By Lily Rutherford
In November 2025, Sindhu Jagadamma received the Women in Science National Mentoring Award at the Crop, Agronomic, Environmental and Soil Sciences (CANVAS) Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Jagadamma is an associate professor of soil science at UTIA and an alumna of the Smith Global Leadership (SGL) Fellows Program’s 2022-2023 cohort.
While an SGL Fellow, she selected Ethiopia as her region of interest and focused her project on building a global research program for increasing crop yield and ecosystem services around the world.
Throughout her time at the university, she has heavily impacted those around her, especially in her current role mentoring students and leading the Sustainable Soil Management Lab, which earned her this award. This award is not only a significant accomplishment for Jagadamma, but also for women in STEM on a broader scale.
The Smith Center wanted to learn more about Jagadamma’s experience in her field, better understand her perspective, and find the tie between her time as an SGL Fellow and where she is now. To start, we asked about the significance of this award—she replied graciously.
“This award means a great deal to me, as the opportunity to mentor students was one of the main reasons I chose an academic career. Growing up as a child of parents who had no formal education, I have always been thrilled by the chance to work with female and non-traditional students. What makes this award even more meaningful is that three of my former female mentees took the initiative to nominate me.”
While discussing giving advice, she had much to contribute about what she would like to share with young female scientists who feel like they don’t fit the traditional mold of a researcher.
“To young women who feel they don’t fit the traditional mold of a researcher, I would first say, be exactly who you are. You should never feel pressured to change yourself to fit someone else’s idea of what a scientist should be. Instead, embrace your strengths and focus on making steady, intentional progress in the areas where you want to grow.”
Jagadamma originally completed her undergraduate education in Thrissur, India. Taking into account her geographical background, she was able to offer advice to young international women scientists facing similar challenges.
“International scientists often face additional challenges related to culture, language, and navigating unfamiliar systems, and international women scientists may also face traditional family expectations. My advice is to give yourself some time to adapt and intentionally build a strong support network, including people from different cultures and backgrounds. Remember that your international background is an asset as it brings resilience, global awareness, and different perspectives that strengthen the scientific community as a whole.”
As Jagadamma described, female scientists may face various challenges that their colleagues don’t. Whether it be from different societal expectations or career hurdles, Jagadamma has made it clear how possible it is for women in STEM to succeed in their goals and passions. Especially at UT, there is a place for everyone. Jagadamma expressed how she has been able to find a community of international educators on campus, and what that community has meant to her.
“Anyone can find a community of international researchers and educators at UTIA. Additionally, the activities of the Smith Center have been pivotal in connecting and working together with international and domestic scientists through their outstanding programs and events. As a Smith Global Leadership Fellow, I have had the opportunity to interact with peers who are equally passionate about international work, and I have found those experiences extremely rewarding.”
As she referenced, Jagadamma leveraged seed funding from the Smith Center to cover travel costs to Ethiopia in May 2023. She, and Dr. Denita Hadziabdic-Guerry, used the opportunity to further their understanding of the challenges surrounding successful grassroots-level development activities in sub-Saharan Africa. While in Ethiopia, they were able to visit the Bio and Emerging Technology Institute (BETIn) and initiate discussions of collaborative proposals and student exchanges.
Mentor, educator, scientist—all words used to describe Jagadamma and her impact on the UTIA community. Moving forward, she has the world at her fingertips and countless paths to continue her career. We are excited to see the impact she has on a national and international scale.
The Smith Center is grateful to have had the opportunity to talk to Jagadamma about her success and hear about her work in international agriculture. We can’t wait to see how the field continues to grow and change with leaders like her who are passionate about creating spaces for other women in science to succeed.