Experience

• 

  Institute of Natural Resources NPC

  • Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

  • Senior Scientist

    • Jan 2024 - Present
    • Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

    Developing applied solutions to resource management issues in Southern Africa

• 

  Water, Environment, Land and Livelihoods (WELL) Labs

  • India

  • Senior Research Consultant

    • Apr 2024 - Present
    • India

    Sustainable Transitions in Water and Agriculture for Climate Adaptation and Resilience In Tropical Drylands

• 

  Cities and The Environment Journal

  • Los Angeles, California, United States

  • Associate Editor

    • Mar 2023 - Present
    • Los Angeles, California, United States

    Developing the capacity and profile of the urban ecology journal globally

• 

  Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems - ATREE & UKZN

  • Senior Research Associate

    • Apr 2020 - Mar 2024

    Developed research proposals and policy impact pathways with partner organisations in an international consortium of institutes working on Sustainable and Healthy Food SystemsDelivering scientific and policy outputs from the Global South on agroecology, human health and wellbeing, and urban ecology

• 

  University of KwaZulu-Natal

  • Postdoctoral Scholar

    • Jan 2021 - Dec 2023

    Working on multidisciplinary research and implementation on:Food systems and the environment-food-health nexusUrban food ecology, greening, and restorationIndigenous and wild food spaces and foragingFood environments and food systems policyIndigenous forestry with food co-benefits

• 

  Rhodes University

  • Grahamstown Area, South Africa

  • PhD Researcher

    • Jun 2017 - Feb 2020
    • Grahamstown Area, South Africa

    Foraging for fruits: natural resource use and its conservation potential in urban environmentsSurveyed the use of non-timber forest products, wild foods, and wild edible fruits along ecological and socioeconomic gradients across South Africa.Studied the prevalence of and policy on urban foraging in public spaces, and the sources and supply of wild edible fruits in the urban context.Proposed potential use-based landscape conservation and stewardship opportunities centred on urban green infrastructure.

• 

  Dakshin Foundation

  • Bengaluru Area, India

  • Project Consultant

    • Feb 2017 - May 2017
    • Bengaluru Area, India

    Developed outreach content on coastal and marine conservationWorked on project collaborations with the Forest Department

• 

  Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment

  • Bengaluru Area, India

  • Conference Coordinator

    • Oct 2016 - Jan 2017
    • Bengaluru Area, India

    Organised an international conference on conservation science and sustainable development

• 

  Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent

  • Canterbury, United Kingdom

  • MSc Student

    • Sep 2015 - Sep 2016
    • Canterbury, United Kingdom

    Designed and implemented studies on:Scope of the scuba diving ecotourism market in Malta (as part of a team)Viability of certification for wild harvested non-timber forest produce (NTFP) certification in IndiaCommunity-based conservation of olive ridley sea turtles in Costa Rica (dissertation project)

• 

  Indian Institute of Science

  • Bengaluru

  • Program Coordinator

    • Mar 2015 - Aug 2015
    • Bengaluru

    Co-ordinated a national sea turtle conservation network, the Turtle Action GroupCollected data on mass nesting and hatchling sex ratios of olive ridley sea turtlesCompiled literature and outreach material on sea turtles of the Indian Ocean

• 

  Agumbe Rainforest Research Station

  • Agumbe

  • Intern

    • Jan 2015 - Feb 2015
    • Agumbe

    Field surveys on dragonflies and grassland birds

• 

  Applied Environmental Research Foundation

  • Pune

  • Intern

    • Nov 2014 - Jan 2015
    • Pune

    ▪ Conducted a baseline bird survey in the North-Western Ghats▪ Worked on study design using GIS▪ Collected data using point counts▪ Analyzed data and prepared a report

• 

  Pugmarks Holidays

  • Pune

  • Instructor

    • Feb 2010 - Jul 2013
    • Pune

    ▪ As a trained instructor, I have led wildlife and adventure camps of 1 to 13 days durations, for 20 to 40 individuals, in age groups between 5 and 30 years▪ Involves taking responsibility of the physical and psychological health and safety of the campers, leading treks and trails, conducting activities, games, discussions, disseminating knowledge about wildlife and trekking as well as the environment, eco-tourism and cultural heritage▪ It also entails managing large groups, travel, communicating on site and with the head office and handling emergencies