PhD in Conservation Science and Sustainability Studies

ATREE invites applications for admission to the 2025 intake of its Doctoral Research programme in Conservation Science and Sustainability Studies. The programme is recognised by the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE). It is one of the few programmes in India that provides students with training in the natural sciences, social sciences and interdisciplinary practice to research biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

ATREE’s research covers the broad themes of biodiversity conservation, environment and development. Thematic areas include conservation biology and planning, forest governance and livelihoods, ecosystem services and well-being, hydrology and water resources, energy and climate change mitigation, food security, and development and environmental change. Students will be required to identify a potential supervisor during admission. There are three different categories of PhD:

1. Institutional Fellowships: Four institutional fellowships are available for students interested in the following thematic areas. Faculty who will supervise the students are provided in parentheses.

• Human Wildlife Interactions ( Asmita Sengupta)
• Urbanscapes ( Seshadri K S)
• Water Management and Governance ( Sachin Tiwale/ Ashish Kumar/ Priyanka Jamwal)
• Ecological Restoration and Human Wellbeing ( Siddhartha Krishnan)

2. IHR Fellowships: Two fellowships are available for students who wish to conduct research in the Indian Himalayan Region (Saloni Bhatia/ Rajkamal Goswami / Sailendra Dewan)

3. Self-Funding (CSIR-JRF, UGC-JRF, DST-INSPIRE): Students holding a valid CSIR-JRF, UGC-JRF or DST-INSPIRE Fellowship 2024, with prior training in any branch of the social, natural or engineering sciences, are eligible for admission to the PhD programme. Provided below is the list of faculty who are accepting students. 

Selected students will undergo coursework for three semesters, after which they will conduct independent research under the guidance of an advisory committee chaired by the faculty advisor. 

ATREE fosters diversity and gender equity in the workplace; women and persons from underprivileged groups are especially encouraged to apply. The PhD selection process will be factor in ATREE’s affirmative action policy.

Eligibility

The candidate must have a Master’s degree in any social science, natural science or engineering discipline and have secured a minimum of 55% marks or equivalent. 

Application Process

Candidates seeking admission for the PhD programme at ATREE should submit the following documents: 

• Updated CV
• A completed application form
• Copies of CSIR-JRF/UGC-JRF/INSPIRE award letters (if applicable), degree certificate or provisional degree certificate and Master’s course mark sheets.
• A written statement of purpose in the applicant’s own words, highlighting his or her research and career goals (maximum 1000 words).
• Confidential reference letters from two referees, sent directly by the referees to the address below by email or post.

Applicants should submit the completed applications and all supporting documents by email to phd@atree.org or post it to the address listed below by 25 April 2025. Candidates submitting their applications by email should indicate ‘Application for PhD programme–2025’ in the email’s subject line; those submitting their applicatio

Shortlisted applicants will have to appear for an interview at ATREE, Bangalore. The academic year will begin on 01 July 2025. 

Model Question Paper

Important Dates and Deadlines

• April 25:  Application Submission Deadline
• May 6 & 7:  Online Entrance Exam
• May 26 to May 28:  Interviews
• July 1:  Course Work Begins

Contact for more details:

phd@atree.org   |  +91-80-23635555  (Extn: 121)

Potential Supervisors List

Asmita Sengupta, Fellow

Broad Research Interests: Human- wildlife interactions, exploring biodiversity- human well-being linkages outside Protected Areas

Seshadri K. S., Fellow in Residence

Broad Research Interests: Movement Ecology and Animal Behaviour

Priyanka Jamwal, Sr. Fellow

Broad Research Interests: Water quality management, urban lake restoration, nature-based solutions, wastewater management, and public health

Saloni Bhatia, Fellow

Broad Research Interests: Multispecies interactions, human-wildlife coexistence

Sachin Tiwale, Fellow

Broad Research Interests: Water Resources Management (which includes urban and rural water supply, irrigation management, soil and water conservation and wastewater reuse)

Sailendra Dewan, Fellow in Residence

Broad Research Interests: Biodiversity and Conservation, Landscape Ecology and Urban Ecology

Eapsa Berry,Fellow in Residence

Broad Research Interests”Plant Evolutionary Biology or Plant Ecology

Rajkamal Goswami, Fellow in Residence

Broad Research Interests: Restoration

Shrinivas Badiger, Fellow

Broad Research Interests: Climate change and Hydrology

Vinay Sankar, Fellow in Residence

Broad Research Interests: Political ecology of water