Global ECR Network

IGSD's Global Network of the Early Career Researchers, representing their countries from around the world

2025 Cohort

Yanni Chen

PhD Candidate, University of Warwick, UK

Ms Chen's research explores art-science collaborations within exhibition spaces as pathways to addressing global sustainability challenges, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals. With experience as an assistant curator on art-science projects and collection development policy analysis at the British Museum, she intends to bridge theory and practice to foster impactful collaborations. Engaging with Warwick’s vibrant research networks, Yanni aims to advance innovative solutions for sustainability through creative and transdisciplinary approaches.

Roxanne Douglas

Assistant Professor, University of Warwick, UK

Dr Roxanne Douglas is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Advanced Studies, the University of Warwick. She is the co-founder and leader of the Women in World-Literature project, which comprises of regular conferences and a global network. Roxanne specialises in bringing together feminist theory, world-literary theories, and genre studies. Her first book, 'Feminist Gothic, Critical Irrealism and Arab Women’s World-Literature: "Living with Ghosts"' is out now with Palgrave Macmillan’s ‘New Comparisons in World Literature’ series soon. Her current research focuses on global women’s apocalyptic writing.

Victor Moreira

Assistant Professor, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) - Brazil

I'm an Assistant Professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil, in the Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering. My teaching and research focus on soil and groundwater systems, with a strong emphasis on contamination processes, remediation strategies, and water quality under climate change scenarios. The projects integrate laboratory studies, field monitoring, and modeling approaches to understand nutrient cycling, contaminant transport, and risk assessment. Our research group also collaborate with environmental agencies and industry partners, advancing sustainable solutions for groundwater protection and agricultural management while training students in applied environmental sciences.

Fidan Namazova

Research Associate, ADA University, Azerbaijan

Ms. Fidan Namazova is a young research professional working as a research associate, teaching assistant and graduate academic advisor at the School of Public and International Relations at ADA University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Affairs (2018) and a Master of Public Administration (2023) degrees from ADA University. Her research area covers public administration, urbanization, smart cities, sustainability, women empowerment and peacebuilding. She has co-authored articles and current research on the topics mentioned above. Moreover, she is working with IDP communities focused on the questions of gender equality, sustainability and nature-based solutions, peacebuilding as well as self-development.

Diana Rincon

PhD Student, University of Warwick, UK

Diana is currently in her second year as a PhD student in Global Sustainable Development as part of the TRANSFORM programme, funded by the Leverhulme Trust. Her research focuses on integrating socio-political impacts in the assessment of critical raw materials for low-carbon technologies to promote a just transition. This research is conducted in collaboration with the Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing Group at the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG). Diana holds a Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering and a Master’s with honours in Management, with six years of technical and sales support for adhesives and sealants in Latin American manufacturing. She has researched sustainable construction in developing countries and volunteered helping vulnerable communities in Colombia and the UK.

Sardorbek Murtozaev

Senior Lecturer, University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Uzbekistan

Dr Sardorbek Murtozaev is a PhD in Economics and senior lecturer at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Uzbekistan. His research explores the role of public institutions in shaping Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows and their impact on sustainable economic development. He teaches macroeconomics, microeconomics, and international economics, bridging theory with practical policy insights.

Komilakhon Shoislomov

University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Uzbekistan

Komila holds a higher education degree and am currently pursuing doctoral studies. The topic of her research is government support for exports in the context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a young researcher, she actively participates in various research institutes and academic platforms engaged in addressing the challenges of the SDGs. Her work focuses on studying modern mechanisms for stimulating exports, developing effective strategies for government support, and exploring innovative tools that can strengthen the country’s export potential and contribute to the global sustainable development agenda. Through involvement in international research projects and collaboration with the expert community, she strives to bridge theoretical approaches with practical recommendations that can be valuable both for the academic community and for government authorities and business representatives.

Ygor Santos Melo

Professional: Project Officer - UK PACT at Palladium

Academic: University of São Paulo

Global Independent Consultant and Researcher with over a decade of experience advancing urban and climate policy across Brazil and Latin America. Holding a Master of Science and a Bachelor in Architecture and Urban Planning from Brazil’s top universities, and having conducted research in the UK and Germany, he combines academic rigour with practical impact. His work has directly contributed to improving the lives of tens of thousands of people in vulnerable situations, earning national and international recognition and awards. With a global network spanning 30+ countries, he focuses on integrated, long-term solutions for climate resilience, social equity, and sustainable urban development.

Alan Seemon

United Nations Environment Programme

Alan is an economist by training with over three years of experience working at the intersection of sustainability, economics, carbon markets, and energy transition. Prior to joining UNEP, he was part of the Economic Policy Group at EY, where he collaborated with a wide range of stakeholders—including private sector clients, industry associations, foreign governments, and multilateral institutions—on projects related to the energy sector, decarbonization, and macroeconomic analysis. Alan is co-founder of a pan-India economics community aimed at bridging asymmetries in the domain and building a collaborative, knowledge-driven ecosystem. He is actively engaged in academic research, collaborating on papers and presenting at conferences. He holds a Master’s degree in Financial Economics from the Madras School of Economics.

