My Story
I am interested in studying spatial and behavioral ecology of wildlife (especially carnivores) and their interactions within human-dominated landscapes. My dissertation focuses on exploring wildlife ecology at different trophic levels in fragmented landscapes. My research also focuses on understanding how species navigate such landscapes and the anthropogenic variables which influence their ecology.
Prior to joining the Benson lab, I was working professionally with WWF-India as a biologist/researcher leading on-ground efforts to monitor tigers, predator and prey populations, mitigating human-wildlife conflict, and advising on habitat and forest management practices in a tiger reserve situated in the Terai region of India. My MS research with Dr. Matthew Struebig, in collaboration with Nature Conservation Foundation, explored habitat use of Asiatic wild dogs (Cuon alpinus; dholes) in two protected areas at the intersection of Western and Eastern Ghats of India.