My areas of expertise include Plant Taxonomy, Nomenclature, and Biodiversity Conservation. After earning my M.Sc. from Madras Christian College in Chennai, I joined the University of Agricultural Sciences (UASC), Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra (GKVK), Bangalore, as a Junior Research Fellow. There, I worked on a collaborative project between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the National Remote Sensing Center (NRSC) focusing on vegetation carbon pools. I then advanced my research career by joining the Central National Herbarium (CAL), Botanical Survey of India, where I managed the preservation and upkeep of herbarium specimens, conducted taxonomic research on a variety of plant species and received advanced training in species identification techniques.

At the Central National Herbarium (CAL), I was promoted to Senior Research Fellow and was funded to lead an independent research project in North-East India. My research on the plant genus Elatostema (Urticaceae) continued at the Botanical Survey of India, Sikkim Himalayan Regional Centre (BSI-SHRC), where I collected live plant specimens, prepared herbarium sheets, and authored research papers. Later, as a Project Coordinator at the Human and Environment Alliance League (HEAL) in Kolkata, I managed multiple projects, supporting the executive director and trustees in developing and implementing nature conservation strategies. Following this, I took on the role of Senior Program Manager in the Environment Vertical at Innovative Project Management Services (IPMS), New Delhi, where I wrote research proposals and successfully managed the conceptualization and implementation of CSR projects. Most recently, I served as Senior Program Manager-Environmental Health at the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) in Gurugram, Haryana, working on the Bill and Melinda Gates Institutional Strengthening Grant.

My interest in how plants and animals respond to environmental changes—whether natural, anthropogenic or due to the introduction of new species—has driven much of my research. This curiosity led me to study the foraging habits of Blackbucks and explore how the intentional introduction of specific plant species can enhance forage availability, reduce conflicts with wildlife, and increase plant diversity. A significant focus of my work has been the impact of invasive alien species like Prosopis juliflora in tropical forests, Eichhornia species in freshwater lakes, and Parthenium species in arid regions. These invasions have not only disrupted local ecosystems but have also affected the health and quality of life of nearby communities. My fieldwork involved observing how native populations adapt to these challenges—using Parthenium leaves for fruit packaging, extracting fibres from Prosopis juliflora, and utilizing parts of Eichhornia species as laxatives. By living with tribal and indigenous communities, I gained insights into their traditional knowledge of nature, plant classification, usage, and cultural beliefs.

Additionally, I am deeply interested in exploring and contributing to the fields of environmental health, human- nature interactions, plant-animal interactions and co-evolutionary defence mechanisms, stress tolerance in organisms, and the initiation of cell division, differentiation, and development in both plants and animals.