This document provides the CV of Ashwin Naidu, who has a Ph.D. in Natural Resources from the University of Arizona. He is currently the Principal Investigator and Director of the Fishing Cat Conservancy, which conducts community-based research and conservation of endangered fishing cats and their mangrove habitat in India. His areas of research interest include conservation biology, GIS/remote sensing, wildlife genetics/forensics, and science communication. He has over 15 peer-reviewed publications and has received several grants and awards for his work researching mountain lions in the southwestern US and fishing cats in India.

1. Ashwin Naidu | April 2015
CV of Ashwin Naidu, Ph.D.
Carson Earth Fellow – School of Natural Resources and the Environment (SNRE), University of Arizona (UA)
Invited Member and Representative of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) – Cat Specialist Group
Past Student Representative and Legacy Scholar of the Wild Felid Research & Management Association
Research Associate of the UA Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center
Co-founder, Director and President of the Fishing Cat Conservancy
Next Generation Sonoran Desert Researcher
Correspondence: ashwin@email.arizona.edu | +1-520-355-9874 LinkedIn, ResearchGate, Academia.edu, GoogleScholar
Objective Applying interdisciplinary scientific and educational methods for research, conservation and management of endangered
species, their habitats, and ecosystems
Areas of Interest Conservation Biology, Conservation Education and Outreach, Citizen Science, GIS and Remote Sensing,
Wildlife Genetics and Forensics, Social Dimensions of Natural Resource Management, and Science Communication
Academic Background
Doctor of Philosophy Ph.D. in Natural Resources with emphasis on Wildlife Conservation and Management
Jan 2010 – Aug 2015 School of Natural Resources and the Environment (SNRE), University of Arizona (UA), Tucson, Arizona (AZ), USA
Graduate Certificate GradCert. in Geographic Information Systems and Science (GIS)
Jan 2012 – Dec 2013 SNRE and School of Geography and Development, UA, Tucson, AZ, USA
Master of Science M.S. in Natural Resources with emphasis on Wildlife and Fisheries Science
May 2008 – Dec 2009 SNRE, UA, Tucson, AZ, USA
Bachelor of Technology B.Tech. in Biotechnology
Jul 2003 – May 2007 Vellore Institute of Technology [VIT] University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
Appointments and Projects
Jan 2014 – Ongoing Principal Investigator, Conservationist, and Director at Fishing Cat Conservancy, USA, and India
Project: Community-based research and conservation of the endangered fishing cat and its globally important mangrove habitat
Sep 2015 – Ongoing Next Generation Ranger/Intern (Temp.) at Friends of Saguaro National Park, National Park Service, Arizona
Project: Wildlife camera-based carnivore surveys, and website development for the ‘lost carnivores’ citizen science project
Aug 2015 – Ongoing Research Tech. (Temp.) – Vegetation Surveys and GIS Support, SNRE, UA
Project: Assessing impacts of livestock grazing on potential habitat of the southwestern willow flycatcher in central Arizona
Jun 2013 – Jun 2015 Research Intern (Grant Writer), UA Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center (UA Wild Cat Center), SNRE, UA
Major grant proposals: 1. Large carnivores and connectivity in southern Arizona’s national parks (National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey)
(Prepared/submitted) 2. Synthesizing ecological data to monitor decadal response of carnivores and other wildlife to climate and landscape
changes in the Desert Southwest (National Science Foundation)
3. A model citizen-science and web-based data sharing program for wildlife camera-based monitoring of jaguars, pumas,
ocelots and bobcats (National Geographic)
4. Using citizen monitored remote cameras to track wild cats and identify critical carnivore habitat corridors in southern
Arizona and New Mexico, USA (Citizen Science Alliance)
5. Creating a user-friendly web-based database to synthesize ecological data on changes in large carnivore distributions
in response to a changing climate and habitat fragmentation (National Science Foundation)
Jan 2010 – Jul 2014 Graduate Research Associate, SNRE, UA
Ph.D. Dissertation: Landscape genetic assessment of mountain lions in the southwestern US and northwestern Mexico (Defense Prezi)
Projects: 1. Investigating barriers to gene flow and mapping population genetic structure of mountain lions in the Desert Southwest
2. Comparing GIS-based models of puma habitat and connectivity with genetic data from microsatellite and SNP markers
3. Establishment of a forensic genetic and spatial database for mountain lions in Arizona
Other projects: Independent Researcher, UA Wild Cat Center and IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group
1. Wildlife camera-based surveys and conservation education with Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society for tigers,
leopards, jungle cats, and rusty-spotted cats in south-central India.
