Prof. Dr. Raj Sekhar Aich
CV

Here is my Detailed CV for a reference of my work trajectory.

After developing a body of research across psychology, anthropology, marine studies and human–animal relations, I am now looking towards Europe as the next stage of my academic and research journey. I seek to build meaningful collaborations and contribute to transdisciplinary work on human–marine relationships, conservation, sustainability and human–shark interactions within a wider European intellectual and research community.

1. PROFILE

I am a transdisciplinary social scientist working at the intersection of psychology, anthropology, human–environment relations, marine social science, sustainability, conservation and human–animal studies. I hold two PhDs, in Applied Psychology from the University of Calcutta and Anthropology from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

My research examines how people, communities, institutions and other forms of life interact within complex environmental and social systems, with particular attention to environmental risk, vulnerability, inequality, knowledge production, human–animal relations and sustainability.

My research experience spans India and New Zealand, alongside international academic collaborations and research engagements across Europe, Australia and South Asia. I have worked with qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method approaches, including ethnographic fieldwork, interviews, observation, surveys, statistical analysis, documentary research and participatory approaches.

My work increasingly focuses on transdisciplinary approaches to complex social–ecological challenges, bringing together perspectives from the social sciences, environmental research, humanities, conservation and community knowledge. I am particularly interested in how different forms of knowledge are produced, communicated and negotiated, how environmental risks are experienced unevenly across communities, and how research can contribute to conservation, sustainability, policy and societal change.

2. RESEARCH IDENTITY

My research has developed from an interdisciplinary foundation in psychology and anthropology towards a broader investigation of human relationships with environments, other species and complex social–ecological systems.

My work examines how environmental and human–environmental challenges are experienced, interpreted and negotiated by individuals and communities; how scientific, local, experiential and institutional knowledge interact; how environmental risks and vulnerabilities may be distributed unevenly; and how knowledge is translated into conservation, policy, education and wider societal action.

Human–shark relationships and marine environments remain a central empirical and intellectual focus of my research. However, my broader research interests extend to environmental risk, sustainability, social–ecological relationships, conservation, environmental inequality, human–animal relations, knowledge systems and transdisciplinary approaches to complex environmental challenges.

My dual doctoral training in psychology and anthropology allows me to approach these questions from complementary perspectives, combining attention to human behaviour, perception, emotion and social processes with ethnographic, cultural and relational approaches to human–environment and human–animal relationships.

3. DUAL DOCTORAL TRAINING

PhD in Anthropology — University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Awarded 2021

Thesis: Iridescent Skin: Encounters of White Sharks and Humans

Doctoral research examining human–shark relationships through ethnographic research into Great White shark cage-diving in Aotearoa New Zealand. The research explored embodied encounters between humans and sharks, perceptions of risk, fear and fascination, tourism, culture, conservation and the ways humans construct meaning around encounters with marine animals.

PhD in Applied Psychology — University of Calcutta, India

Awarded 2013

Thesis: A Study of Romantic Motive and Mental Health in Relation to Creativity of Male Painters and Non-Painters

Doctoral research examining psychological processes associated with creativity, romantic motivation and mental health among male painters and non-painters.

Interdisciplinary Doctoral Foundation

Together, my two doctoral trajectories provide an interdisciplinary foundation spanning psychological science, anthropology, ethnography, human–animal studies, human behaviour and complex human–environment relationships. This dual training forms an important basis for my subsequent work in marine social science, conservation, sustainability and transdisciplinary research.

Work Experience

2021- present: Professor of Psychology & Director, Transdisciplinary Research Centre Sister Nivedita University, Kolkata, India4.
2019- 2021: Human- animal conflict advisor- Sundarban Tiger widow welfare society, Kolkata, India.
2014- 2019: Guest Lecturer, Tutor & Peer Advisor, University of Canterbury, New Zealand — Taught anthropology, sociology, and human services; guided student research and academic writing.
2011- 2012: Guest Lecturer (Art, Psychology & Society), Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata, India
2004- 2010: Art and entertainment industry

Skills

Transdisciplinary research
Psychology
Anthropology
Ethnographic investigation
Mixed method research
Multispecies ethnography
Challenging marine field worker
Multimodal integration
Science communication

Teaching at Sister Nivedita University

Full professor at the department of psychology
Delivered innovative, NEP 2020-aligned courses integrating psychology, & sustainability.
The Global First ever human-shark transdisciplinary course (Autom 2026)
Mentor – Industrial Psychology;
Led curriculum design for IO psychology,
Mentored undergraduate, postgraduate & Ph.D. scholars with interdisciplinary focus
Member of the Board of studies
Supported accreditation & NAAC/NBA-aligned academic reforms.
Creator of BIPA (Bengal industrial psychology association)Student placement

