About Us - Researchers

Dr. Ravinder S. Bhatia
Director, The Scholar Ship Research Institute
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Dr. Bhatia graduated with honours from Imperial College (London) with an undergraduate degree in Aeronautical Engineering, then worked as an aerospace engineer on aircraft fuel management systems and on spacecraft cryogenic systems. He returned to London to pursue his doctoral studies in a joint aerospace/physics program at Queen Mary College, optimising the integration of infrared detectors with cryogenic systems for astronomical studies in cosmology, and for Earth atmospheric observations to understand better the mechanisms of ozone depletion. During this time, he also participated in the summer session of the International Space University. Dr. Bhatia subsequently pursued postdoctoral research at the California Institute of Technology before working as a Senior Engineer for The European Space Agency. In this capacity, he was responsible for the management of space technology development contracts, and for providing support to upcoming space missions including the Planck space telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope (the successor to Hubble).

In addition, Dr. Bhatia promoted the application of technologies for humanitarian purposes. He instigated a program for the simultaneous integration of satellite cartography, GPS tracking, telecommunications and telemedicine to support the logistical management of delivering antiretrovirals and healthcare for HIV/AIDS patients in sub-Saharan Africa. He participated in a research program looking at the application of terahertz imaging for detection of anti-personnel landmines for humanitarian demining. He pursued a Masters degree in International Relations from the University of Cambridge, where he researched the uses of information technologies by transnational social movements to advance the recognition of human rights in the global South.

Dr. Bhatia has volunteered for many years with a number of non-governmental organizations, including the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network and Amnesty International. He also set up educational outreach projects at the California Institute of Technology. At Cambridge University he organised the local chapter of the Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots & Shoots program.

Dr. Bhatia joined The Scholar Ship in 2006. He is a Chartered Engineer and a Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Christopher Swift
Director, Social Science Research 
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Christopher Swift directs social science research programmes for The Scholar Ship, an international academic institution hosting undergraduate and postgraduate students on semester-long educational voyages. He was previously a researcher at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, serving as an aide to former U.S. National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski. In 2006-2007, Mr. Swift was an international law fellow at the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, advising policy-makers on armed conflict and human rights violations in Afghanistan, Iraq and the former Soviet Union.

Mr. Swift also has served as a Homeland Security analyst at Dartmouth College, a human rights specialist at Freedom House, and an expert witness in refugee and asylum proceedings involving political and religious dissidents. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Centre of International Studies at the University of Cambridge and a J.D. candidate at Georgetown University Law Centre. His thesis examines globalised armed conflict and contemporary Islamic militancy, focusing on relationships between transnational jihadi syndicates and subnational insurgent groups.

A frequent writer on international legal and security issues, Mr. Swift’s articles have published in major newspapers and journals.  He has also appeared as a commentator for leading international broadcast media including the BBC, CNN, NPR and Voice of America. Mr. Swift holds an A.B. in History and Government from Dartmouth College and M.St. in International Relations from the University of Cambridge. 

Dana Vukajlovich
Oceanography Outreach Coordinator
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Dana Vukajlovich coordinanates the institute’s on board Oceanography outreach programmes. Ms. Vukajlovich holds a B.S in Geochemistry from the California Institute of Technology and is in the process of completing her M.S. in Oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. In her graduate studies, she worked on a wide range of marine geochemistry subjects, from paleoclimate studies of marine sediment to the geochemistry of submarine volcanic systems. She has accumulated over 900 working hours aboard five research vessels, including experience as a co-Chief Scientist of the R/V Roger Revelle in October 2005. She is currently a campaign coordinator and field manager for an environmental non-profit organization.

Melanie Hanvey
Oceanography Researcher
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Formerly with the United Kingdom’s National Oceanography Centre, Melanie Hanvey coordinates the Institute’s on-board oceanography programs.  In that capacity she manages research on ocean currents, water salinity, plankton and other areas.  She also supervises undergraduate and postgraduate students participating in these and other environmental science initiatives, including the Atmospheric Science program.  Ms. Hanvey is currently completing a M.Sc. in Oceanography from the University of Southampton and holds a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Chemistry from Imperial College London, as well as a diploma in Science Communication.