Dr. Sri Ita Tarigan is an assistant professor and the Head of the Agrotechnology Study Program at Universitas Kristen Wira Wacana Sumba, Waingapu, East Nusa Tenggara. She earned her bachelor’s degree in agrotechnology from Universitas Jambi, a master’s degree in entomology from Institut Pertanian Bogor, and a doctoral degree in crop and horticulture sciences from Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Hungary.

As a Fulbright Visiting Scholar, she conducts research in insects and parasites at North Carolina State University to learn more about the use of microbial biostimulants to help protect maize crops from fall armyworm pests. She plans to integrate the research outcomes into teaching, student supervision, and sustainable pest management at her home institution, while building long-term research partnerships and supporting environmentally friendly agriculture and food security in Indonesia.