(February 1, 2025) Tanishka Aglave grew up in the middle of citrus farms, where the scent of oranges filled the air and the trees stretched endlessly. But as she got older, she noticed something troubling—many trees were dying, their fruit turning bitter and misshapen. Farmers were struggling, and no one seemed to have a real solution. Instead of accepting this as just another problem, she decided to take it on herself.
That decision changed everything. In May 2024, at just 15 years old, she won the $10,000 H. Robert Horvitz Prize for Fundamental Research at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair for developing a natural alternative to fight citrus greening disease. Her research focused on using an extract from the curry leaf tree to treat infected citrus trees, a novel approach that could offer farmers a sustainable and effective solution. When they called her name, she was in shock. “When I heard my name, it felt amazing. I could not believe it. This is really a dream for me,” the Global Indian said.
Tanishka Aglave
Growing Up Among Citrus Groves
Born into a family with deep roots in farming, Aglave was always curious about plants. She had seen firsthand how citrus greening disease was wiping out trees and making it harder for farmers to stay afloat. There wasn’t an effective treatment available, and existing solutions weren’t working well enough. “Over the past two decades, this disease has devastated the Florida citrus industry, resulting in a nearly 93 percent decline in overall production with no viable solution. Observing the struggles of farmers with current treatments, I wanted to develop an eco-friendly and sustainable strategy for citrus greening disease through the development of a novel, biological bactericide, and 3D printed modifications to commercial trunk injection syringes to optimize treatment delivery,” explained Strawberry Crest High School student.
That’s when she started reading about the curry leaf tree. “The Indian curry leaf plant is a member of the same plant family as citrus and is highly attractive to the insect vector of the disease bacteria,” she explained. What really caught her attention was that while the citrus psyllid—an insect that spreads the disease—loved feeding on the curry leaf tree, the tree itself never got infected. This was a clue, and Aglave decided to investigate further.
Tanishka Aglave
Cracking the Code: A Natural Solution
Aglave used methanol extraction and steam distillation to create an extract from the curry leaf tree. She injected this extract into infected citrus trees and compared the results with oxytetracycline, a common antibiotic used by farmers. “I actually developed bacteria aside for such a citrus disease bacteria and also optimized treatment delivery by modifying commercial syringes using 3D printing,” Valrico-resident said.
The results were promising. The trees treated with her curry leaf extract showed signs of improvement. “For years now, farmers have been struggling with this disease, and there is no viable solution at this point,” she said. Her method, if further developed, could provide a sustainable alternative to synthetic antibiotics and help farmers save their crops.
The Challenges of Research
Doing scientific research as a teenager wasn’t easy. There were countless failed attempts and experiments that didn’t go as planned. But Aglave never gave up. “For young scientists, I would say that just because you don’t know a phenomenon or just because you don’t know something now does not mean that you can’t learn about it to do your research,” she said. “Because research is not impossible—you can definitely learn about something in pursuit.”
One of her favorite parts of the process was designing 3D-printed syringes to help deliver the treatment more efficiently. “When I thought of the concept of 3D printing to modify trunk injection syringes, I was really intrigued by the process of making prototypes and designing and testing each prototype on young trees,” she said. Her research wasn’t just about finding a cure—it was also about making the treatment practical for real-world use.
A Rising Star in Science
Her success is part of a bigger story—more and more Indian-American students are making waves in science and technology. Children of Indian immigrants often grow up balancing two cultures, and many are finding their passion in research and innovation. Science fairs and competitions are providing a platform for young minds like Aglave’s to tackle real-world problems and make a difference.
What’s Next?
Tanishka isn’t stopping here. She wants to continue her research over the next two years, refine her treatment, and test it in actual farms. “I would like to continue this research in the upcoming two years to develop more strategies for citrus greening disease management, as well as detection,” she said.
She dreams of becoming a plant scientist and helping farmers around the world. “I would like to continue working on this research project, communicate my findings with farmers and agencies, spread awareness on what farmers can do to manage this disease, and become a plant scientist when I grow up,” she said.
The Bigger Picture
Tanishka’s story isn’t just about science. It’s about persistence, curiosity, and believing that age is never a barrier to making a difference. From the moment she started wondering about a solution to citrus greening, to the moment she stood on stage to receive her award, she has shown that real change starts with asking the right questions and refusing to accept the status quo. And for farmers battling this devastating disease, her work could be a game changer.
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