Working Experience
| Since July 2021 | Scientific Officer, World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Geneva, Switzerland |
| .As Scientific Officer, I provide technical and programmatic leadership across the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), coordinating its atmosphere, ocean, and hydrology activities in line with WCRP’s strategic plan. I oversee flagship Lighthouse Activities, the Global Precipitation EXperiment and Research on Climate Interventions, guiding their scientific direction and global visibility. I represent WMO/WCRP in high-level fora including the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, Joint WMO-IOC Collaborative Board, and the UN Ocean Decade, reinforcing WCRP’s role at the science-policy interface. I am also engaged at the intersection of science, diplomacy, and policy, serving as WMO focal point to co-convene an inter-UN workshop on solar radiation modification. In addition, I lead WCRP’s engagement of early and mid-career researchers and manage the Global Fellowship Programme, advancing global capacity development and creating opportunities for the next generation of climate scientists, particularly in the Global South. Key Responsibilities: • Provide programmatic and financial leadership for WCRP’s core activities and flagship initiatives, ensuring accountability, results, and alignment with WCRP’s strategic priorities. • Guide the Joint Scientific Committee (JSC) through strategic planning and decision-making, supporting annual meetings and the development of science priorities. • Represent WCRP/WMO in high-level fora and strengthen global partnerships, providing authoritative input to international processes and reports (e.g. UNFCCC, IOC, UNEP, UN Secretary-General on Oceans and the Law of the Sea). • Lead intergovernmental and major WCRP events, applying communication and diplomacy to build consensus, foster inclusivity, and amplify scientific impact. • Advance global capacity development by enhancing early- and mid-career researcher engagement, managing the WCRP Global Fellowship Programme. • Mentoring staff to foster innovation and leadership. | |
| 2019-2021 | Senior Research Scientist, Climate Impact Branch, Centre for Climate Research Singapore (CCRS), Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS), Singapore |
| .As Senior Research Scientist at the Centre for Climate Research Singapore (CCRS), I provided scientific and programmatic leadership in advancing national climate impact science, with a strong focus on sea-level change and its societal implications. I worked at the interface of science, policy, and society, ensuring that research outcomes informed Singapore’s adaptation planning, national policy, and regional collaboration. My leadership spanned scientific coordination, international representation, and science diplomacy, thereby positioning CCRS as a trusted authority in sea-level and climate impact science. Key Responsibilities & Achievements: • Helped establish and manage the Climate Impacts Branch, shaping research priorities to support Singapore’s national climate strategy. • Led the sea-level section of Singapore’s Annual Climate Assessment Report (2020), delivering authoritative national assessments. • Conducted research on regional sea-level variability and marine climate impacts, strengthening links between science and marine resource management. • Engaged with government, policy makers, and private sector stakeholders to translate CMIP-based climate projections into adaptation planning, ensuring science informed decision-making. • Served as Meteorological Service Singapore’s focal point for the Marine Water Quality Science and Technology initiative, driving cross-agency collaboration and inclusive knowledge brokering. • Represented CCRS in regional and international fora, including the UN Decade of Ocean Science (West-Pac sessions), enhancing Singapore’s contribution to global marine and climate dialogues. • Acted as official spokesperson for the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment on climate and sea-level science, demonstrating strong communication and influence competencies. • Supervised and mentored early-career researchers, building national capacity in climate and marine science while fostering inclusivity and professional growth. | |
| 2017–2019 | Research Scientist, European Space Agency (ESA)’s Climate Change Initiative – Sea Level Budget Closure, Laboratoire d’Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Toulouse, France |
