Prakash N. | Field Researcher

About

I am a field researcher with hands-on experience spanning vegetation surveys, long-term ecological monitoring, GIS-based biodiversity assessments, and socio-ecological fieldwork across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. My work spans from the Western Ghats to coffee agroforestry landscapes, with a growing interest in plant-pollinator network dynamics, thermal tolerance of tropical trees, and evidence-based conservation. I am comfortable leading field teams, collaborating across disciplines, and translating raw ecological data into actionable restoration strategies.

Professional Experience

Nov 2025 – May 2026

Forestry College Ponnampet & ETH Zurich

Kodagu, Karnataka

Young Professional II Completed

Cross-Scale Plant-Pollinator Network Dynamics

Investigated the effect of land use in shaping plant-pollinator interactions in Indian coffee agroforestry.
Examined local and landscape-level factors governing complex plant-pollinator dynamics in tropical agroforestry systems.

Apr 2025 – Present

Kuvempu University

Shivamogga, Karnataka

Researcher Active

Long-Term Ecological Monitoring · Photosynthetic Thermal Tolerance

Established a permanent ecological monitoring plot in collaboration with Kuvempu University and NCBS.
Conducted baseline data collection: plant censuses, species identification, dendrometer installation, and QR coding systems.
Investigating thermal tolerance mechanisms of tree species in Western Ghats tropical forests via field sampling and thermal tolerance measurements.

Aug 2023 – Jan 2025

Treeties Network Pvt. Ltd.

Bengaluru

Field Officer

Project Vatika, Kuppam AP · Lake Front Biodiversity Park, Mandya

Led vegetation surveys across a 172-acre campus using GIS and drone technology.
Developed a Digital Tree Registry by integrating drone imagery and field data for biodiversity analysis.
Managed day-to-day operations for a biodiversity park including species selection, procurement, and planting.

Nov 2021 – Jul 2023

ATREE

Bengaluru

Research Assistant

Seasonal Monitoring & Evaluation of Ecological Restoration Sites, Bagepalli

Conducted extensive fieldwork on biophysical and socioeconomic variables: vegetation, water, soil, insects, birds, land use, and livelihoods.
Designed research protocols; produced technical reports from statistical, qualitative, and quantitative analyses.
Trained and supervised junior field assistants in baseline assessments across Devadurga, Raichur, and Koppal districts.
Collected baselines for lake restoration design at Choodasandra Lake, Bengaluru.
Conducted household interviews on gomala (grazing) land use in the grasslands of Bagepalli.

Dec 2016 – Mar 2017

I & B Seeds Pvt. Ltd.

Bengaluru

Intern

Marker Assisted Selection, Tissue Culture & Breeding Techniques

Conducted MAS for screening cytoplasmic male sterility in winter chilli lines.
Assisted in screening FS tomato breeding lines for various resistances.

Publications

Decoupled phenology and PSII thermal plasticity in seasonally dry tropical forest trees

Tiwari R., Bhagawad P. T., Naik H. S., Hosamani R. G., Prakash N., Jayanath Babu M. S., … & Kambalagere Y. (2026)

Plant, Cell & Environment

Under Review

Poster: "Baseline Ecological Assessment of Vegetation in LTEM Station, Kuvempu University" — Symposium on Frontiers in Biological Sciences, NASI & Kuvempu University, Sep 2025.

Workshops & Activities

🐸

Mysore & Bisle Frog Watch 2019

Citizen science initiative by Gubbi Labs & Bisle Kappe team — Jun & Jul 2019

🌿

Ethnobotany & Plant Systematics Workshop

Documenting Uncultivated Plant Bioresources — conducted by ATREE

🗺️

QGIS Essentials (5-day Course)

Spatial analysis training — Researchocrat

📡

Long-Term Ecological Monitoring Workshop

Tools & techniques for LTEM — Sayeemane, Sirsi, Karnataka — Apr 2025

🌱

GCPL Biodiversity Register Survey

Vegetation field survey support across South India with TTC

📊

Research Methodology Workshop

E-workshop on Research Methodology & Hypothesis (Beginner Level) — Rachit Agarwal

📰

International Webinar on Research Journals

Reading, Referencing & Publishing — K.J. Somaiya College with ELSEVIER — Jul 2021

🏡

Rural Work Experience Program

15-day program in Hassan as part of the undergraduate degree

🎓

Seminars & Symposiums at ATREE

Talks by experts in environment, biodiversity & multidisciplinary subjects

Skills & Tools

Field & Ecology

Vegetation SurveysBiodiversity Assessment Species IdentificationEcological Restoration Long-Term MonitoringPlant-Pollinator Dynamics Thermal Tolerance Studies

Software

QGISR for Ecologists MS ExcelMS Word / PowerPoint GIS & Drone Tech

Research Methods

Statistical AnalysisFGD & Interviews Socio-ecological StudiesTechnical Reporting Survey Design

Languages

Kannada (Native)Telugu (Native) English (Fluent)Tamil (Intermediate) Hindi (Intermediate)