Priyanjana Pramanik

Masters in Wildlife Biology and Conservation

Wildlife Biology, Public Health, Maternal and Child Health

Priyanjana Pramanik is a writer based in Kolkata, India, with an academic background in Wildlife Biology and economics. She has experience in teaching, science writing, and mangrove ecology. Priyanjana holds Masters in Wildlife Biology and Conservation (National Centre of Biological Sciences, 2022) and Economics (Tufts University, 2018). In between master's degrees, she was a researcher in the field of public health policy, focusing on improving maternal and child health outcomes in South Asia. She is passionate about science communication and enabling biodiversity to thrive alongside people. The fieldwork for her second master's was in the mangrove forests of Eastern India, where she studied the complex relationships between humans, mangrove fauna, and seedling growth.

Since she completed her Masters, Priyanjana has been busy conducting summer programmes on ecology for high school students, collecting oral histories on environmental change, coordinating field trips to the rainforests of southern India, and teaching statistics to budding lawyers. Throughout all this, her goal was to make science and natural history as accessible as possible.

Outside of work, her library is ever-growing, and currently spans four bookcases in three cities and two countries. She enjoys hiking, swimming, baking, singing, and trying to improve her nature journaling skills. Living for the outdoors, she always has her eyes set on her next travel destination. She attempts to befriend cats wherever she goes (and has the scratches to show for it!) and one day hopes to set up a sanctuary and adoption center to help rescued dogs and cats find their fur-ever homes.

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Articles from Priyanjana

Alzheimer’s gene risks differ by ancestry, major study reveals 133 new variants

Researchers used whole-genome sequencing from diverse populations to identify 156 variants, including 133 novel ones, linked to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The study highlights ancestry-specific genetic risk and protective factors, challenging one-size-fits-all approaches to dementia genetics.

17 Aug 2025

How moving to a walkable city can add 1,100 steps to your day

Moving to a more walkable city boosts daily step counts by around 1,100, with gains lasting at least three months and consistent across most demographic groups. Large walkability improvements nearly double the share of people meeting U.S. aerobic activity guidelines.

14 Aug 2025

Pandemic left measurable changes in teen brains, hormones, and immunity

Adolescents assessed after COVID-19 lockdowns showed lower daily cortisol, higher inflammation, and reduced prefrontal cortex activity compared to matched pre-pandemic peers, suggesting widespread stress-related biological changes. These alterations mirror patterns seen after prolonged early-life stress, raising concerns about long-term health risks.

13 Aug 2025

High-potassium diets show consistent mental health benefits

Higher intakes of certain dietary minerals are linked to lower depression risk, with potassium showing consistent benefits in both U.S. and Korean adults. Patterns differ by country, sex, and age, highlighting the role of cultural diets and nutrient bioavailability in mental health.

12 Aug 2025

Microplastics found in all popular UK drinks, with hot beverages worst offenders

Researchers found microplastics in every hot and cold beverage tested in the UK, with higher levels in hot drinks and packaging as the main source. Beverage consumption was shown to significantly increase daily microplastic intake beyond water-only estimates.

11 Aug 2025

Special von Economo neurons may hold key to super-sharp memory in 80+ superagers

Researchers at Northwestern University’s SuperAging Program reveal how some people over 80 retain memory performance like those decades younger, linking it to unique brain structures, reduced pathology, and lower inflammation. Their 25-year study highlights genetic, cellular, and social traits that may protect cognitive function.

10 Aug 2025

Scientists link brain lithium loss to early Alzheimer’s changes

Researchers have discovered that naturally occurring lithium in the brain is depleted early in Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the prefrontal cortex, and that restoring physiological levels with lithium orotate in mice can prevent brain damage and memory loss. The findings suggest lithium deficiency may be a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s.

7 Aug 2025

Does your morning coffee or tea really boost your mood? Here’s what science says

Caffeine consumption is linked to increased positive mood in daily life, especially within 2.5 hours after waking. This effect is influenced by tiredness and social context, with no consistent impact on negative emotions.

6 Aug 2025

Are all healthy diets equal or does food processing make a difference?

A randomized crossover trial in the UK found that both ultra-processed (UPF) and minimally processed food (MPF) diets, when aligned with national guidelines, led to weight loss in adults with overweight or obesity. However, the MPF diet produced significantly greater reductions in weight, fat mass, and food cravings, highlighting the added benefits of limiting food processing.

5 Aug 2025

Impulsivity shapes diet and gut bacteria in healthy adults, study finds

Impulsivity in healthy adults is linked to unhealthy dietary choices, such as higher intake of alcohol and sugary drinks and lower fiber consumption. These dietary behaviors, in turn, are associated with changes in specific gut bacterial genera, highlighting an indirect pathway between personality traits and the gut microbiome.

4 Aug 2025