Students​

​​

​Jyoti Prajapati

Jyoti is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Mathematics at the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, under the guidance of Dr. Amiya Ranjan Bhowmick and Dr. Abhishek Mukherjee (ISI, Giridih), with me as a collaborator. Her research focuses on invasive species impact assessment and statistical modeling. With expertise in Python, R, and QGIS, Jyoti has worked on interdisciplinary projects as a project fellow and consultant. Outside work, she enjoys trekking, gardening, and nature photography.

​

Sonali Chauhan (August 2024 - January 2025)

Sonali joined me in August 2024 as a research associate. She is a science graduate with a Master's in Environment and Development from the School of Human Ecology, Ambedkar University Delhi. She has diverse work experience on projects related to birds, insects, plants, human-wildlife conflict, and climate change. Apart from her research experience, she assisted in teaching and mentoring postgraduate students and simultaneously handled various independent consultancy and mentorship roles.

​

Aishwarya S Kumar (February 2025 - June 2025)

Aishwarya joined me as a research intern in January 2025. She is a postgraduate in wildlife science and has an interest in invasive species research and their management. Prior to joining as an intern with Prof. Achyut at Azim Premji University, Bhopal, she interned in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh, where she worked on an ecological restoration project. She is driven by a zest for uncovering strategies for solving the complex relationships people have with nature. When not working, she can be found rummaging through kitchen drawers in search of snacks, reading about gender and social inequalities, or struggling to hit the right musical note.

​

Kesang Choden Bhutia (August 2025 - Present)

Kesang calls herself an amateur botanist with a special interest in invasive plants. Although she is from a small village named after a pine tree in West Bengal, she is deeply fascinated by urban ecology and its unique dynamics. Whether volunteering for urban slender loris studies or delving into the world of exotic ornamental plants in Bengaluru, she actively seeks opportunities to explore and understand urban ecosystems. During her free time, she likes to read books, paint, do flower art, and maintain her social media page 'Shades of Indian Flora'.