Meet Gagandeep Brar, Ph.D., a research scientist at Bayer Crop Science who grew up in a cotton-farming village in Punjab, India, and subject of the next installment of our “Standout Early Career Professionals” series.

By Emily Sandall, Ph.D.

Editor’s Note: This is the next article in the “Standout ECPs” series contributed by the Entomological Society of America’s Early Career Professionals (ECP) Committee, highlighting outstanding ECPs that are doing great work in the profession. (An ECP is defined as anyone within the first five years of obtaining their terminal degree in their field.) Read past articles in the Standout ECPs series.

Gagandeep Brar, Ph.D., is a Scientist II in the Entomology unit at Bayer Crop Science in Union City, Tennessee, where since April 2024 he has led insect trait efficacy field testing and trait development for major crops, including corn, cotton, and soybean. His work involves designing and implementing regulated field trials targeting key lepidopteran and hemipteran pests and conducting molecular and bioinformatics analyses, such as RNA-Seq and population genomics, to support trait discovery and validation. Brar also integrates insectary needs with research objectives, using insights from molecular data to improve colony health and test traits on insectary-reared populations.

Brar earned his Ph.D. in biological sciences from North Dakota State University in 2024, where he investigated cold physiology, diapause regulation, and gut microbiome dynamics in solitary bees and honey bees. He completed his M.Sc. in entomology (2019) and B.Sc. in agriculture (2017) at Punjab Agricultural University, India, where his research focused on RNA interference studies targeting key genes in insect pests such as cotton whitefly, mealybug, and stored grain beetles. With extensive research experience in entomology, agronomy, molecular biology, and bioinformatics, Brar specializes in integrating applied field research with molecular approaches to advance next-generation biotech insect control traits.

Sandall: How did you get into entomology?

Brar: I was born and raised in a small village in Punjab, India, where farming is a way of life and opportunities in science are limited. My journey into entomology began in the cotton fields alongside my father, whose dedication to the land shaped my perspective. From an early age, I witnessed the cycles of planting and harvesting, as well as the constant battle against pests like whiteflies, jassids, and bollworms. The turning point came in 2015-16, when a devastating whitefly outbreak destroyed my father’s cotton crop, and much of our village was forced to till down standing cotton.

The outbreak was driven by insecticide resistance and the absence of effective cultural practices. Seeing our community face repeated crop losses ignited my passion for developing sustainable solutions. These experiences inspired me to pursue entomology, with the goal of bridging traditional farming knowledge with scientific innovation to develop integrated and biotechnological pest management strategies that can help in controlling different cotton pests in the future.

While working toward his Ph.D. in biological sciences at North Dakota State University, Gagandeep Brar worked as an intern at Corteva Agriscience, which found him in the field during planting season in North Dakota in 2023.

What do you do in your current job?

In my current role as a scientist at Bayer Crop Science, I lead next-generation insect trait efficacy testing projects across cotton, corn, and soybean, focusing on managing key lepidopterans and hemipterans and generating decision-driving data that supports product development. I collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Discovery, Field Testing, Data Science, and Controlled Environment, to align research execution with strategic priorities. My responsibilities include designing, executing, and maintaining high-quality field trials; overseeing team operations; managing artificial infestation; and ensuring precision in data collection across all the crops.

Beyond field research, I conduct insect transcriptomic and other bioinformatic analyses to uncover molecular insights, integrating these findings with bioassay and population genomics data. This combination of field and molecular expertise enables me to contribute to both immediate decision-making and long-term innovation in insect control trait development. Ultimately, my work supports advancing key product concepts through critical development phases, ensuring that each step is backed by robust science and actionable insights.

Gagandeep Brar, Ph.D. (right), demonstrates insect trait discovery cotton trials during the 2025 leadership field tour at Bayer Crop Science in Union City, Tennessee.

What do you see yourself doing in the future?

My passion for row crop entomology will continue to inspire me to develop innovative and sustainable strategies for managing insect pests. Looking ahead, I see myself advancing as a scientific leader who plays a pivotal role in guiding the insect trait pipeline, making key decisions that move products seamlessly from discovery through development and into the commercial phase.

