Khushali Desai

Khushali Desai has a diverse range of work experience in the environmental field. Khushali started their career as a Junior Research Fellow at the Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation, where they examined the human-wildlife interaction component of the Little Rann of Kachchh Landscape. Their responsibilities included advising locals on participating in social forestry and using sustainable techniques to reduce conflicts between wildlife, farmers, and cattle herders.

Khushali then worked as an Intern at the Environmental Institute of Houston, where they assisted with water quality database management, collected field measurements, and participated in seed collection for prairie restoration.

Khushali later worked as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, supporting academic activities and providing assistance to students.

In 2019, Khushali joined WEST, Inc. as a Biologicacl Field Technician, conducting post-construction monitoring of wind-energy facilities and locating bird and bat mortalities. This involved surveying designated plots under turbines, recording field notes, and estimating fatality rates of wildlife collisions with wind-energy facilities.

Khushali also volunteered at the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown, Iowa, and served as a Volunteer.

Khushali's experience also includes a role as a Land Preservation Intern at the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation Inc., where they assessed conservation areas for environmental degradation, prepared reports and legal documents for conservation real estate transactions, and managed invasive species.

In their most recent position as a Restoration Technician at The Nature Conservancy, Khushali was responsible for collecting and processing native prairie seeds to restore prairie at the Nachusa Grassland. Khushali also engaged in invasive weed management and worked with stewards and volunteers to gain knowledge about bison benefits in prairie restoration.

Currently, Khushali is working as a Staff Biologist at SWCA Environmental Consultants.

Khushali Desai obtained a Master's degree in Environmental Science from the University of Houston-Clear Lake from 2017 to 2019. Prior to that, they also earned a Master's degree in Environmental Science from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda between 2013 and 2015. Their Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science was completed at The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda from 2010 to 2013.

In addition to their academic achievements, Khushali Desai also holds certifications in various fields. Khushali earned the NWCG S-130 Basic Wildland Firefighter Training Field Day certification from the Illinois Fire Service Institute in February 2020. Khushali also obtained the Real-World GIS certification from LinkedIn in August 2019.