Sciurid Lab

The 9th International Squirrel Colloquium will be organised in India in 2025. The colloquium will serve as a platform for the diverse global community of squirrel biologists to come together to discuss their research, network, and discuss conservation issues concerning tree, ground and flying squirrels from anywhere in the world.

More here

In this research group, we study the behavioural ecology and evolutionary biology of animal populations, often within the context of environmental and habitat change. We work across multiple landscapes in India, including the Trans-Himalayas, Western, and Eastern Ghats. Our model system involves species from the squirrel family (Sciuridae) but also extends to the Pikas (Ochotonidae). We also encourage public participation in squirrel data-gathering, through our citizen science initiatives. More about what we do is here.

This research group is based out of the Biology Department at IISER Tirupati.

May 2025

• Nandini is an invited panellist at the Arctic Circle India Forum Meeting, 3- 4 May 2025, New Delhi, where she talks about our work on small mammals in the trans-Himalaya.
• Nandini is an invited speaker at the Healing Earth 5.0 conference hosted by Ashoka University, New Delhi, between 7-8 May 2025, where she talks about how small mammals adapt to their environments.
• Shreya Peter, Masters student from MIT Pune, submits her thesis. She worked with the Sciurid Lab on palm squirrel feeding habits. Congratulations, Shreya!

April 2025

• Aritra Bhattacharya, Masters student from Pondicherry University, submits and defends his thesis. He worked with the Sciurid Lab on palm squirrel nesting habits across elevations. Congratulations, Aritra!
• Nandini is an invited speaker at the Genome Informatics Across Scales Conference at NCBS-TIFR, between 23^rd – 26^th April, 2025.

January 2025

• Nandini is a panelist at the India Science Fest 2025, held at Ferguson College, Pune.
  
• Manzoor Dar successfully defended his PhD dissertation titled "Assessment of species diversity, functional traits, and dietary signatures of plants in relation to feeding ecology of critically endangered Cervus hanglu hanglu (Hangul) in Dachigam National Park" at the University of Kashmir. Manzoor was co-advised by Prof Manzoor Shah (University of Kashmir) and Nandini. Congratulations, Manzoor!
• The Sciurid Lab wishes you a year of small mammals and adventure!
  

For news from 2024 and before, visit our Updates page here.

If you would like to join the lab, here's how you can get in touch with us.

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