The other members of the 2025 Cohort are:

Abbas Babayev, ADA University, Azerbaijan

Deirdre Carolan, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Elizabeth Smith, University of Warwick, UK

Gah-Kai Leung, University of Warwick, UK

Genevieve J. Sekumbo, Institut de Hautes Études Internationales et du Développement, Geneva

Hajar Huseynova, ADA University, Azerbaijan

Inara Yagubova, ADA University, Azerbaijan

Laura Quinteros Nogales, University of Warwick, UK

Leia Achampong, University of Warwick, UK

Nigar Gurbanli, ADA University, Azerbaijan

Panagiotis Kyriakopoulos, University of Warwick, UK

Sukanya Basu, Cambridge University, UK

2024 Cohort

S. Parimala Renganayaki

Professor, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India

Dr S. Parimala Renganayaki is a Professor at VIT Vellore, specializing in groundwater hydrology and water resources management. Her expertise includes Managed Aquifer Recharge, groundwater modeling, quality assessment, isotope applications, and stakeholder engagement. She leads DST and BARC-funded projects and has contributed to international collaborations with the European Commission, UAE, and DST-DAAD (India–Germany). As a Fellow of Water Security under the ACU Futures Climate Research Cohort, she promotes sustainable water practices. Her academic travels span Switzerland, Sweden, UAE, South Africa, Germany, the USA, the UK, and Nigeria, advancing global research and collaborative water security initiatives.

Ehsan Khalefa

Research Fellow, University of Portsmouth, UK

Dr Ehsan Khalefa is a Research Fellow in the School of Environment and Life Sciences at the University of Portsmouth. Her work focuses on applying Earth observation data across a range of land applications that spans from environmental monitoring, land-use/land-cover analysis, climate-change assessment, and the detection of deforestation and forest degradation to supporting disaster response and improving crisis management. Her current research examines climate change, including recent project that use satellite remote sensing to map and monitor how climate and land use change affect surface water availability across the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Temitope Olawunmi Sogbanmu

Senior Lecturer, University of Lagos, Nigeria

Dr Sogbanmu is an Environmental Toxicologist, Senior Lecturer at the University of Lagos and Founder of the Evidence Use in Environmental Policymaking in Nigeria (EUEPiN). With a PhD in Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Management, she is an ardent researcher with several publications and serial awards/grants in environmental research, evidence leadership, science advice and/or policy. She advocates for the UN SDGs 6 (clean water and sanitation), 11 (sustainable communities and cities), 13 (climate action), and 14 (sustaining life below water); AU Agenda 2063 Goal 7 (environmentally sustainable and climate resilient economies and communities); Evidence for Policy; Science and Risk Communication.

Maria Anjelica P. Ancheta

PhD Candidate, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand

Currently a PhD candidate at the Asian Institute of Technology - Bangkok, Thailand under the Water Engineering and Management Program, who specializes in the resilience of urban water supply and sanitation systems to climate change and extreme events. Also a civil engineer in the Philippines with 5 years of working and research experience, specializing in water resources engineering, particularly in the following aspects: hydrology, hydrodynamics, water quality assessment, design of water supply networks and infrastructure, and modeling of rivers and lakes

Kamal Devkota

PhD Researcher, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium

Kamal is a PhD researcher at the University of Leuven - Belgium, where his research examines how political, economic and infrastructural relations (re)shape access to water in rapidly changing context. His research is driven by a broader interest in human-nature relationships with a particular focus on understanding the differentiated access to natural resources. Prior to starting his PhD, Kamal collaborated with local governments and communities in Nepal to co-create knowledge and translate that knowledge into local level policy and practices. Driven by a commitment of environment justice, Kamal aims to contribute to the resilience building and sustainability through research, engagement and innovation.

Leah Barrett

PhD researcher, Monash University, Austraila

I am a researcher passionate about the intersection of human and environmental health, with a particular focus on microbial risk. Holding a BSc (Hons) in Geography and an MSc in Geographic Information Systems and Environmental Management, I am now completing a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering. My work integrates a holistic view of the environment, contamination pathways, and human interactions to assess health risks and deliver evidence-based solutions for environmental monitoring, management, and pollution mitigation. I am especially interested in applying these approaches in low-resource settings and exploring how they evolve in response to climate change.

Pyae Mon Naing

PhD Student, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand

Pyae Mon Naing is a doctoral student at the Asian Institute of Technology. Her research interests include hydrology and water resources, with a focus on assessing climate change impacts and adaptation in the water sector, as well as exploring coastal management and the Water-Energy-Carbon Nexus. She has been awarded the His Majesty King’s Scholarship for her doctoral study, the Loom Nam Khong Pijai Scholarship for her Master’s, and the ABCD Future Environmental Leaders Scholarship funded by the DAAD for her doctoral exchange in Germany.

