Daijiworld Media Network – California

California, Aug 7: An Indian-origin PhD student from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), who went missing during a solo hiking trip in the eastern Sierra Nevada region, has been found dead, authorities said.

The deceased has been identified as Vikram Mubayi, a PhD scholar in the Department of Chemical Engineering at UCSB.

Mubayi had gone hiking alone in the Big Pine Lakes area of the Inyo National Forest and last contacted his family at around 8.30 pm on August 1. After he failed to return, the Inyo County Search and Rescue team and the California Highway Patrol launched a search operation.

His body was recovered on August 3, officials said.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of death. Initial reports indicated that there were no signs of foul play, while an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death is underway. An autopsy is also expected to be conducted.

According to reports, Mubayi was born and raised in Hong Kong and was described by his family as an experienced hiker. In his biography for Illini 4000, a student-led non-profit organisation, he mentioned his passion for outdoor activities, sports, cycling and tennis.

Mubayi had completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2022 before joining UCSB for his doctoral studies.

In his academic profile, Mubayi expressed his ambition to work with synthetic biology startups and explore chemical and bioengineering solutions aimed at environmental sustainability and combating global warming.

Before beginning his PhD, he had also undertaken a 4,500-mile cycling journey from New York to San Francisco with Illini 4000 to raise funds for cancer research and patient support services.