Team
Principal Investigator #
Dr. Nandini Rajamani
Associate Professor
Nandini’s research interests include examining the ecology of species, and understanding adaptations and processes, particularly with respect to environmental (eg: climate change, production, and human-altered landscapes), and historic (eg: trade, collections) factors. Her lab works primarily with small mammal systems. Outside of research, she is involved in several initiatives to promote and communicate science to students, researchers, administrators, and the wider public.
- Associate Professor, Biology at IISR Tirupati: December 2023 onwards
- External Editor, Nature Communications Biology: 2020-2021
- Secretary, Ethological Society of India: 2020-2021
- Editorial Board Member, Cheetal Magazine, The Wildlife Preservation Society (WPS): 2020-2022
- Assistant Professor, Biology at IISER Tirupati: 2016 onwards
- Co-Director, IndiaBioscience Program, NCBS-TIFR: 2013-2016
Editor, Current Conservation Magazine, 2010-2012 - Research Associate & Consultant (Education and Public Engagement Program), Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore, India: 2012-2013
- Post-doctoral Scholar, Centre d’Ecologie Functionnelle et Evolutive, CNRS, Montpellier, France: 2012-2013
- Ph.D. Scholar, Auburn University, USA: 2007-2011
Lab Members #
Aravind P S
PhD Student
Aravind is broadly interested in behavioral ecology and invasion ecology. Currently, he is studying the occurrence and behaviour of palm squirrels in the Western Ghats in response to invasive plantations and native vegetation profile. In the past, he has examined changes in the distribution of the invasive plant Lantana camara and its impact on native vegetation, using a 21-year long dataset. His previous experience with animal behaviour includes examining the reproductive behavior of field crickets. Aravind enjoys exploring new landscapes and documenting experiences.
Email | Google Scholar | Instagram | Twitter
Chocho Sakina
PhD Student
I have a deep interest in plant-environment interactions and hope to explore both biotic and abiotic factors that influence plant growth and adaptation. My academic journey began with a master's thesis focused on the genetic diversity assessment of Juglans regia (walnut), where I investigated glutamate receptor-like genes at the molecular level. Currently, as a PhD student, my research centres on the foraging behaviour of pikas and their intricate relationship with plants, particularly in haypile construction. By integrating ecological observations with molecular approaches, I aim to understand plant-animal interactions in greater depth. Beyond research, I enjoy expressing creativity through artistic designs, cooking, and gardening.
Deepti Chandraprakash
Lab Administrator
Deepti’s interests include science administration and education, and through her career she has been exposed to diverse work cultures in different countries. Following a masters in Life Science Informatics from the University of Boon, Germany, Deepti was a researcher focused on Bacterial Genomics and bioinformatics. She was also part of a young research laboratory at NCBS TIFR, Bengaluru, focused on bacterial expression systems. She then developed an interest in science management and communication, and took up a position as a Program Manager with IndiaBioScience, a pan-India science outreach initiative, focusing on management as well as education related initiatives. Following this, she was associated with a school where she coordinated and managed organisational activities and outreach. In her role at the Sciurid Lab, she manages and organises lab activities/projects, and provides technical support to various communication initiatives.
Kavitha Unni KK
Researcher
Kavitha is primarily interested in community ecology of small carnivores. For her Master’s thesis, she is studying about the patterns of sympatry and resource partitioning among small carnivores in a geographic area. The ultimate goal of her study is to uncover the underlying mechanisms that facilitate the coexistence of multiple small carnivore species, allowing them to share space and resources without excessive competition. The insights gained from this research can be aided in effective conservation strategies for these small carnivores. She has previously worked in the lab as a result of her participation in two semester projects associated with her master's thesis.
Rakesh Kumar Muni
PhD Student
Rakesh is broadly interested in animal cognition, behavioural ecology and urban biodiversity. For his PhD, he studies behavioural adaptations in palm squirrels in the regions of overlaps, focusing on niche dynamics, acoustic displacement and variation in behavioural responses during resource acquisition. Previously, he has worked with BNHS to understand the impact of urban development on the population and behaviour of migratory waterbirds; and at IISER Berhampur, he explored the reproductive behaviour of Drosophila. In his free time, you can find him birding and capturing photos of wildlife; apart from that, he enjoys listening, composing and producing music.
Rigzen Mingyur
Researcher
Mingyur’s interest lies in environmental science. He has worked at the Himalayan Institute of Alternative(HIAL), Ladakh for the past three years. During his time at HIAL, he worked on various projects including the construction of ice stupas or artificial glaciers in Ladakh to address the acute water shortages in some villages in Ladakh, rehabilitation of Kulum village, and on developing and executing the Himalayan Farmstays programme in Ladakh. In his free time, Mingyur likes watching birds and reptiles, and loves to play ice hockey.