Debashis Roy

Post-Doctoral Research Associate, University of Reading, UK

Dr Debashis Roy is a Post-Doctoral Researcher in the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development at the University of Reading, working on food systems transformation with a focus on UK fruit and vegetable systems. He holds a PhD in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Glasgow, where he specialized in social-ecological systems modelling, and master’s degrees in Agricultural Systems (AIT, Thailand) and Agricultural Extension Education (BAU, Bangladesh). Debashis also works as an Assistant Professor at Bangladesh Agricultural University, where his works focus on the intersection of agricultural education, technology transfer, and the livelihoods of farming communities. His interdisciplinary research explores sustainable food systems, social-ecological systems, and environmental sustainability using system dynamics modelling, time-series analysis, network analysis, and econometric methods.

The other members of the 2024 Cohort are:

Adnan Mirhanoglu, University of Hamburg, Germany

Dianyu Feng, University of Glasgow, UK

Erika Peklanska, University of the West of England, UK

Kingsley Orievulu, Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), South Africa

Lars Backhaus, Dresden University of Technology, Germany

Mahenthiran Sathiyamoorthy, Vellore Institute of Technology, India

Nana Konama Darteh, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy

Romakala Banda, University of Glasgow, UK

Rongkun Liu, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Nepal

Tieza Mica Santos, Dresden Leibniz Graduate School and TU Dresden, Germany

Tripti Singh, University of Warwick, UK

Wasin Punthong, University of Manchester, UK

2023 Cohort

Xiaohan Yu

PhD Candidate, University of Southampton, UK

Xiaohan Yu is a PhD candidate in Finance at the University of Southampton Business School. Her research explores the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and finance, with a focus on green innovation, ESG, and ambiguity in decision-making. Xiaohan is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (AFHEA) and teaches across postgraduate and undergraduate programmes. She is also an active Brilliant Club tutor, inspiring young students to pursue higher education and sustainability-focused research.

Shey Ndogmi Yoniwo

PhD Candidate, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK

Shey Ndogmi Yoniwo is a Doctorate researcher and course facilitator with over five years of experience in agricultural science, food systems, and climate change. His research focuses on the environmental and nutritional dimensions of food systems in vulnerable regions of the Global South. He applies an interdisciplinary lens to examine how climate variability affects food and nutritional security, agricultural resilience, and public health in Central Africa. His work aims to generate evidence that informs inclusive, context-specific policies and practical interventions to strengthen food system sustainability, improve health outcomes, and support climate-resilient agricultural development.

Gabriella Crawford Koltai

PhD Student, University of Warwick, UK

Gabriella Crawford Koltai is a PhD student researching the role of culture in sustainable development. Her research examines the role of European Capitals of Culture in sustainable urban regeneration, focusing on case studies from the UK and Hungary. She is particularly interested in how culture-led urban regeneration, community participation, and policy development can contribute to urban planning in order to promote long-term sustainable growth.

Amartuya Batbold (Amy)

PhD Candidate, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK

Amy is a PhD candidate at Canterbury Christ Church University researching how urban green spaces influence the wellbeing of ageing populations in the Global South, with an emphasis on nature-based solutions for climate adaptation. She has over ten years of experience in sustainable development, climate finance, and project management, working across government, academia, and the private sector. Formerly Mongolia's national focal point for Green Climate Fund projects, she coordinated the country's national reports to the UNFCCC and represented Mongolia at the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26). Her research bridges science, policy, and practice to advance equitable, evidence-based strategies for climate adaptation and public wellbeing.

Michael Kho Lim

Lecturer, University of Glasgow, UK

Michael Kho Lim’s career trajectory lies at the intersection of industry and academia. He has extensive experience in the management of cultural and creative industries—assuming various leadership roles and holding creative and managerial positions in content writing and editing for different publications. He is the author of Philippine Cinema and the Cultural Economy of Distribution (2019), and co-editor of Re-imagining Creative Cities in Twenty-First Century Asia (2020) and Sine ni Lav Diaz: A Long Take on the Filipino Auteur (2021). His research interests include Asian cinema, independent filmmaking, film distribution and exhibition, cultural economy, creative cities/spaces, cultural policy, and the broader area of cultural and creative industries.

The other members of the 2023 Cohort are:

Alice Bleby, Monash University, Australia

Anuradha Madugalla, Monash University, Australia

Asma Al Rahbi, University of Warwick, UK

Gunel Isamylzada, Western Caspian University, Azerbaijan

Hamza Boltaev, University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Uzbekistan

Hannah Barker, University of Southampton, UK

Hannah Oh, Kyungpook National University, South Korea

Isomkhon Gaffarov, University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Uzbekistan

Liv Nielsen, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

Paul Arkoh, Ca' Foscari University, Italy

Rajkumar Bhaduri, University of Warwick, UK

Shahad Alshehri, University of Southampton, UK

Sibilla Montanari, Ca' Foscari University, Italy

Tipphaphone Xayavong, University of Warwick, UK

Zeina Nazer, University of Southampton, UK