Conservation Biologist Mentor, University + Career Support

I’m Aysha - an early-career conservation biologist with experience navigating the world of applied biology, research and higher education. My current career has given me a broad perspective on different routes into science and conservation, and I am keen to mentor others to understand how they can develop and translate academic interests into real-world roles. I’ve worked on lab-based analytical chemistry research in Indonesia, supported timber traceability projects at KEW and completed my MSc thesis on snakebite risk in Sri Lanka whilst at ZSL. I am currently based at TRAFFIC in the Cambridge Conservation Initiative, here I conduct research and analysis to combat the illegal wildlife trade – everything from market monitoring for jaguar sales in Bolivia to tracing pangolin trade in Cameroon. Throughout my career I have consistently attended outreach, community events and student conferences to meet and engage with students. These events were a great platform to discuss career options, opportunities and research ideas with interested parties. I can offer practical and supportive advice on choosing university courses, understanding potential career paths and provide any general guidance ranging from; identifying and applying to jobs in this sector, CV development and any other topics you wish to raise. Before each session, I’ll provide a short questionnaire to understand what you’re hoping to get out of our time together. This will help me tailor the session to your needs and ensure we use our time as effectively as possible.