SAGE
FELLOWS
ABOUT THE SAGE FELLOWS PROGRAM
In 2024, ten SAGE Fellows were selected for an untraditional three-year training program designed to leverage existing knowledge, innovations, and community connections within the echo network through a deliberate, collaborative approach known as ‘Communities of Practice’. The Fellows research focuses on three consortia: Clean Health Cities, Rural Livelihoods, and Ecosystem Stewardship, comprising 83 members from 65 different organizations across the world. The fellows are enrolled in 10 prestigious universities across India. These PhDs will be trained as Impact Leaders through untraditional research projects aimed at filling critical gaps in scientific knowledge and address vital needs articulated by the vulnerable communities in the network. Each research project is defined and developed using a set of principles that ensure relevance and connection between the project and the needs and interests articulated by end-users in vulnerable communities. These communities are not just beneficiaries of the research but co-create the research itself.
The SAGE Fellows Program encapsulates the echo network’s ambition to develop a new form of STEMM training that achieves three simultaneous goals. First, the PhD students’ research work directly creates new knowledge and technologies. Second, the model ensures impact by maintaining a proactive support system for students that leverages the resources in the network and assists the PhD students in targeting their work into society with key stakeholders. Finally, the model educates the students to become Impact Leaders trained in this complex system of stakeholders and, as part of their research, works specifically to quickly transform and contextualize scientific knowledge and technology for a specific community purpose.
Anushka Gurung
Currently pursuing a PhD as a SAGE Fellow under the guidance of Dr Rajkumar Goswami at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE). Anushka is actively involved in the Stewardship project. Her research focuses on studying the linkages between biodiversity and human well-being across the socio-ecological landscapes of Sikkim, aiming to conserve biodiversity while supporting local communities.
Deepanjana Saha
Deepanjana Saha is the SAGE Valuation Fellow at ATREE where she is performing research under the guidance of Dr Ravikanth. With a Master’s in Agricultural Economics from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Deepanjana is passionate about natural resources and environmental economics. She is on a mission to bridge ecological valuation with practical conservation. Her current research focuses on developing a participatory framework to value ecosystem services in the agricultural landscapes of B.R. Hills, Karnataka.
Jyosthnaa Padmanabhan
Jyosthnaa P. is the SAGE Fellow for the Nutrition project at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics and is performing research under the guidance of Dr Victor Afari-Sefa. Her research is focussed on agricultural resilience and sustainability. With a Master's in Economics from the Madras School of Economics and over a decade of experience, Jyosthnaa is passionate about sustainable agricultural practices, with a focus on climate change impacts on food and nutrition security.
Kranthi Vyasaraju
Kranthi Vysyaraju is a connector, facilitator, and urban citizen with a passion for bridging ideas and people to solve real-world problems. An alum of Johns Hopkins and Manipal University, she is the SAGE PhD fellow for the Forum project. She is performing research under the guidance of Dr Prasanth N S at the Institute of Public Health. Her study focusses on citizen engagement in climate related events that have implications on public health in urban settings in the forum project. Kranthi combines a global perspective with a commitment to advancing adult education, One Health, and sustainable urban living.
Mayank Kumar
Mayank Kumar is an engineer and is the SAGE fellow in the Circularity project. He is performing research under the guidance of Dr Indumathi M Nambi at IIT Madras. His vision encompasses a world where all life thrives in harmony with nature, ensuring equitable access to resources. Mayank is dedicated to uplifting underprivileged communities, including laborers and sanitation workers, by enhancing the dignity of their essential work. Through sustainable resource recovery and innovative practices in water circularity, he aims to create a meaningful impact on the lives of those often overlooked.
Poonam Trivedi
Dr. Poonam Trivedi is a medical graduate with a Master’s in Public Health. She is the SAGE Surveillance fellow performing research under the guidance of Dr Yasobant Sandul at the Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar. Her current research is focussed on surveillance systems and community health. She has over a decade of experience in public health research focusing on Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, Water Hygiene and Sanitation, Climate Change, Health Technology Assessment, and Maternal Health. Dr. Trivedi is dedicated to advancing public health through research and community engagement.
Shilpa Omprakash Sunariwal
Shilpa Sunariwal is a SAGE Fellow of the Feedstock Project, performing research under the guidance of Dr Amit Y Arora at IIT Bombay, with a focus on the sustainable use of agricultural residues. Her research centers on phytochemical extraction and the development of innovative, value-added products derived from agro-industrial byproducts. Shilpa is committed to transforming overlooked agricultural sidestreams into viable economic opportunities for farmers. Her work aligns with circular economy principles, striving to convert waste into wealth, empower local communities, and support sustainable agricultural growth.
Shreya Singh
Shreya Singh is the SAGE fellow engaged in the Digitization project, under the guidance of Dr Tabassum Ishrath Fatima and Dr Abdul Kareem at Trans- Disciplinary University. Shreya Singh holds a Master's degree in Environmental Sciences from the Central University of Jharkhand and a Bachelor's degree in Botany. Her current work aims at integrating data on rural livelihoods and ecosystem services to create a long-term database that supports community benefits. Beyond academic pursuits, Shreya is passionate about collecting stories from the diverse cultures and traditions from the Himalaya.
Sreeraghavi Mani
Sreeraghavi Mani is a textile designer, artist and origamist. With a Master's in Fine Arts, Textiles - from Parsons School of Design, New York, and her Bachelor's degree from National Institute of Fashion Technology, specializing in Textile Design, Sreeraghavi is the SAGE fellow for the Biopackaging project under the guidance of Dr Ketankumar Vadoria at National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Her research interests are material innovation and sustainability, craft communities of India, design pedagogies, social outreach and art psychology.
For more information feel free to write to shaheena@echonetwork.in