2. Classroom and field-based conservation education about endangered wild cat species for K-12 students and youth
Apr 2008 – Dec 2009 Graduate Research Assistant, SNRE, UA
M.S. Thesis: Genetic identification of minimum number, sex and diet of mountain lions on Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, AZ
Projects: 1. Development of DNA sequenced-based species identification in mammals
2. DNA-based identification of diet of bobcats in southwestern Arizona
Nov 2006 – Nov 2007 Project Assistant, LACONES, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India
B.Tech. Thesis: Presence-absence and occupancy survey of tigers, leopards, and dholes at Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh,
India

2. Ashwin Naidu | April 2015
Publications in Peer-reviewed Journals
In Rev. Naidu A, Perkl RM, Wissler C, Fitak RR, Reed ML, Culver M. Linking GIS-based models of habitat connectivity with genetic relatedness among
mountain lions. Submitted, January 2016, PLoS ONE.
2016 Fitak RR, Naidu A, Thompson RW, Culver M. A new panel of SNP markers for the individual identification of North American pumas.
Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management In-Press.
2015 Naidu A, Kantimahanti M, Kumar NP, Thompson K, Sreedhar SS, Rao A. Recent records of fishing cat and its conservation in coastal South
India. Cat News 62:7–9.
2012 Naidu A, Fitak RR, Munguia-Vega A, Culver M. Novel primers for complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequencing in mammals.
Molecular Ecology Resources 12(2):191–6.
Sreekar R, Srinivasulu C, Naidu A, Siddiqi I. On the occurrence of the large brown flying squirrel (Petaurista philippensis) in Andhra Pradesh,
India. Small Mammal Mail – Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA 4(2):14–15.
2011 Naidu A, Smythe LA, Thompson RW, Culver M. Genetic analysis of scats reveals minimum number and sex of recently documented mountain
lions. Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management 2(1):106–111.
2010 Sreekar R, Naidu A, Srinivasulu C. Occurrence of desert wheatear Oenanthe deserti in ICRISAT Campus, Medak District, Andhra Pradesh,
India. Zoos' Print Journal 25(4):21.
Sreekar R, Naidu A, Seetharamaraju M, Srinivasulu C. Lesser adjutant stork and stork-billed kingfisher, additions to the birds of Kawal Wildlife
Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh. Indian Birds 6(6):163–164.
Publications in Professional Magazines
2015 Naidu A. From donors and dollars to cats and conservation. Feline Conservation Federation 59(3):22–23.
2013 Kelly AR, Walker K, Naidu A. International citizen science for Indian tiger conservation. PLOS Citizen Science Blog (April 1, 2013).
2012 Naidu A. Landscape genetics of mountain lions in the Sonora and Mojave Deserts. The Ram’s Horn (Fall 2012).
2010 Naidu A, Smythe LA, Thompson RW, Culver M. Genetic analysis of scats reveals minimum number, sex, and diet of mountain lions on the
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona. Wild Felid Monitor (Winter 2010).
Naidu A. Minimum number and diet assessment of recently documented pumas at Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in Arizona to address
predation management for desert bighorn sheep conservation. Cat Project of the Month; IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group (April 2010).
2009 Naidu A. In-field scat sample handling, collection and storage protocol. School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona; (Dec 2009).