Siva Sankari G
PhD Student
Siva Sankari's area of interest broadly includes the behavioural ecology of mammals and nature conservation. Her interest in studying behaviour led her to choose the foraging ecology of grizzled and Malabar giant squirrels as her Master's thesis topic. As a PhD student, she is planning to look at life history traits and behavioural interactions in palm squirrels that live in modified habitats. She has previously worked with Wildlife SOS on a radio telemetry study of Sloth Bears in Karnataka to better understand human-bear conflicts. In her spare time, she enjoys creating mandalas, dot painting, and upcycling.
Swati Udayraj
PhD Student
Swati is primarily interested in understanding species interactions, landscape ecology and conservation biology. Her doctoral research is focused on understanding the impacts of resource availability on species numbers, foraging, and other associated behaviours in palm squirrels along an urbanisation gradient. She is also part of a project examining genetic connectivity across marmot populations in Ladakh, and has previously worked on understanding the genetic structure of Asian elephant populations. Outside of research she is interested in wildlife photography and doodling.
Zeba Madani
Researcher
Zeba's interest lies in the area of ecology and evolution, especially in understanding the recent divergence and formation of small populations. She works on various projects using genomic techniques such as whole genomes, meta barcoding, ddRAD, microsatellite, and population demography models. Her passion for understanding genetic diversity and population dynamics drives her to learn and work with diverse molecular methods in the lab. She has previously worked on understanding the distributional range and phylogeographic patterns of a fossorial Uropeltidae snake, Uropeltis jerdoni, using genetics and species distribution models for her Masters thesis. Apart from her research, she is interested in exploring different cuisines, classical music, and art.
Interns #
Sreelakshmi Pradeep | IISER Bhopal | Summer 2024
Project: Color Quantification of Giant Squirrels
Amalendu Sasikumar Nair | PSGR Krishnammal College for Women | Monsoon 2023-Summer 2024
Project: Squirrels of South Asia Database, Marmots of the World Database
Arpita Kar | University of Delhi | Monsoon 2023-Summer 2024
Project: Squirrels of South Asia Database, Marmots of the World Database
Nandita R Satish | Independent Researcher | Monsoon 2023-Summer 2024
Project: Squirrels of South Asia Database, Marmots of the World Database
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Alumni #
Dr Manzoor Ahmad Dar | 2018-2024: Co-Advised PhD Student registered at the University of Kashmir | PhD Dissertation: 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.
Dr Nivetha M | PhD Student | 2017-2024
PhD dissertation: Evolution of color and pattern traits in squirrels: an integrative approach.
Dr Harsha Kumar | PhD Student | 2017-2024
PhD dissertation: Adaptations of pikas to alpine stressors of the Tibetan Marginal Mountains.
Jeevan Xavier | Researcher | 2022-2024
Projects: Microscopic analysis of the diet of Jungle cats.
Aashritha Sankara | Researcher | 2023-2024
Projects: Scat analysis for species identification and diet studies of the brown bear Ursus arctos isabellinus and the carnivores of Kutch in Gujarat. She also worked on the leopard conflict project in Tirupati.
Senan D'Souza | Researcher | 2017-2023
Projects: Distribution of small mammals in Ladakh; Small mammal trapping in various landscapes across India; Biodiversity inventories at a mine site near Tirupati.
Dr Brawin Kumar R | Postdoctoral Fellow | 2021-2022
Post Doctoral Project: Phylogeography, taxonomic reassessment of the endemic Indian rock rats in the genus Cremnomys (Rodentia, Muridae) to understand the evolutionary history and climate change impacts for conservation.
Rithika S | Researcher | 2021-2022
Master's Thesis (Pondicherry University): A study on the usage of a citizen science platform as a tool for biodiversity analysis across the urban-rural gradient of Tirupati.
Harsha Jagadeesh | IISER Tirupati BS-MS student | 2021-2022
Master's Thesis: A study on camouflage-influenced behavioural decisions in Funambulus palmarum
Keerthi O | IISER Tirupati BS-MS student | 2021-2022
Master's Thesis: Coat colouration and camouflage advantages in giant squirrels in the genus Ratufa.
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Lab Group Photos #
2022 Lab group photo at Marasa Sarovar,Tirupati. 
2020 Lab group photo during the pandemic! 
2018 Lab group photo at Periyar TR