About me

I am an evolutionary biologist studying genomic underpinnings of species adaptation, development, and evolution. I am a passionate thinker about life in academia, academic cultures, immigrant life, and equity in science and life. Born and trained in India, I moved to Germany to pursue a PhD, where my thesis focused on speciation at different scales—from microevolutionary processes (population genetics) to macroevolutionary patterns of species and trait diversification in day geckos (genus Phelsuma). I pivoted towards comparative genomics with the EU Horizon’s Marie Curie postdoctoral grant. Through this work, I developed novel perspectives to measure structural variants in chromosomes and later provided an opinion on the putative roles of 3D genome organisation in speciation. More recently I have been thinking about the role of genome-wide epigenetic modifications and their roles in modifying genome packing and gene function. I thoroughly enjoy communicating science to the public, I am passionate about good mentorship practices and deeply invested in the growth of women in academia.

News!

​March 2026
I am thrilled to be working with Oleg Simakov to study genome topologies and gene regulation across neural cells in Cephalopods--yet another comparative genomics work using 3D chromatin contacts!  

July 2023
Having moved from organism-focused research to more question-based research, I am so happy to be starting another postdoc with Kay Lucek studying the (epi-)genomic architecture of chromosomal rearrangements in Carex (sedges!). 

July 2021
Absolutely excited to start my Postdoc with Dr. Jeffrey Streicher & Prof. Anjali Goswami at the Natural History Museum in London.

March 2021
Defended my thesis on the 23rd and passed my PhD! For the next few months I am going to flaunt my Dr. title!

February 2021
So thrilled to have been awarded EU Horizon 2020's  Marie Skłodowska–Curie Individual fellowship

December 2020
I submitted my PhD thesis!