Water bodies such as oceans, lakes and freshwater systems play a big role in the Earth’s climate, and are very important for understanding water quality and climate change.
Yudhistir Reddy, our next pathbreaker, Ocean Science Technician at the Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS) at the University of Manitoba (Canada), studies water biogeochemistry.
Yudhistir talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about his fieldwork studying the health of lakes across 11 ecozones in Canada, from the mountains of British Columbia to the forests of Quebec, to help collect water samples, measure nutrients, and samples in the lab.
For students, work hard, stay patient, and choose a career that not only makes you happy but also helps make the world a better place.
Yudhistir, tell us what were your growing up years like?
I grew up in a small coastal village near Gopalpur, Odisha, with about 600 people. Life there was simple, surrounded by the Bay of Bengal, rivers, and ponds. My father worked in a cooperative bank, my mother is a homemaker, and I have three sisters who are all graduates and now doing their own businesses and jobs. I did my schooling in Gopalpur and always loved cycling, dancing, and exploring nature. As a child, I once dreamed of becoming a police officer, but my interests kept changing as I grew older. Living so close to the ocean, I was always curious about what lies beneath those waves and how the ocean covers so much of our planet and how creatures live in those waters. That curiosity slowly pulled me toward ocean science and I went to do a master’s in oceanography. I later worked on environmental research projects in India and earned a project scholarship to study further in Canada, where I now work in ocean science. Looking back, I realize that growing up near the sea and being curious about nature shaped my entire career path and most importantly, I am truly happy doing what I love, knowing it contributes to protecting our environment.
What did you do for graduation/post graduation?
I did my Bachelor of Science (Physics honors) from Gopalpur College. During that time, I became more curious about how science explains natural processes around us. Later, I completed my master’s in Oceanography from Berhampur University, where I learned about how oceans influence our planet. After that, I pursued another master’s degree in Limnology at UQAM, Canada, which focuses on lakes and freshwater systems. This gave me a wonderful opportunity to study both inland and marine waters, understanding how rivers, lakes, and oceans are all connected. These studies built the foundation for the research work I do today in water and environmental science.
What were some of the key influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional, and unique career in Ocean Sciences?
I grew up near the Bay of Bengal, where I could always see the sea, hear the waves, and watch the tides come and go. I was very curious as a child, I used to wonder why the ocean changes colour, how waves move, where fish go, and what happens deep under the water. These small questions made me very interested in the ocean. Later in college, I learned how important the ocean is for our planet and how it helps control our climate. My teachers and some scientists I met told me that we can study these things as a career and help protect nature. That’s how I decided to study ocean science, because I wanted to understand the ocean and do something useful for the environment.
How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Tell us about your career path
During my master’s studies, we went on a science tour to several marine and environmental research centres in India. Watching scientists work with so much passion made me dream of becoming one of them. After finishing my master’s in Oceanography, it took me about six months to get my first opportunity, but I never gave up because I knew what I wanted.
My first job after completing my master’s in Oceanography was as a Junior Research Fellow at the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) under the Ministry of Environment, India. There, I worked on a Blue Carbon project that studied how mangrove forests help capture carbon dioxide from the air and store it in their roots and soil — a natural way of fighting climate change. My main work involved visiting different coastal areas of India to collect water and sediment samples and measure how much carbon was being stored in mangrove ecosystems.
I also studied how pollution from aquaculture and agriculture affects these mangrove forests. With our team’s effort, we created one of the first large-scale datasets showing how human activities impact these important ecosystems. We also published our findings in international science journals, and the results helped scientists and policymakers understand how better land and water management can protect the coasts.
After that, I joined the Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, where my research took me out into the open ocean. I spent nearly 150 days onboard a research vessel, studying how oxygen levels and nutrients change in the Arabian Sea — an area known for having one of the largest low-oxygen zones in the world. We used advanced ocean instruments to collect samples and monitor how deep-sea oxygen loss affects marine life. Our study was later published in a top international journal and has been widely cited for showing how ocean deoxygenation is changing India’s coastal waters.
These years of field and laboratory work taught me what real environmental science feels like — early mornings, long hours at sea, teamwork, and the excitement of discovering something new about our planet.
After those projects, I received a scholarship to study in Canada and completed another master’s in Limnology, where I shifted my focus from oceans to lakes. I now work in freshwater and ocean research, continuing to study how carbon dioxide moves through our water systems and how we can protect our environment for the future.
After working for 3 years in ocean science, I became curious about lakes — how smaller water bodies also play a big role in the Earth’s climate. Limnology, the study of lakes and freshwater systems, is a rare field but very important for understanding water quality and climate change. I chose Canada because it has thousands of lakes spread across the country and is a global leader in freshwater research. It was the perfect place to learn about lakes, water chemistry, and climate impacts.
