Department of Biological Sciences
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Mohali, India
TEAM
Principal Investigator
Dr. Rhitoban Raychoudhury
Associate Professor
Education and training:
Postdoctoral Associate: Purdue University, IN, USA
Ph.D: University of Rochester, NY, USA
M.S. in Ecology and Evolution: University of Rochester, 2005
M.S. in Zoology: Calcutta University, 2001
B.Sc. Zoology (Hons.): Presidency College, 1999
Graduate Students
Anjali (PH19042)
Fellowship: Qualified CSIR-UGC NET JRF and JGEEBILS exam
Education:
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B.Sc and M.Sc Zoology: University of Delhi.
Role of Viruses in the Genome Evolution of Nasonia.
Taruna (PH20040)
Fellowship: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)
Education:
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B.Sc: Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi.
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M.Sc: Department of Zoology, University of Delhi.
I study the mate finding strategies of Nasonia males and the genetic basis of female mate preference in Nasonia.
I am a gym freak and I enjoy cooking!
Khushboo Rai (PH21033)
Fellowship: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR)
Education:
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B.Sc: Acharaya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi.
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M.Sc: Department of Zoology, University of Delhi.
I am investigating the mechanism used by bacterial symbiont to prevent the growth of weedy fungus in the fungal garden of Odontotermes obesus.
Pramod Prakash (PH22085)
Fellowship: University Grants Commission (UGC)
Education:
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B.Sc: Govt. Degree College Solan, HP
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M.Sc: Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences
I have identified non-pathogenic bacteria from termite colonies that inhibit the growth of pathogenic fungi. Through transcriptomic and proteomic studies, I aim to uncover genetic mechanisms underlying these fungal-bacterial interactions.
Outside academia, I am an orchardist and love to play cricket.
Hemlata (PH22096)
Fellowship: University Grants Commission (UGC)
Education:
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B.Sc: Hansraj College, University of Delhi.
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M.Sc: Department of Botany, University of Delhi.
My research focuses on the microbial defense mechanism in Nasonia against entomopathogenic fungus.
Besides science, I enjoy songs and occasionally some crafts.
Keya Mondal (PH24034)
Fellowship: University Grants Commission (UGC)
Education:
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B.Sc Zoology(hons): Durgapur government college, Bardhaman.
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M.Sc Life Sciences: Presidency University, Kolkata .
My research interests lie in behavioural and molecular ecology. I'm working on termite model Odontotermes obesus, their microbiome, and some entomopathogenic fungi present in termite mounds.
Apart from that, my hobbies are painting and listening to stories/podcasts.
Binay Aswal (PH24078)
Fellowship: University Grants Commission (UGC)
Education:
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B.Sc Zoology: Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi
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M.Sc Biotechnology: IIT Bombay
I'm fascinated by the diversity of behaviours, especially sexual and social ones. Working at the intersection of evolution and behavioural ecology, I aim to understand how these behaviours evolve. At Evogen, I'll be addressing these questions in different species of the parasitoid wasp Nasonia.
I engage in a ton of hobbies sporadically (even open to new interesting ideas!), but most of my free time is dedicated to sports.
Collaborators
Deepak Nain
Fellowship: DST INSPIRE - IF200146
Education:
-
B.Sc : University College Kurukshetra, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra
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M.Sc: Department of Zoology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra
I explore host-parasite relationships in social insects, investigating how the Strepsipteran parasitoid Xenos gadagkari alters the behavior, physiology, and microbiota of its eusocial wasp host, Polistes wattii.
I like to explore new places, their food, and diverse cultures.
Undergraduate Students
Upasana (MS20207)
Education: BSMS, IISER Mohali
My interests revolve around behavioural ecology. At Evogen, I am investigating the role of olfactory cues responsible for Local Mate Competition in Nasonia longicornis.
I also love dancing and recitations.
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Kashish (MS20197)
Education: BSMS, IISER Mohali
At Evogen, I study how nematode infestations are controlled in the mounds of fungus-growing termites, Odontotermes obesus, focusing on the role of nematophagous fungi in controlling such infestations. This research may harbor important implications for biological control strategies.