I aim to leverage my unique combination of field and laboratory expertise, along with strong cross-functional collaboration, to ensure that every product is backed by robust science and practical application. By bridging the gap between lab-to-field and field-to-lab research, I want to help deliver impactful solutions that strengthen the agricultural biotech portfolio and support growers worldwide.

Who inspires you to do what you do?

My greatest inspiration comes from my father, a lifelong farmer, and from the millions of farmers across the world whose work sustains us all. Farming is more than planting seeds; it is a constant act of resilience. Today, growers face an unprecedented set of challenges: unpredictable weather patterns, rising pest pressures, and the unrelenting need to produce more food on less land. Among these challenges, insect pests remain one of the most relentless threats to row crops, capable of undoing months of hard work in a matter of days.

As an entomologist, I carry a deep responsibility to turn science into solutions. Every experiment I conduct, every trial I design, and every dataset I interpret is part of a larger mission to help protect crops, safeguard yields, and give farmers a fighting chance against the forces that threaten their livelihood. My work is not just about controlling insects; it’s about enabling stability, security, and hope in rural communities across the globe.

Punjab, India, is a land where agriculture is the heartbeat of life, where fields of wheat, rice, and cotton stretch to the horizon, and where the work of farming shapes both identity and culture. Growing up there taught me the value of hard work, perseverance, and respect for the land. It gave me the determination to pursue science, not as an abstract goal but as a way to serve the people who feed the world. No matter how far I go in my career, I carry Punjab with me, in my perspective, my energy, and my unshakable connection to the roots that started this journey.

What would you do if you weren’t working in entomology?

If I hadn’t chosen a career in science, I would have chased a very different dream, becoming a professional football player. In my alternate life, I’d go by the name “Gags,” proudly wearing the jersey of Real Madrid and stepping onto the pitch for countless El Clásico matches alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. Naturally, in this version of reality, we’d beat FC Barcelona every single time—a dream as bold as it is ambitious.

Gagandeep Brar, Ph.D., applies herbicide using a bike sprayer on a sugar beet weed control discovery trial during his internship with Corteva Agriscience in 2023.

What accomplishment are you proudest of?

I am most proud of the journey that has brought me to where I am today and the path I continue to build for the future. My career so far has been shaped by a combination of relentless hard work, the unwavering support of mentors and colleagues, and the inclusive opportunities this country has given me, opportunities that, in many parts of the world, simply don’t exist in the same way.

I don’t see accomplishments as single events to check off a list. For me, they are more like steps in a staircase, or layers of a snowball, each building on the last. Every research experiment, every challenge overcome, every project completed adds weight and momentum to my professional growth. The point where I stand today is the result of many such steps, and the most exciting part is knowing there are still many more ahead.

This progress wouldn’t have been possible without the people who made me feel that I belonged in science. My advisors, my mentors, and my colleagues created an environment where I could learn, contribute, and grow without hesitation. Along the way, there were obstacles, moments of doubt, technical setbacks, and steep learning curves, but I learned how to face them, adapt, and use them as opportunities to improve. More importantly, I learned how to help create that same kind of inclusive, collaborative atmosphere for others, where ideas are welcomed, perspectives are valued, and people feel empowered to succeed.

One of the achievements I value most is becoming a source of inspiration for young people back home. Some of them see my journey, from growing up in a small farming village to working as a scientist in a global agricultural company, and they can begin to imagine their own possibilities in science. Knowing that I can be an example of what is achievable, even when starting from a place with limited resources and opportunities, is deeply meaningful to me. If I had to sum it up, my proudest accomplishment is not only the science I’ve done or the career milestones I’ve reached but also the impact I have on others, the way my journey can encourage the next generation to dream big, work hard, and believe that their goals are within reach.

Thank you, Gagan! If you want to learn more about Gagandeep Brar and his research, you can find him on: : LinkedIn, BlueSky, Twitter/X or Google Scholar.

Emily Sandall, Ph.D., is a science analyst/advisor at the Foreign Agricultural Service, in Washington, DC, and SysEB Representative to the ESA Early Career Professionals Committee. Email: [email protected].

All photos courtesy of Gagandeep Brar, Ph.D.