Description

Project: Hiding in Plain Sight: Tracking Longitudinal Change and Shifting Community Perceptions of Invasive Flora in the Nilgiris Commons

About the Project

This rapid-assessment study investigates the physical spread of key invasive plant species across elevation gradients in the Nilgiris and pairs it with social research to understand shifting community perceptions, environmental memory, and local governance of shared commons. By revisiting georeferenced sites from a 2019 baseline from ATREE’s Mapping Invasive Alien Plants (MIAP), the project aims to bridge spatial change-detection with quantitative decision-modeling and oral histories.

Duration: 8 Months (Full-Time)

Location: Based in the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu (with field travel across the Moyar-Bhavani landscape)

Responsibilities

- Field Resurveys & Spatial Mapping
- Social Surveys and oral history interviews

- Decision Modeling
- Data Analysis & Writing

Qualifications

- Education: Master’s degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, Forestry, Geography, Development Studies, environmental social sciences and humanities,



or allied interdisciplinary fields.
- Technical Skills: Experience with spatial data handling and analysis is essential. Familiarity with mobile data collection platforms (e.g., ODK or Kobo Toolbox) and plant identification is preferred.
- Fieldwork: Demonstrated ability to conduct qualitative and quantitative field interviews and surveys.

- Language: Fluency in Tamil and knowledge of local tribal languages/dialects is a plus.

How to Apply

Candidates should fill in the application and upload a single PDF containing their CV, a brief cover letter highlighting relevant field experience, contact details for two references, and any papers published

Contact

Please direct your questions regarding this position to [email protected]

Note

- Only candidates who are shortlisted for the interview will be contacted.

Date Posted

21 September 2026

Valid Through

October 15, 2026

Employment Type

Full time

Job Location

Tamil Nadu

📌 Research Assistant (Tamil Nadu)
🏢 Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment
📍 Tamil Nadu