| .As Postdoctoral Researcher for the European Space Agency’s Climate Change Initiative (CCI), I contributed scientific and programmatic expertise to the Sea Level Budget Closure project, advancing global understanding of sea-level change and its drivers. My work combined advanced analysis of satellite, in-situ, and model data with international collaboration, science communication, and leadership of a major work package. This role positioned me at the forefront of global sea-level research, linking cutting-edge science with climate monitoring and policy-relevant reporting. Key Responsibilities & Achievements: • Led global mean sea-level budget closure analyses, integrating satellite, in-situ, and hydrological data to evaluate contributions of different sea-level components. • Served as principal focal point and technical report writer for the sea-level budget work package, demonstrating leadership and scientific rigor. • Co-authored four peer-reviewed journal articles and a Cambridge University Press book chapter, advancing global sea-level knowledge. • Contributed sea-level expertise to WMO’s State of the Climate reports (2017–2019), strengthening global climate monitoring. • Actively engaged with more than 60 international experts through WCRP’s Global Mean Sea Level Budget Group, helping to create a unified sea-level database. • Liaised with European project partners and Essential Climate Variables communities, ensuring coherence and collaboration across international climate initiatives. • Presented research findings at international conferences and workshops, enhancing ESA’s visibility in the climate science community. | |
| 2011–2012 | Research Engineer, Laboratoire d’Etudes en Géophysique et Océanographie Spatiales (LEGOS), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Toulouse, France |
| As Research Engineer, I contributed to two French National Research projects- HYDROWEB (continental hydrology from space observation) and CECILE (coastal impacts of sea-level rise). My work advanced the use of satellite and in-situ data to monitor hydrological systems and assess long-term sea-level change in vulnerable tropical regions, providing critical insights for climate adaptation and coastal risk assessment. Key Responsibilities & Achievements: • Built a global database of lakes, rivers, and reservoirs, extracting water levels and surface areas from satellite observations (remote sensing, image processing). • Monitored hydrological changes in water bodies vulnerable to climate change impacts. • Investigated long-term sea-level variations (>60 years) in the Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea, integrating satellite altimetry, tide gauges, ocean models, reconstructions, and GPS/DORIS. • Highlighted the role of vertical land motion in understanding local sea-level change and its impacts. • Liaised effectively with national research partners, contributing to project coordination and assessments. • Authored/co-authored five peer-reviewed articles; findings were referenced in coastal adaptation projects for island nations in the Caribbean. • Awarded the competitive French Space Agency (CNES) doctoral fellowship for my proposed research on sea-level change. |
Education
| 2012-2016 | PhD in Space Oceanography, University of Toulouse III, Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), Toulouse, France |
| During my PhD, I specialized in sea-level and climate change science, advancing understanding of deep-ocean warming, Earth’s energy imbalance, global mean sea-level budgets, and the combined role of natural variability and anthropogenic forcing in regional sea-level change. My work integrated observations (satellite altimetry, gravimetry, tide gauges, ARGO) with climate and hydrological models, linking global processes to coastal impacts. Alongside research, I co-supervised interns and conducted outreach to schools, reinforcing my commitment to capacity building and science communication. Key Responsibilities & Achievements: • Conducted original research on deep-ocean warming, Earth’s energy imbalance, and regional/global sea-level change. • Applied advanced analysis of satellite (altimetry, gravimetry), in-situ (tide gauges, XBT, ARGO), and CMIP climate models. • Published nine peer-reviewed journal articles as author/co-author, contributing to international climate science literature. • Presented findings at national and international conferences, demonstrating strong oral communication skills. • Co-supervised research interns, fostering early-career development and technical capacity. • Engaged in public outreach, presenting climate and sea-level science to school students (ages 6–14). • Demonstrated innovation, independence, and collaboration in planning and executing complex doctoral research. | |
| 2008-2010 | Masters in Aeronautical Engineering and Space Technology, ISAE, Toulouse, France |
| 2004-2008 | BEng in Aeronautics, Madras Institute of Technology, Chennai, India |
Courses and Training
| 2021 | Researcher Management and Leadership Training, University of Colorado, MOOC Certificate |
| 2020 | Public Speaking and Media Training: Confidence on Camera by Alexa Fischer, MOOC Certificate |