Research in our group is focused on generating information and developing methods to support conservation decision-making in tropical aquatic ecosystems. Our work cuts across multiple disciplines from taxonomy to molecular ecology and evolutionary biogeography, fisheries management and conservation policies, and range from local to global scales. Much of our projects have focused on the riverine systems of the Western Ghats region (part of the Western Ghats – Sri Lanka Biodiversity Hotspot), as well as the groundwater and subterranean systems of southern peninsular India, but recent work has expanded to estuaries and coastal waters off the south-west coast of India, and the Laccadive archipelago.                                              

Current research is focused on the following themes:

• Taxonomy, systematics and evolutionary biogeography of South Asian freshwater fishes 
• Freshwater and inland fisheries 
• Protected areas and freshwater biodiversity
• Extinction risk and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
• Groundwater and subterranean biodiversity
• Mahseer conservation
• Molecular ecology, ecology and conservation of sharks and batoids
• Taxonomy and conservation of syngnathids
• eDNA and detection of ‘cryptic’ aquatic taxa

Internship Opportunities

Our lab accepts interns (undergraduate and masters students, or recent graduates) as well as visiting masters and research students for periods between two and six months (longer periods also possible) to work on various research areas that the lab is currently focused on. Please contact the PI for further details with a clear interest statement.  

Research Opportunities 

We are interested to hear from enthusiastic students looking for opportunities to further their research career in aquatic biodiversity conservation. Potential PhD and postdoctoral applicants with excellent critical thinking, analytical and written skills are welcome to discuss opportunities for funding through various national (DBT, DST, CSIR, UGC)/international (ASEAN/SAARC/TWAS/DAAD) fellowship programs. Postdocs will have the option to work on their own research questions, or join one of the many ongoing projects that the group is currently interested in. Candidates may contact the PI to discuss potential ideas. We are also on the look-out for citizen scientists interested to work with us in understanding and monitoring the diversity, distribution and threats to aquatic fauna.