Sprih Harsh (PFM 12-14) is a postdoctoral researcher at Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia (UGA), USA. Sprih started her career as a software engineer at Infosys and after her post-graduation from IIFM, switched her career to the wildlife field and moved on to work as Senior Project Officer-Species at World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-India). Driven by her passion for wildlife and eagerness to learn more about this field, she went to South Dakota State University (SDSU) to pursue her Ph.D. in the ecology of ring-necked pheasants in an agricultural landscape. After completing her Ph.D., she is now working at UGA where she is involved in developing analytical tools and monitoring programs for better management and conservation of northern Bobwhite Quails.
Q. How has been your journey from IIFM to this role?
A. For me, to this date, IIFM has been the most exciting, fun-learning, memorable, and life-changing phase. I was eager to switch my career from software engineer to somewhere in the wildlife field (didn’t know where exactly at that time!). Because of certain limitations and an unpredictable life, IIFM was my last resort to take this 180-degree twist in my career. And this has come out to be the biggest, most wonderful and promising decision of my life. Faculties like Prof. Advait Edgaonkar Sir, Prof. Yogesh Dubey Sir, Prof. CS Rathore Sir, Prof. Dharni Sir(Retired PCCF), Prof. Ashish David Sir, Prof. CVRS Vijaya Kumar Sir, and so many others along with seniors like Govind and Anjali helped and inspired me from time to time. I took on extra projects under their guidance (especially Advait Sir with Govind and Anjali) that further escalated my hunger for this field.
It was due to IIFM and these extra projects that I got my first job in the wildlife field at WWF-India. Everything that I am doing right now has started after IIFM and I don’t think I can ever be able to give enough credits to faculties, seniors, and my batchmates.
Q. What were some of the key milestones/learning in this journey that you would like to share with us?
A. The biggest learning has been that one should take risks in their life if one really wants something. I left my job at Infosys, was unemployed for 3-4 months, only because I wanted this change in my career. The decision to join IIFM and take on extra wildlife-related projects were risks worth taking. Another learning has been that, don’t be a bookworm or just a bookworm! You need to enjoy life, so work hard but also party, play, and enjoy harder! I did everything I could at IIFM and I believe that kept me on my path as I was happy all the time. The next thing I learnt was to never hesitate to ask questions! My talks and chats with faculties and seniors have always helped me a lot. Life is/can be unpredictable! So be ready for whatever comes next and keep at it. Don’t give up if you are really into your work.
My life as a Ph.D. student was full of turmoil (I won’t bore with details!). But I really loved my project and its different aspects, so I kept going. And this turned out to be one of the key milestones of my life as this gave me a doctorate degree and gave me so much knowledge that I never could have imagined. I was fortunate enough to get a job as temporary faculty for one semester (which could be considered as another milestone for me!). While teaching that course too, I learned so much and now I am doing research where I am learning advanced data analysis. I don’t believe I would have reached here if I hadn’t taken risks at different stages, if I hadn’t asked questions all the time and if I had given up when things got difficult! One thing that everyone needs to understand is that life never goes according to plans, at least not all the time, so just keep trying! (Well, after Ph.D. I have become a philosopher I believe!)
Q. What is the most satisfying part of your current role?
A. In my current role, I am working to develop analytical tools and monitoring programs which will help in improving the management and conservation of a grassland bird. The most satisfying part is that this tool and program when done can be easily used on any other species (with some limitations, obviously). Another satisfying (right now stressful too!) part is that I am getting to learn the advanced and new computational process, data analysis, and getting to interact with new people from diverse fields.
Q. Has your learning at IIFM helped in shaping how you approach your professional roles?
A. IIFM gave me my first exposure to the wildlife field. It helped me in creating a network with well known people in this field, and in soaring my hunger towards gaining more knowledge. I can say this again and again that I wouldn’t have been here if it wasn’t for IIFM!
Q. Who (or what) are the biggest influences or drivers in your careers. What would be your advice to freshers and IIFM graduates who are looking to choose similar sectors/roles?
A. My first and biggest influencer is Prof. Advait Edgaonkar Sir. He helped me in pursuing this career. I still remember how much I used to bother him with my never-ending questions. He helped me in doing small projects within the campus, which even though small, did help in my understanding of research. He introduced me to Ramesh Krishnamurthy Sir at Wildlife Institute of India who ended up offering me an incredible internship on riverine birds. Ramesh Sir also played a key role in inciting my love towards research and the wildlife field. I also had the privilege of working with Jimmy Borah, who was then the Tiger co-ordinator at WWF-India. Working with him, I realized the importance of Stats, Data analysis, and Monitoring tools in the wildlife field.
