Prem Chapagain, a professor in the Department of Physics and associate director of the Biomolecular Sciences Institute at Florida International University (FIU), recently led a group of 12 Honors College students on a study abroad trip to Nepal, his native country. Known for his research in protein folding and virus replication, Chapagain typically spends his time modeling atoms and electrons, work that contributes to understanding diseases and developing vaccines.
The trip began with a preparatory class before the group traveled to Nepal. There, Chapagain introduced students to the country’s culture, wildlife, and landscapes. Santiago Fermin, a sophomore finance major in the College of Business, said, “He blended history, culture and current issues in a way that made the material feel alive. He checked in on students individually, encouraged us to push our own boundaries and even brought in international students from Nepal to share their culture.”
During their stay, Chapagain guided the group through experiences such as visiting Sirubari—a village known for its homestay hospitality and indigenous culture—and another remote village. The experience was immersive: “It was complete peace, no sound of vehicles, the only thing you could hear were the birds,” Chapagain said. “It felt like a retreat, a meditative place.”
Students faced challenges adjusting to local conditions including lack of air conditioning and encounters with bugs and rats but later described these as highlights due to the warm welcome they received from villagers.
The itinerary also included wildlife experiences such as encountering a rhino from Chitwan National Park wandering city streets and participating in jungle safaris as well as visits to elephant and tiger breeding centers.
Chapagain’s family remains in Nepal; he joined his brother for an impromptu volleyball game with students—a moment he plans to incorporate into future programs.
A significant part of the trip was trekking to Everest Base Camp. Although Chapagain had never attempted this trek during his 25 years living in Nepal due to cost and difficulty, encouragement from his students convinced him to join seven of them for the six-day climb followed by a three-day descent. Despite falling ill during the trek—at one point riding a horse which he found less preferable than hiking sick—Chapagain continued alongside his students.
“Even when he was clearly in pain, Dr. Chapagain motivated all of us,” Fermin said. “He made sure we learned about the lives of porters and sherpas. We also talked about our own lives, the landscapes, even the foods we’d tried. Those conversations made the journey feel personal as well as educational.”
Beyond teaching abroad, Chapagain collaborates with researchers at institutions such as University of Notre Dame, Cambridge University, Johns Hopkins University and Purdue University’s Stahelin Lab on projects funded by the National Institutes of Health focused on viral replication mechanisms. At FIU he works on research related to Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular calcifications and DNA supercoiling across multiple scientific disciplines.
“Science fascinates me,” Chapagain said. “From the electrons and atoms at the quantum scale to the way they organize into living systems, it’s all intriguing. And now with AI revolutionizing our understanding of biology and medicine, it is opening doors to discoveries once thought impossible.”
For Chapagain, leading students through both laboratory science and Himalayan treks represents two aspects of discovery: intellectual curiosity matched by real-world exploration.
