Drsagna Adiery

Field-oriented aquatic biodiversity researcher with over a decade of ecological research experience, currently conducting postdoctoral research at ATREE (Bengaluru) on multi-taxa biomonitoring and biodiversity restoration of urban lakes. Conducted benchmark analyses of 32 urban lakes in Bengaluru, characterising the water quality and native flora of restored lake ecosystems. Co-developed LakeRevive (lakerevive.atree.org), a web-based decision-support tool for urban lake restoration using nature-based solutions.

Contributed as a technical expert to the Site Engineer's Guide to Implementing Blue-Green Infrastructure in Bengaluru (BBMP/ATREE, 2025). Expertise spans aquatic macrophyte and botanical assessment, multi-taxa field surveys, limnology, biodiversity restoration planning, ecosystem services, and long-term ecological monitoring. Experienced in stakeholder-engaged research with government agencies, NGOs, and local communities.

Committed to generating field evidence that informs urban freshwater conservation, nature-based solutions, and restoration policy. A mobile and internationally minded researcher, having relocated across India for academic and professional growth - from Kerala (UG) to Chennai (MSc) to Bengaluru (postdoctoral research) - and eager to extend this trajectory to international research environments. Contributing botanical field photography to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, with images also published on Shutterstock.

Postdoctoral Research Associate - Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) - Bengaluru

(2024-01)

• Designed and executed multi-taxa field surveys to monitor botanical and faunal biodiversity (macrophytes, macroinvertebrates, birds, and other indicator taxa) in urban lakes and surrounding buffer habitats across Bengaluru.
• Conducted benchmark analysis of 32 urban lakes in Bengaluru, characterising the distribution and native flora of restored lake ecosystems to establish baseline ecological reference conditions.
• Co-developed LakeRevive (lakerevive.atree.org), a web-based decision-support tool integrating the Lake Health Index (LHI) and nature-based solution (NbS) scenarios for urban lake restoration - covering constructed wetlands, floating treatment wetlands, and native vegetation buffers.
• Conducted baseline biodiversity and ecological assessment of Baiyappanahalli Lake, Bengaluru, providing field data for restoration planning and nature-based intervention design.
• Contributed as a technical expert and named contributor to the Site Engineer's Guide to Implementing Blue-Green Infrastructure in Bengaluru (BBMP Climate Action Cell / ATREE, 2025), a city-wide policy and implementation document covering urban lakes, stormwater, greening, and recharge wells.
• Lead biodiversity restoration planning and implementation for urban lake ecosystems, assessing intervention effectiveness through repeat field assessments and monitoring protocols.
• Develop and apply bioindicator frameworks using multiple taxa to evaluate ecological status and restoration progress of heavily modified urban water bodies.
• Collect, manage, and analyse large ecological field datasets; present findings at national and international conferences and publish in high-impact peer-reviewed journals.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams (ecologists, hydrologists, social scientists) to integrate biodiversity data with broader lake restoration objectives.
• Engage government agencies (BBMP, Kerala Biodiversity Board), NGOs, and local communities to co-design restoration strategies and communicate research outcomes to policy-relevant audiences.
• Supervise and mentor research assistants in field methods and data protocols.

Researcher (PhD Candidate) - Union Christian College, Aluva - Aluva, Kerala

(2018-01 - 2024-12)

• Investigated population dynamics, phenology, and seed biology of selected forest tree species across natural habitats in Kerala.
• Designed novel propagation protocols for native tree species, including root trainer technology and IBA-based stem cutting rooting; filed a provisional patent for a new rooting medium (SALVIPITH).
• Conducted seed germination field trials under polyhouse and greenhouse conditions; analysed fungal infections affecting seeds and seedlings.
• Performed statistical analysis of ecological and experimental datasets using SPSS and GraphPad Prism.
• Served as resource person for the Kerala Biodiversity Board (flood-affected area biodiversity assessment, 2018-2019) and Kerala Pollution Control Board (water quality analysis, Aluva, Kerala).
• Published findings in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences.

Junior & Senior Research Fellow - Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) - Palode

(2015-01 - 2017-12)

• Contributed to a DBT-India funded project on antiviral compounds from Western Ghats medicinal plants, focusing on ethnomedicinal plants active against Chikungunya virus (CHIKV).
• Conducted field plant identification and collection in Kerala and Tamil Nadu forest areas; prepared herbarium specimens.
• Performed phytochemical characterisation and pharmacological investigation of medicinal plant extracts in collaboration with experts across ethnobotany, taxonomy, and pharmacology.
• Managed project documentation, consumable procurement, equipment maintenance, and research data confidentiality.
• Co-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals; supervised student research projects.

M.Sc. Dissertation Intern - M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) - Wayanad

(2013-01 - 2015-12)

• Conducted ethnobotanical investigations among the Kaattunaika tribal community in Wayanad district, Kerala, documenting traditional medicinal knowledge and indigenous healthcare practices.
• Produced a detailed case study on traditional healers of the Kattunaika tribe in collaboration with MSSRF Wayanad.

PhD - Botany - Mahatma Gandhi University (2024-12)

M.Sc. - Plant Biology & Plant Biotechnology - University of Madras (2015-12)

B.Sc. - Botany - Mahatma Gandhi University (2013-12)

Diploma - Industrial Floriculture - Mahatma Gandhi University (2013-12)