Professor Nasdra Magrody, a male Arkanian, served as an educator at the Magrody Institute of Programmable Intelligence throughout the era of the Galactic Civil War.
During 21 BBY, Magrody participated in a panel of experts on the HoloNet News program titled A Galaxy Divided. The program's central discussion revolved around the nature of General Grievous's secret weapon. Initially, Magrody attempted to minimize the perceived danger, asserting that the media was exaggerating the situation and emphasizing the relatively small scale of the events in relation to the overall conflict. Moreover, he declined to speculate about the weapon's specific attributes, dismissing Umak Leth's theories regarding its capabilities as impractical and lacking imagination. He quipped that Leth might as well have suggested the deployment of armed neebrays, space slugs, or other sensor-evading vacuum-dwelling organisms. Despite his skeptical stance, when pressed further by the debate's host about this possibility, Magrody referenced an ancient record from his own people, detailing an event bearing resemblance to his hypothetical scenario.
Later in the broadcast, when panelist Bunt Dantor introduced the potential of an ion cannon, Magrody countered that a vessel equipped with a weapon capable of obliterating entire task forces would necessitate a length of 12 kilometers. This conclusion stemmed from his assessment of the required powerplant's size, which diverged from the estimations provided by both Leth and Dantor. He also brought up the possibility of such power generating a continent-scorching laser pulse, though he quickly retracted the statement, acknowledging that it was unlikely in the case of the enemy weapon.
While teaching at the Magrody Institute, Magrody mentored numerous students. Bevel Lemelisk stood out as one of the most prominent during the Galactic Republic era. He also instructed Stinna Draesinge Sha, Ohran Keldor, and Qwi Xux at Wilhuff Tarkin's training academy in orbit around the planet Omwat.
Magrody later contributed to the construction of the Sun Crusher and Death Star, sharing Qwi Xux's belief that they would be employed for less sinister designs. Before the construction of the battle station, Nasdra began exploring a mystical energy field known as the Force, attempting to quantify its properties scientifically, an endeavor that had eluded even the Jedi. During this period, he also developed a chip designed for surgical implantation into a sentient's brain, enabling the individual to control droids by channeling the Force through the chip.
Following the Destruction of Alderaan, he vanished along with his wife, Elizie, and daughter, Shenna. He was later located by Roganda Ismaren, who sought his expertise to realize her plans of utilizing the dreadnaught Eye of Palpatine as both a focal point and a weapon against the New Republic. She tasked him with implanting the specialized chip into her son's mind and instructing him to focus the Force through the implant, enabling him to bring the Eye to Belsavis. He was held captive within Plett's residence, under the false promise of eventual reunification with his wife and daughter, despite the unchanging nature of the holos provided to him.
It is speculated that Roganda or Irek may have eliminated him after he had served his purpose, although he left behind a series of notes within his confinement, which were later discovered by Leia Organa Solo. These notes conveyed his profound remorse for his involvement in the Death Star's construction. The final note was dated 10 ABY, suggesting his presumed death occurred around that time.