Our Team

Guneet Kaur | Director

Dr. Guneet Kaur is an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) in Biological Engineering at the School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Canada. Before joining University of Guelph, she held faculty positions at York University (Canada) and Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU, Hong Kong). Her research focusses on the design of innovative, circular, and carbon-neutral biotechnological solutions to contribute meaningfully to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) specifically SDG 7, 9, 11, and 12, for capturing and transforming waste carbon from solid wastes and wastewater streams to bioproducts, precision fermentation, and renewable energy generation for climate change adaptation.

Harshdeep Daroch | Student Facilitator

I'm Harshdeep Daroch, a fourth-year undergraduate Bachelors of Arts & Sciences student specializing in Geomatics & Sociology at the University of Guelph. As the Facilitator, I work closely with the Director and the Steering Committee of CIRCLE to advance CIRCLE's activities through its core program areas. As well, I support the curation of CIRCLE events, profiles, and encounter posts that highlight the work of scholars and foster meaningful experiences. I am committed to strengthening my cross-cultural understanding and building connections between India, South Asia, their diasporas, and Canada through my role. Not only am I enthusiastic about the opportunity CIRCLE provides to connect and engage with academics from various disciplines, but I am also passionate about its ability to go beyond stereotypes and generate curiosity about India and its vast diaspora in Canada.

Kanna Siripurapu | Graduate Conference Coordinator

I'm Kanna K. Siripurapu, I'm a PhD student in the Department of Geography, Environment, and Geomatics, at the University of Guelph. My research interest is biocultural diversity of Indigenous Peoples, traditional agriculture and pastoralist societies. My PhD thesis at U of G explores the potential of biocultural diversity as the framework for conservation of biodiversity and natural resources in India and Canada. I coordinate the Indigenous Youth Storyteller Circle Ambassadors program of Terralingua, a non-profit organization based out of British Columbia. I also coordinate the Global Blue Forest and Oceanic Alliance; an informal network of organizations associated with conservation of mangroves and blue forests and increasing coastal resilience in South Asia. As a biocultural diversity enthusiast, I'm excited about the opportunity CIRCLE provides to connect and collaborate with scholars and researchers around the world who share similar research interests.

Graduate Conference Organizing Committee

• Alice Marciniak

• Priyanka Pundir

• Bharat Punjabi

• Sharada Srinivasan

CIRCLE Office

Room 905, Ninth Floor, MacKinnon Building