Apart from people, one thing that always drove me to this field and is keeping me motivated is the plight of wildlife these days. Amid ongoing habitat loss, fragmentation, climate change, human conflicts, and n number of other issues, it’s becoming more and more important for people like us to come forward and do our part for collective betterment.
My advice would be if you really want to go deep in this field, you need to have passion for it. So be passionate, be open to ideas, be adaptable (not everything on your path to your ultimate goal will turn out according to your plan), be curious! If you want to go into research, or in any field for that matter, start liking Stats!!! It’s not that bad! In case of any doubt, always approach your faculty or seniors. Don’t hesitate! The idea is to stay motivated and stay curious!
Q. What are your favorite memories during your IIFM days?
A. Oooh!!! There are lots and lots of favorite memories!!!
Playing badminton at 4:00 A.M. in the morning, going on walks, birding anytime. Participating in almost all extra-curricular activities, missing lines in play while on stage (maybe embarrassing, but it was really fun!), playing and secretly feeding (secret, because I used to borrow food from mess!) almost 25 dogs, late-night searches for Maggi or literally anything to eat and the list goes on!!!
Q. In hindsight, what was the biggest contribution (courses, faculty, library, friends, and alumni. Anything else!!) or take away from IIFM that you think played a critical role in shaping you as an individual or professional?
A. I will say this again, I am here because of IIFM! I believe I was enjoying my life so much at IIFM that it really helped me stay motivated all the time. I am not sure if that makes sense, but I was happiest at IIFM and credit goes to everyone, my friends, faculties, and wildlife at IIFM, especially the dogs!
Q. The best friends/seniors/faculty at IIFM? Some memorable tidbits that you like to share.
A. I want to say I was a social animal, and our batch, seniors, juniors were just wonderful people. To name a few, Supriya, Sherin, Siddhu, Shashank, Sheerish, Moin, Ankit, Brij, Divya, Shwetha, Rupinder, Govind, Anjali, Neelima, and so so many more could be added to this list of great friends. I guess the best part of friendship from that time is even if we are not in touch frequently (I am really bad at keeping in touch!), the bond is still strong.
Q. As an alumnus, what is your advice to freshers or those who are joining IIFM to get the best out of the 2 years there?
A. Live your present to the fullest, and start planning your future and taking steps towards it. Don’t worry too much about the future and enjoy as much as you can, this phase is not coming back. Don’t get stuck on grades, which BTW are important, but you don’t need excellence in every course. Pick your subjects, your topics, and proceed from there. Your resume is not only built on grades but also on extra-curriculars so focus on that as well.
Also, don’t compare yourself with other MBA college/institute students. We are not a typical MBA institute and hence value these unique learnings – fieldwork, grassroots exposure. Whether research or not, many of your fields will need some common skills like data analysis, statistics, readings, report writing, so start focusing your time there. Your faculties are experts and resourceful in their fields, so start interacting with them, ask them as many questions as you want, and start networking!
Q. What is your typical day at the office?
A. Normally it revolves around lots of reading, programming, data analysis, a little bit of writing, and occasional meetings.
Q. And how about weekends, Hobbies, Family, and anything else you want to add.
A. In my free time, I like to go to nature parks and do-little bit of birding. I like to paint (the standard is really low, but just something to pass time!), read, drive, and love to play with my two cats.
Q. Favorite Books, movies, authors.
A. I am really into wildlife books (wildlife adventure, life and adventures of wildlife conservationists like Jane Goodall, George Schaller, etc.) I have recently read and liked books like,” When Eagles Roar by James Alexander Currie and Bonnie J. Fladung, The Truth About Animals by Lucy Cooke, Elephant Dawn by Sharon Pincott, The Last Rhinos by Lawrence Anthony and Graham Spence, Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman, and Cry of Kalahari by Mark and Delia Owens“.
I love Marvel movies, and war movies based on true stories.
Q. IIFM is driven by alumni’s passion and commitments towards its goal. How would you like to contribute to IIFM or IIFM alumni students?
A. I can definitely help students who are inclined towards the wildlife field. After all these years, I truly think I have gained some experience that might be helpful to any beginners.
Q. What do you think is different at IIFM now vs when you studied there? What do you think is a positive change and what is not?
A. Unfortunately, I am so out of touch with IIFM that I have no idea about the present IIFM. But without doubts, I can say that with faculty like ours, all changes that are taking place should be in great direction and for a good reason.
Q. Any suggestions on who you want to get profiled/interviewed here?
A. Oh! There are so so so many that should be profiled. Very few that I am aware of! Rupinder Bakshi (Columbia University), Ashutosh Senger, Shashank Deora (IIT-Bombay), Pragati Mandloi, Shweta Tiwari, Achin Phulre, Arvind Garimella, Neelima Mishra, Alark Saxena, Aatish Khan, Shitiz Chaudhary are a few of them.