معرفی
Aswini Pai serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at St. Lawrence University, holding the Archie F. MacAllaster and Barbara Torrey MacAllaster Professorship. She maintains dual affiliations with the Asian Studies and Native American Studies programs, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to plant-human relationships.
Her academic credentials include:
- B.Sc. in Zoology from Cochin College
- M.Sc. in Wildlife Science from the Wildlife Institute of India
- Ph.D. in Plant Biology from Ohio University
Professor Pai's research program uniquely bridges ethnobotany and ecology, investigating how cultural practices shape the conservation and utilization of economically significant plant species—particularly medicinal plants—across natural and agricultural landscapes. Her fieldwork spans four continents with intensive work in India, Nepal, North America, and Borneo, examining traditional knowledge systems alongside ecological dynamics.
She actively mentors 2-4 undergraduate researchers each semester, providing exceptional hands-on opportunities in ethnographic methods, plant collection, and ecological analysis. Her teaching portfolio—encompassing General Biology, Ethnobotany, Tropical Ecology, Medicinal Plant Ecology, and Forest Ecology of Asia—directly reflects her research expertise and global field experience.
Professor Pai's lab provides students with rare access to international research contexts, emphasizing practical applications of plant ecology in sustainable development and conservation initiatives worldwide.
