I recently defended my dissertation and I'm seeking a role in academia (preferably in the US, New Zealand or Europe) and would appreciate your support. If you come across any opportunities or just want to catch up, please send me a message, I’d love to connect. Please read the following to learn about my motivations, values, and the unique perspective I bring to research and problem-solving. Towards the end, you will find links to my job market papers.
My academic and professional journey has been shaped by a deep commitment to environmental sustainability, poverty alleviation, and food security—issues that I have personally witnessed and experienced while growing up in India.
Raised in an urban environment, I saw environmental degradation firsthand. At the same time, my ancestral roots in one of India’s poorest regions exposed me to deep social inequalities and development struggles. These lived experiences, alongside personal health challenges, instilled in me a lifelong drive to give back—initially through the modest goal of directly impacting 10,000 lives. That aspiration has since grown into a broader vision: serving the world by working toward environmental and social justice on a global scale.
I have chosen to tackle environmental challenges through research, while continuing to contribute to social causes through personal initiatives. My academic foundation is in economics, and I have developed strong quantitative analytical skills. However, my PhD journey at the Mizzou Division of Applied Social Sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia has significantly expanded my perspective. I have cultivated a deep appreciation for qualitative methodologies, and I now consider myself a mixed-methods interdisciplinary researcher—committed to integrating diverse academic disciplines to develop holistic solutions.
My research focuses on conceptualizing a novel organizational model, ‘ecosystem cooperatives,’ which aims to transform the way conservation and restoration efforts are conducted globally. The idea has received recognition from my advisors and peers, with some even calling it “Nobel Prize-worthy”. However, as a PhD candidate with limited resources, time constraints, and funding challenges, I have not yet been able to fully implement this vision.
I am looking for an organization that values innovative thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and applied research—ideally in the broader domains of rights of nature, environmental economics, applied economics, or public policy. I am eager to contribute by securing research grants, developing impactful projects, and supporting ongoing interdisciplinary and social science research. Most importantly, I hope to join a team that shares a commitment to environmental and social change.
I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how my skills, experience, and vision align with your organization’s mission. Thank you for taking time out to read this.
Job Market Papers*:
* Note: These are working papers. If this note is still here, it means the final version has not yet been uploaded.
To access my Curriculum Vitae: Click here