PhD Candidate, Integrative Conservation & Anthropology I am a Ph.D. candidate in Integrative Conservation and Anthropology at the University of Georgia. I am also a National Geographic Explorer and an External Scholar at the Wildlife Institute of India. My research explores how conservation science, caste, and species politics shape human–wildlife relations in Central India, with particular attention to the multispecies impacts of tiger reintroduction. I am also the Founder of the Wolf Conservation Initiative, which advances research and conservation of wolves and grassland ecosystems across South Asia. Of note: Secretary, Social Science Working Group, Society for Conservation Biology (2025-) Student Board Member, Anthropology and Environment Society, American Anthropological Association (2025-) President, Anthropology Graduate Student Organization, University of Georgia (2022-23) Research Research Areas: Cultural Anthropology Research Interests: environmental anthropology, human animal relations, caste and conservation governance, ethical limits of wildlife protection, multispecies justice in South Asia, multi-sited ethnography, landscape ecology, rewilding. Selected Publications Selected Publications: Academic Publications: 1. Dietsch, A. M., Selinske, M.J., van Eeden, L. M., Blount-Hill, K.-L., Hauptfeld, R. S.,Banerjee, S., Brittain, S., Gelves-Gómez, F., Kaushik, A.,Fischer, P. M., Uddin, M. K., & Wallen, K. E. (2025). Conservation and the social sciences revisited. Conservation Biology, 39, e14462. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14462 2. Thomas-Walters, L.,Gelves-Gomez, F., Brittain, S., van Eeden, L. M., Sky, N.H., Kaushik, A., Kemink, K., Manzano-Fischer, P.,Plotsky, K., & Selinske, M. (2025). Essential skills for the training of conservation social scientists. Conservation Biology, 39, e14456. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14456 Masters Research: Kaushik, A. 2016. “Habitat-Use Interactions between Kiang (Equus kiang) & Changpas (Nomadic Pastoral Community) in Tsokar basin, Ladakh." Unpublished MA Thesis, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi, India. Reports: 1. Wildlife Institute of India, 2022. Integrated Landscape Management Plan for Greater Panna Landscape, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. https://wii.gov.in/images/images/documents/publications/rr_2022_integrated_landscape_management_plan.pdf Popular articles/Blogs: Kaushik, A. 2024. “Alice In Chains”: Ground Staff Heroes, Conservation Realities, And Reflecting On William Cronon’s Insights. Current Conservation. https://www.currentconservation.org/alice-in-chains-ground-staff-heroes-conservation-realities-and-reflecting-on-william-cronons-insights/ Kaushik, A. 2024. Tigers, Animality, and Dignity: A Journey Through the Central Indian Landscape. Engagement – A blog published by the Anthropology and Environment Society, American Anthropological Association https://aesengagement.wordpress.com/2024/01/20/tigers-animality-and-dignity-a-journey-through-the-central-indian-landscape/ Kaushik, A. (2017). Situating Nilgai in Delhi. CUES Blogs, Centre for Urban Ecology & Sustainability, Ambedkar University Delhi. https://cuesonline.org/2017/08/11/situating-nilgai-in-delhi/ Grants Grants: 2025 1st Rufford Small Grant, Rufford Foundation 2025 Wenner-Gren Dissertation Fieldwork Grant 2024 National Geographic Society Grant 2024 Robert E. Rhoades Pre-Dissertation Travel Award, UGA Department of Anthropology 2024 Communication of Research and Scholarship, UGA Graduate School 2024 Integrative Conservation Mini-Grant, UGA Centre for Integrative Conservation Research 2023 Arts Collaborative Grant, UGA Arts Collaborative 2023 Graduate Research Award, UGA Willson Center for Humanities and Arts 2022 Communication of Research and Scholarship, UGA Graduate School 2015-16 Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi Merit Scholarships Education Education: M.A., School of Human Ecology, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi 2016 B.Com.(Honors), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi 2012
