My doctoral research entitled ‘Chasing interconnections: Mountains, Mushrooms and People’ aims to understand the complex interactions between Physical Geography, Biodiversity and Humans in the Himalayas. I am conducting this interdisciplinary research at two (regional and local) levels.At regional scale, I am looking at how climate change impact on ecosystem (landscape phenology) and species (distribution) whereas at local scale, my primary focus is on social, ecological and economic dimensions of caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis)—the flagship species of the Himalayas. After receiving two masters’ degrees, one in Botany from Tribhuvan University, Nepal, and other in Geographic Information Technology from Northeastern University, USA, I worked as a research associate at Harvard University and Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), USA for five years. I also have several years of teaching experience in US and Nepal. My research interests lie in the interface of biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, climate and land use change, poverty alleviation, and environmental governance.