrated veterinary and environmental science.