Sr. Project Associates


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Dr. Aashna Sharma

Contact me: aashna@wii.gov.in

I’ve completed my bachelors and masters in Zoology (hons.) from the Panjab University, Chandigarh. I was awarded a Ph.D. in 2021 which was a collaborative doctorate from the Department of Zoology‒Panjab University & the Wildlife Institute of India. I’ve worked intensively across many Himalayan watersheds to understand the impacts of climate change and invasion on snow trout, a species native to Himalayan riverscapes. As ecological niches for riverine fauna had never been assessed in this mountain chain, our team built predictive models of snow trout for various future climate trajectories. Also, I am interested in native-invasive interactions under a changing climate, for which I’ve built watershed-scale predictions for precise delineation of invasion refugia. I have been associated with the project NMSHE since its phase I and look ahead for more wonderful research in the phase-II. Music, writing and poetry take my attention when I am not into research work.

Dr. Priyanka Kashyap

Contact me: priyanka@wii.gov.in

Born and brought up in the lap of Himalaya, I am fond of wilderness of Himalaya which always makes me curious to know more and explore the remote and pristine areas of Indian Himalayan Region. I did my Master’s in biotechnology with specialization in molecular biology from Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar. During my Masters dissertation on molecular characterization of potato cyst nematodes in CPRI, Shimla, I got to know about the beneficial role of soil free living microbiota for maintaining soil health. Since then I have been fascinated by these amazing creatures and developed my interest in understanding their physiology and ecology. I joined Wildlife Institute of India in 2015 under NMSHE phase I where I looked into the soil mesofaunal component. Subsequently I received an NMHS fellowship and worked as Himalayan JRF (2016-2019) and simultaneously started pursuing my Ph.D and got awarded doctoral degree from Saurashtra University in 2022 where my study was focused on community structure analysis and climate change impact on soil nematodes using morphological, molecular and ecological approach. Later I also worked as lecturer in Agriculture department of AGI, Dehradun for one and a half yrs. Currently I am working as Senior project associate in NMSHE phase II. I am keen to use my specialization, field and analytical experience to fulfill the project multi- theme objectives. My main focus will be on assessing the impacts of climate change on soil microbiome through field OTC warming experiments and metagenomics. My research interest includes soil biota interaction and processes, climate change impact assessment, Wildlife conservation. Interest in wildlife is the prime reason for joining this prestigious institute.

Dr. Ranjana Pal
Contact me:
ranjana@wii.gov.in

I am an ecologist passionate about understanding the ecology of mammals and advocating for their conservation. I hold a Master's degree in biodiversity and conservation from GGSIP University in Delhi and a doctorate in wildlife science from the Wildlife Institute of India. My research interests include population ecology, landscape ecology, and the human dimension of wildlife management, focusing on mountain ecosystems. I have spent the last decade studying and understanding species distribution and conflict issues across various parts of India, primarily in the Himalayan region. My Master’s dissertation focused on understanding and developing mitigation strategies for free-ranging dog conflict issues in the Upper Spiti Landscape, Himachal Pradesh. For my Ph.D., I studied the ecological and anthropogenic drivers of the distribution of snow leopard and co-occurring species in the Gangotri Landscape. I firmly believe that understanding species interactions across the gradient of biotic and abiotic conditions is crucial for anticipating possible dynamics and developing conservation strategies in the changing scenarios.

 

Mr. Ankit Singh
Contact me:
singhankit@wii.gov[dot]in

I am a GIS professional with 8+ years of experience. I have a dual Master's degree in environmental science and geoinformatics as well as a P.G. diploma in remote sensing and geographic information systems. I have used GIS tools to work on a variety of environmental aspects, such as agriculture, hydrology, watersheds, trainings, urban planning, biodiversity, and wildlife. While working at UNDP-Secure Himalaya Project, I led the team undertaking a biodiversity assessment in Uttarakhand and Changthang Landscape, which ignited my interest in biodiversity conservation.

In order to further my interest in the linkages between biodiversity and climate change utilizing spatial tools and remote sensing, I joined DST-NMSHE Phase-II as a Senior Project Fellow. During my leisure time, I enjoy landscape photography, driving, exploring new places.