Mihir Ravindra Kulkarni is an aquatic ecologist with research interests in natural history, biodiversity and ecology of freshwater invertebrates. Despite their key roles in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems, most freshwater invertebrates remain understudied in diverse regions like India, where they are increasingly threatened by natural and human-mediated factors. On completing his Ph.D. in Zoology studying freshwater invertebrates in the Western Ghats, Mihir studied their evolution and ecology in natural and urban habitats as a postdoctoral fellow at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad. Apart from research, Mihir also conducts popular workshops on freshwater biodiversity and ecology to improve public awareness about these understudied groups.
At IIHS, he is involved in the LTUEO programme at the IIHS Campus, Kengeri, and in designing and implementing ecology-based approaches for improving the health of urban water bodies.