
NAU PhD scholar selected as scientist at Isro
Surat: A forestry doctoral candidate at Navsari Agricultural University (NAU), Preeti Vats, has secured a position as a scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (
ISRO
)
.
She is set to commence her role at the Space Application Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad in the coming week, where she will focus on India's forest management initiatives.
Originally from a farming background in Tumbaheri village in Haryana's Jhajjar district, Vats earned her bachelor's degree from NAU's forestry college and completed her master's at Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). Currently, she is working towards her PhD in forest products and utilisation at NAU, supervised by Prof.
SK Sinha.
"After completing my post-graduate studies, I thought of going into state or national forest services by appearing in competitive jobs. I never thought of serving India's prestigious organisation ISRO. However, with the guidance of my mentors at NAU, I came to know that ISRO is looking for specialists in the forestry and ecology," she said.
Preeti appeared for a written exam in December last year. "I will be joining SAC, Ahmedabad, where I am supposed to work on forest stand structure and forest stand dynamics using remote sensing and GIS technology," she added.
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NAU vice-chancellor Dr ZP Patel praised her selection, saying it demonstrates the growing importance of forestry across disciplines and expanded career opportunities for forestry graduates, particularly in space research, remote sensing, GIS, climate modelling, and natural resource monitoring.
Preeti received the VC's Gold Medal in 2021 from NAU, Navsari, during her undergraduate studies.
Preeti stated: "I would like to thank NAU, its faculty members, and colleagues for providing an excellent environment for academic excellence and encouragement."
Additionally, Preeti receives a monthly Rs. 37,000 scholarship through the CSIR (JRF) for her PhD studies. Her father works as a farmer, her mother manages the household, and her brother serves in the Haryana police.
Surat: A forestry doctoral candidate at Navsari Agricultural University (NAU), Preeti Vats, has secured a position as a scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
She is set to commence her role at the Space Application Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad in the coming week, where she will focus on India's forest management initiatives.
Originally from a farming background in Tumbaheri village in Haryana's Jhajjar district, Vats earned her bachelor's degree from NAU's forestry college and completed her master's at Kerala Agricultural University (KAU). Currently, she is working towards her PhD in forest products and utilisation at NAU, supervised by Prof. SK Sinha.
"After completing my post-graduate studies, I thought of going into state or national forest services by appearing in competitive jobs.
I never thought of serving India's prestigious organisation ISRO. However, with the guidance of my mentors at NAU, I came to know that ISRO is looking for specialists in the forestry and ecology," she said.
Preeti appeared for a written exam in December last year. "I will be joining SAC, Ahmedabad, where I am supposed to work on forest stand structure and forest stand dynamics using remote sensing and GIS technology," she added.
NAU vice-chancellor Dr ZP Patel praised her selection, saying it demonstrates the growing importance of forestry across disciplines and expanded career opportunities for forestry graduates, particularly in space research, remote sensing, GIS, climate modelling, and natural resource monitoring.
Preeti received the VC's Gold Medal in 2021 from NAU, Navsari, during her undergraduate studies.
Preeti stated: "I would like to thank NAU, its faculty members, and colleagues for providing an excellent environment for academic excellence and encouragement."
Additionally, Preeti receives a monthly Rs. 37,000 scholarship through the CSIR (JRF) for her PhD studies. Her father works as a farmer, her mother manages the household, and her brother serves in the Haryana police.

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