Technical Reports
2015 Naidu A. Community-based conservation of the endangered fishing cat and its mangrove habitat around the Krishna wildlife sanctuary.
Fishing Cat Conservancy – Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens (November 2015).
2014 Naidu A. Case study: survey of fishing cats in the Eastern Ghats and coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh, India. Mohammed bin Zayed Species
Conservation Fund Project #13057746.
Naidu A. Fishing cat update from India. Feline Conservation Federation 58(5):16–17.
Naidu A, Fitak R, Culver M. Data Sharing for Wildlife Management: The Puma Genetic Database. Arizona Game and Fish Department –
Habitat Partnership Committee Project Number: HPC 10-705.
Naidu A, Fitak R, Culver M. Landscape genetics of mountain lions (Puma concolor) in southwestern Arizona. Arizona Game and Fish
Department – Habitat Partnership Committee Project Number: HPC 09-406.
2013 Naidu A. Student report on ongoing wild felid regional research projects in Arizona. Wild Felid Monitor (Winter 2013).
Recognition in Public Media
2015 Fletcher K. University of Arizona Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center researches 'wildcats' like mountain lions. Arizona Daily Wildcat
Encinias S. Hooked on Fishing Cat Conservation. Institute of the Environment, UA Environment and Sustainability Portal
Singh G. Fishing Cat Conservation: Connecting to the Bigger Picture. SocioCosmo
2013 Harris L. Cat Scat Lessons. Desert Leaf Magazine
Grove A. Lions, Bobcats Focus of UA Research. Arizona Public Media
Magrane E. Lions, Tigers, and Conservation Ethics. UA Environment and Sustainability Portal
2011 Fergus C. Geneticist Ashwin Naidu Uses Forensics to Study Predator and Prey Interaction. Mountain Lion Foundation
Nuwer R. From Researcher to Crime-Fighter: How Cutting-Edge Science Can Help Stop Illegal Wildlife Trafficking. Audubon
Stolte D. New UA Center to Help Wild Cats Worldwide. UANews
Littin S. Saving wildlife with forensic genetics. UANews

3. Ashwin Naidu | April 2015
Grants and Development
Nov 2015 Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund [$5,000 | Project #15059917]
Project: Fishing Cat Conservancy – Survey of the fishing cat in mangrove locations along the coastline of South India
Oct 2015 Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund Award [$25,000 | via Wildlife Conservation Network]
Project: Fishing Cat Conservancy – Community-based conservation of fishing cats in coastal South India
2014–15 Feline Conservation Federation [$3,500], Project Survival’s Cat Haven [$2,700], and Cedar Cove Feline Conservatory [$1,500]
Project: Fishing Cat Conservancy – Community-based conservation of fishing cats and their mangrove habitat in coastal South India
2014–15 Safari West Wildlife Preserve and African Tent Camp [$3,000]
Project: Fishing Cat Conservancy – Community-based conservation of fishing cats and their mangrove habitat in coastal South India
Nov 2014 Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Internal Conservation Fund Grant [$3,700]
Project: Fishing Cat Conservancy – Community-based conservation of the endangered fishing cat around Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra
Pradesh, India
Mar 2014 Idea Wild Equipment Grant for Biodiversity Conservation Research and Education [$1,500 Donated as wildlife cameras]
Project: Fishing Cat Conservancy – A community-based fishing cat conservation initiative in the Eastern Ghats, India
Dec 2013 Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund Grant [$5,000 | Project #13057746]
Project: Fishing Cat Conservancy – Community-based conservation of fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus) in northeastern Andhra Pradesh, India
2012–14 Reid Park Zoo, Tucson – Teen Volunteer voted conservation project funds [$4,600]
Project: UA Wild Cat Center and Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society – “Adopt a Camera, Adopt a Cat” program with
