I am a Ph.D. candidate in Integrative Conservation and Anthropology at the Department of Anthropology, University of Georgia. I am also a National Geographic Explorer and an External Scholar at the Wildlife Institute of India. My research examines how conservation science, caste, and species intersect in Central India, focusing on how tiger reintroduction reshapes human-wildlife relations, displacement, and the everyday lives of more-than-human actors.
I serve on the board of the Social Science Working Group of the Society for Conservation Biology and co-edit The Social, its official blog.
At-Large Board Member, Social Science Working Group, Society for Conservation Biology (2022-25)
President, Anthropology Graduate Student Organization, University of Georgia (2022-23)
Research
environmental anthropology, landscape ecology, rewilding, human animal relations, anthropology of caste, multi-sited ethnography
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 Unpublished MA Thesis, Dr.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
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
M.A., School of Human Ecology, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi 2016
B.Com.(Honors), Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi 2012