In Canada, I joined a national research project called LakePulse, which studied the health of lakes across the country. Our team sampled 664 lakes across 11 ecozones, from the mountains of British Columbia to the forests of Quebec. I helped collect water samples, measure nutrients, and samples in the lab. My own research focused on understanding how oxygen levels change in lake hypolimnion (the deep, colder layer of water found below the warm surface during summer) and how that affects carbon cycling. I developed statistical models to estimate these processes, which helped make lake monitoring easier and faster.
I also worked as a Research Agent on a project that studied the carbon footprint of flooded reservoirs — understanding how carbon is produced, transformed, and released into the atmosphere. The project was led by my supervisor, and I was involved in collecting samples from the field, operating scientific instruments, and analyzing the samples in the lab. Even though I worked for a short time, it gave me valuable experience in studying how human-made reservoirs influence greenhouse gas emissions and climate.
How did you get your first break?
After completing my master’s in Oceanography, I kept applying to research centres and science institutes. It took me about six months to get my first break, a research project under the Ministry of Environment in India. I got the opportunity because I stayed patient, kept learning, and didn’t stop believing in myself.
What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?
Challenge 1: When I finished my studies, I didn’t get a job right away. My relatives and neighbors kept asking what I was doing and told me to take up anything quickly. It was hard to hear all that, but I stayed focused on what I really wanted. I kept learning, reading, and applying for new opportunities. I realized that sometimes success takes time, and waiting patiently is also a part of growing.
Challenge 2: When I first met international students, I lost confidence because they were fast decision-makers and very good at many things. I came from a small village and wasn’t confident speaking in English at that time. But I didn’t give up and I practiced every day, talked with people, and kept learning. Slowly, I became more confident and started believing in myself.
Challenge 3 At one point, I started comparing myself with my friends who were earning well, buying cars, and going on vacations. I felt left behind because my path in research was slow and not as rewarding financially. It was a tough time, but I reminded myself why I chose this career — to work for nature and do something meaningful. Over time, I learned to measure success not by money, but by the happiness and purpose my work gives me.
Where do you work now? What problems do you solve?
I currently work as a Ocean Science Technician at the Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS) at the University of Manitoba, Canada. My work focuses on water biogeochemistry, which means studying how elements like carbon, oxygen, and nutrients move through water and interact with living organisms and the environment. I help plan and lead fieldwork in many projects, where we collect samples, deploy instruments, and measure things like oxygen, nutrients, chlorophyll-a and carbon in the water. These studies help scientists understand how healthy our waters are and how they respond to pollution and climate change.
What skills are needed for your role? How did you acquire the skills?
This job requires a mix of scientific knowledge, technical ability, and teamwork. You need to know how to collect water and sediment samples carefully, operate advanced instruments in both the field and the lab, and handle data responsibly. You also need patience and problem-solving skills, especially when working in challenging field conditions like cold or remote areas. I developed these skills through my studies, fieldwork, and by working alongside experienced scientists in India and Canada.
What’s a typical day like?
Some days I work in the lab or on the computer analyzing data, and other days I go out on boats/ships to collect samples from lakes and the ocean. Every day is different, and that’s what makes it exciting.
What is it you love about this job?
I love that my work helps protect nature and that I get to explore beautiful places while doing science. Every field trip reminds me how connected everything in nature is and how much we can learn by simply observing and caring for it.
How does your work benefit society?
My work helps scientists and governments understand how climate change affects our lakes, rivers, and oceans. This information helps create better plans to protect clean water, reduce pollution, and keep our environment safe for people, animals, and future generations.
Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!
One of my most memorable experiences was working in the Arctic that has never been explored before, collecting samples in freezing temperatures. Seeing the northern lights, polar bears, beluga whales and other marine mammals while doing science made me realize how lucky I am to work for something that helps our planet.
Your advice to students based on your experience?
Be curious and never stop asking questions about how things work, that’s how science and discovery begin. Don’t worry if your interests change along the way; that’s part of finding what truly excites you. Work hard, stay patient, and choose a career that not only makes you happy but also helps make the world a better place.
Future Plans?
Building on my current work in studying water biogeochemistry and environmental field research, I want to continue exploring how water and climate systems are connected. In the future, I hope to work on new ideas to remove carbon dioxide from the air naturally and set up a small project near my hometown in coastal Odisha. My dream is to combine research with community action — starting awareness programs for students and coastal communities in India to help them understand how to protect our oceans, lakes, and environment through everyday actions.