Nov 2011 UA Wild Cat Center “Team Tiger” – scholarship from donor at fundraiser event [$2,500]
Project: Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society – Education for field research for tigers by ‘animal trackers’
Nov 2010 Arizona Game and Fish Department – Habitat Partnership Committee Program Grant [$90,250 | Project #HPC-10-705]
Project: Forensic genetic database for big game management in Arizona
Nov 2009 Arizona Game and Fish Department – Habitat Partnership Committee Program Grant [$278,200 | Project #HPC-09-406]
Project: Mountain Lion Management in Southwestern Arizona (minimum population size, food habits, connectivity patterns, prey species –
Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer response)
Scholarships and Awards
Jul 2013 Arrington Memorial Scholarship Endowment 2013-2014 [$800]
Jun 2013 Southern Arizona Environmental Management Society Scholarship 2013–2014 [$500]
Feb 2013 Best Student Poster at the 2013 AZ-NM Chapter of The Wildlife Society Joint Annual Meeting
Nov 2012 University of Arizona GPSC Student Showcase 2012 – 1st
place for poster (Graduate) [$250]
Nov 2012 Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society (ADBSS) Scholarship 2012-2013 [$3,000]
May 2012 Carson Earth Fellowship/Scholarship 2012-2013 [$5,000]
Apr 2012 Institute of the Environment – Fall 2012 Graduate Student Travel Award [$500]
Mar 2011 Institute of the Environment – Fall 2011 Graduate Student Travel Award [$500]
Oct 2010 University of Arizona GPSC Student Showcase 2010 – 1st
place for poster (Graduate) [$250]
Jun 2010 Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) Travel Award [$750]
Apr 2010 School of Natural Resources (SNRE) – Outstanding Thesis Award
Nov 2009 Wild Felid Association – Wild Felid Legacy Scholarship 2009 [$1,000]
Sep 2009 Graduate and Professional Student Council (GPSC) Travel Award [$500]
Apr 2009 Desert Bighorn Council – Hansen-Welles Scholarship 2009 [$3,500]
Selected Invited Talks and Public Education Events (of about 35)
Jan 2016 How environmental photojournalism can help protect wild cats in South India – Invited lecture, Karunya University, Coimbatore, India
Aug 2015 Fishing cat conservation and mangrove restoration in coastal South India – Guest talk at Project Survival’s Cat Haven, Dunlap, California
Jun 2015 The fishing cat conservation story – Invited guest talk at the Feline Conservation Federation Convention, Wichita, Kansas
Mar 2015 Community-based conservation of the endangered fishing cat and its mangrove habitat in coastal Andhra Pradesh, Birdwatchers’ Society
of Andhra Pradesh and Goethe-Zentrum (German Centre), Hyderabad, India
Oct 2014 Fishing Cat Conservancy, in Dr. Sanderson’s Small Wild Cats at the Wildlife Conservation Network Expo 2014, San Francisco, California
Jun 2014 Landscape genetics of mountain lions in Arizona, Pima County GIS Cooperative meeting, County-City Public Works, Tucson, AZ
Apr 2014 Mountain lion population genetics and a forensic genetic database for big game, Arizona Game & Fish Department (AGFD), Phoenix, AZ
Nov 2013 Tiger conservation in human-dominated landscapes in India, Conservation Lecture Series, Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, AZ
Apr 2013 Wildlife forensic genetics and a regional mountain lion database for Arizona, UA Science Café, Cushing Street Restaurant, Tucson, AZ
Jan 2013 Wildlife research methods and the use of genetics for wildlife conservation, Plenary Lecture, Conservation of Natural Resources Seminar –
Remote Sensing, GIS & Nanotechnology, Nehru Arts and Sciences College, Coimbatore, India
Apr 2011 Tigers: threats and conservation on human-dominated landscapes, UA Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center’s Inaugural Photo
Exhibit and Fundraiser event, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Feb 2011 Mentor Scientist, Arizona Project WET – Water Investigation Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

