Phani graduated from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India in 2002. From then, he worked as Lecturer and Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at GVP College of Engineering in India. In 2007, Phani joined New Mexico State University for pursuing his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering with minor in GIS.

Phani began working at WRRI in May 2008 as GIS and water resources specialist. He is currently working on the Transboundary project of the Lower Rio Grande basin.