Institutional contribution

Departmental research committee- chair and convener
Empower women globally- Research and entrepreneurship advisor
IIC SNU Ambassador and creator of RICKSHA app with SNU students
Advisor at the Lifelong learning centre
Member of Internationalization & Collaboration Committee
Conferences- Mental health, Industrial psychology, nature conservation

Director
Center for climate, sustainability and transdisciplinary research

•Sundarban human-shark research

•German Lecture series

•Sundarban sustainability initiative

•Marine conservation

•Conducting first United nations accredited Ocean conference In West Bengal, SNU (2026)

•First ever global human-shark course (autumn 2026)

Research contribution & social impact

New Zealand Great White shark expedition

4 years field work
Only Indian scientist to work with white sharks
First shark ethnography Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary researcher
First Cage diving Ethnographic investigation in New Zealand

Sundarban

First scholarly investigation of human-shark conflict
Created Sustainable livelihood program for Sundarban animal-attack victims.

Publications, recognitions & grants

PUBLICATIONS

Authored 2 books

'Iridescent Skin' (Niyogi Books, 2022).Kamot, sharks of Sundarbans is in press, and the first book by a faculty in SNU Press

Documentary: Iridescent Skin; An Ethnographic Documentary of Cage Diving in New Zealand (2020)

15+ peer-reviewed publications in reputed national and international and book chapters

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

India Lead, Marine Social Science Network (Global collaboration)

Featured researcher and article at Douglas Harper’s Visual Sociology (2nd ed., 2023)

Nominee for Best Non-Fiction Book, PVLF Literature Festival (2022)

INTERVIEWED AND FEATURED

BBC; Natur (Germany); Condé Nast Traveler; Radio New Zealand; New Zealand Centre for Human-animal studie; Shark research institute USA

GRANTS

Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, (Germany) (2024) Grant for invited lecture.

Sister Nivedita university grant for Field work- Sundarban Human-shark conflict.

University of Canterbury Alimony association grant for education (2020)

Global Contributions

Lecture tour Germany (2024): University of Kiel, Bielefeld University, Hannover University
Coleg Cambria, UK (2023, 2022)
Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, Germany (2023)
University of New Plymouth, (2021)
Blackpool and The Fylde, College (2021)
Technology in human shark research- Digital Technology in Nature workshop-University of Melbourne, Australia.(2021)
Waterworlding Conference- University of Marburg ( 2021).
Environment and conservations of New Zealand, (2018). Napier.
Australasian Animal Studies Association conference, (2017), Adelaide.
Animal Intersections art, (2017) Adelaide. Panellist and artist.
New Zealand marine sciences society and Australian marine sciences association, (2016)
Experimental social psychology at the 47th national & 16th international conference of the Indian Academy of Applied psychology, (2014)

Technology in human shark research, a 5 min presentation. Discussing about Technology in human shark research at the Digital Technology in Nature workshop organized by the The University of Melbourne, Australia. At the Animal Computer Interaction Conference 2021, 9 November 2021
Introduce a new human- shark research methodology I have been working on for the Blackpool and The Fylde, 18th November, 2021. College.
Waterworlding Conference (Cultural studies approaches to multiple waters) organized by the Institute for European Ethnology/Cultural Studies at the Philipps University of Marburg (June 17-19, 2021).
Environment and conservations of Aotearoa New Zealand, 2018. Napier. Communities protecting nature.
Australasian Animal Studies Association conference, 2017, Adelaide.
Animal Intersections art, 2017, Adelaide. Panellist and artist.
New Zealand marine sciences society and Australian marine sciences association, 2016
White, an ethnographic exploration of a hyperreal shark.
Multispecies ethnography; challenges the humanistic epistemology in anthropological investigation.
Indian National Confederation and the Academy of Anthropologists, 2018. Marine Anthology a path ahead.
First prize in paper presentation on experimental social psychology at the 47th national & 16th international conference of the Indian Academy of Applied psychology, 2012
Diagnostic Applied Neuro-psychological Association, 2013. presentations on applied arts in mental health.

Sea explorers Institute, 2019, introduction to marine anthropology.
Indian Lifesaving society, Kolkata, India, 2015; The Native and the jaws.
Stores if adventure and research with great white sharks in NZ.
Rotary club of Belvedere Garden, Kolkata, India.2015

Fun life of sharks, and the marine environment, talking with standard 1 to 8 at Timaru south school, 2017.
Motivational talk for standard 12 at Timaru high school, 2017.

Future vision

I aspire to make a meaningful impact on the global stage from a Europe-based platform, advancing marine and ocean conservation through transdisciplinary research. My long-term vision is to deepen our understanding of human–ocean relationships and human–animal interactions, with a special focus on human–shark dynamics, ultimately contributing to more informed, empathetic, and sustainable coexistence.

Prof. Dr. Raj Sekhar Aich CV