4. Ashwin Naidu | April 2015
Mar 2010 Use of genetics for monitoring cougars, Cougar Field Workshop, Ladder Ranch, Hillsboro, NM
Feb 2010 Mountain lion response training workshop (with the AGFD), Gila River Indian Reservation, Sacaton, AZ
May 2009 Field research methods for monitoring tigers, Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society, Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, India
Mar 2008 The Sanctuary Asia ’Kids for Tigers’ presentation, Gitanjali Public School, Hyderabad, India
Selected Research Presentations – Talks [T] and Posters [P] (of about 25)
Feb 2015 [T] Joint Annual Meeting of the Arizona-New Mexico Chapters of the Wildlife Society, Las Cruces, New Mexico (NM)
May 2014 [T] 11th
Mountain Lion Workshop, Cedar City, Utah
Apr 2013 [T] 52nd
Meeting of the Desert Bighorn Sheep Council, Las Cruces, NM
Jan 2012 [T] Colorado River Terrestrial and Riparian Meeting, Laughlin, Nevada (NV)
Feb 2011 [T] Joint Annual Meeting of the Arizona-New Mexico Chapters of The Wildlife Society, Pinetop, AZ
Mar 2011 [T] 51st
Meeting of the Desert Bighorn Sheep Council, Laughlin, NV
Jan 2011 [T] Colorado River Terrestrial and Riparian Meeting, Laughlin, NV
Jul 2010 [T] 24th
International Congress for Conservation Biology, Edmonton, Canada
Nov 2009 [T] Carnivores Conference, Denver, Colorado (CO)
Oct 2009 [T] Opportunities for Collaborative Mountain Lion Research on the Colorado Plateau meeting, Flagstaff, AZ
Apr 2009 [T] 50th
Meeting of the Desert Bighorn Sheep Council, Grand Junction, CO
Dec 2014 [P] Remote Sensing – Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs (GIDP) Annual Student Showcase, Tucson, AZ
Nov 2013 [P] University of Arizona GPSC Student Showcase 2013, Tucson, AZ
Feb 2013 [P] Joint Annual Meeting of the Arizona-New Mexico Chapters of The Wildlife Society, Albuquerque, NM
Nov 2011 [P] The Wildlife Society 18th
Annual Conference, Waikoloa, Hawai’i
Sep 2009 [P] The Wildlife Society 16th
Annual Conference, Monterey, California
Jul 2009 [P] Society for Conservation Biology Annual Meeting, Beijing, China
Sep 2007 [P] Felid Biology and Conservation Conference, Oxford University, the United Kingdom
Training and Certifications
Nov 2015 Wilderness First Aid (WFA) Certification, Rincon Field Institute, Tucson, AZ
Oct 2015 NSC CPR Course in Adult CPR and AED, National Safety Council, Tucson, AZ
Apr 2013 Safe Capture, Handing and Chemical Immobilization of Animals, Safe-Capture International, Phoenix Zoo, Phoenix, AZ
Nov 2011 Cartographic Design for Wildlife Professionals, The Wildlife Society Conference, Waikoloa, HI
Jul 2010 Summer Institute in Statistical Genetics, Seattle, Washington
Dec 2007 ENTOMO Course in Entomology, Nilambur, Kerala, India
Professional References
Dr. Melanie Culver
Assistant Professor, School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona;
Assistant Leader, Arizona Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit.
E-mail: culver@ag.arizona.edu
Lisa Haynes
Coordinator, University of Arizona Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center,
School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona.
E-mail: lynx@email.arizona.edu
Ron Thompson
President, Primero Conservation;
Retired Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer, Special Big Game Biologist, and Habitat Partnership Committee Coordinator, AZ Game and Fish Department.
E-mail: leoneroronatsulross@gmail.com
Dr. Sarah Rinkevich
Endangered Species Biologist – Department of the Interior Tribal Liaison,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Office of Assist. Sec. for Water and Science.
E-mail: sarah_rinkevich@fws.gov
John Clemons
Past President, Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society
E-mail: clemonsjp@aol.com
Dr. Christine Breitenmoser
Co-Chair, IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group
E-mail: ch.breitenmoser@kora.ch