Research Areas
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 conservation issues surrounding the freshwater fishes of the Western Ghats region (part of the Western Ghats – Sri Lanka Biodiversity Hotspot), but recent work has expanded to estuaries, coastal waters and coral reef ecosystems.
Current research is focused on the following themes:
- Taxonomy, systematics and evolutionary biogeography of South Asian freshwater fishes
- Small-scale inland fisheries and its impacts on biodiversity and livelihoods
- Protected areas and freshwater biodiversity conservation
- Extinction risk and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
- Groundwater and subterranean biodiversity
- Conservation of mahseer fishes of the Indian subcontinent
- Molecular ecology and conservation of sharks
- Conservation of syngnathids
- eDNA and detection of rare aquatic taxa
Research Opportunities
We are interested to hear from enthusiastic students looking for opportunities to further their research career in aquatic biodiversity conservation. Currently, there is no vacant PhD position. Potential postdoctoral applicants with excellent critical thinking, analytical and written skills are welcome to discuss opportunities for funding through various national (DBT, DST, KSCSTE, 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 the diversity, distribution and threats to aquatic fauna.