Besides that, I'm interested in??
LAB ALUMNI
Graduate Students
Thesis: Behaviour, Chemical Ecology and Genetic history of Nasonia.
Know more:
Dr. Garima Prazapati
PH14066
Thesis: Wolbachia infections in Nasonia vitripennis: A host endosymbiont interaction study.
Know more:
Dr. Alok Tiwary
PH?
Thesis: Community diversity and functions of arthropod associated symbionts.
Know more:
Dr. Manisha Gupta
PH15040
Thesis: Multimodal inhibition of the weedy fungi in the gardens of a fungus- growing termite, Odontotermes obesus.
Know more:
Dr. Renuka Agarwal
PH15045
Babita Rahul Baisla
PH16060
Thesis: The ecology of fungus farming: Role of worker behaviour and microbes in maintaining weed-free fungal gardens in the colonies of Odontotermes obesus.
Know more:
Aanchal Panchal
PH18034
Postdoctoral Associates
Dr. Pooja Badotra
Dr. Tripti Negi
Dr. Rajbir Kaur
Undergraduate Students
1 | Yogesh Bangal | MS10114 | Dynamics of Multiple Wolbachia Infections in Nasonia Vitripennis. | 2016 |
2 | Thapasya Vijayan | MS11048 | Trichogramma wasps as a model system for studying endosymbiosis. | 2016 |
3 | Arpita Nath | MS12038 | Effects of the Strepsipteran Parasite on the Indian Paper Wasp Polistes wattii. | 2017, as Co-Supervisor |
4 | Nimisha E. S. | MS12053 | Mycodiversity in the Combs of Odontotermes sp. | 2017 |
5 | Amruta Rajarajan | MS13119 | Genetics of Female Mate Preference in Nasonia. | 2018 |
6 | Abhilasha Sharma | MS14088 | The Incidence of Parasitized Pupa Detection by Nasonia Males. | 2019 |
7 | Komal Beeton | MS14161 | An account of males in primitively eusocial wasp Polistes wattii. | 2019, as Co-Supervisor |
8 | Kunika Sharma | MS14172 | Use of alternate founding strategies in a primitively eusocial wasp Polistes wattii. | 2019, as Co-Supervisor |
9 | Abin Antony | MS14175 | Role of bacteria in maintaining the monoculture of Termitomyces on the fungus combs of Odontotermes obesus. | 2019 |
10 | Rahul Babu | MS15030 | Investigating the effects of the two Wolbachia supergroups infecting Nasonia vitripennis. | 2020 |
11 | Anargha Sai | MS15092 | Time period in which mated Nasonia vitripennis females can lay maximum number of female progenies. | 2020 |
12 | Raunak Dhar | MS15120 | Behaviours of termite workers of Odontotermes obesus that maintain their crop of Termitomyces. | 2020 |
13 | Sujata Thakur | MS15188 | Investigations of Antennal morphology and Male sperm drop and mating latency using Nasonia males. | 2020 |
14 | Jetharam Khorwal | MS16007 | Role of bacteria in providing defence against entomopathogens in the colony of Odontotermes obesus. | 2021 |
15 | Ankita Chauhan | MS17097 | Defence Against Pathogen In A Termite Nest. | 2022 |
16 | Sargam Saini | MS18147 | Impact of entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium on different Wolbachia- infected Nasonia vitripennis. | 2023 |
17 | Shivali | MS18129 | Can Wolbachia prevent Providencia infection in Nasonia vitripennis? | 2023 |
18 | Sakshi | MS18103 | In-vitro fungal-fungal interactions of a termite nest mycobiome. | 2023 |
19 | Suhaas Sehgal | MS18082 | Effect of Wolbachia infection on fecundity of Providencia vermicola infected female Nasonia vitripennis. | 2023, as Co-Supervisor |
20 | Dheeraj Chaudhary | MS18078 | In vitro study of antibiotic susceptibility among bacterial populations of Nasonia vitripennis microbiome. | 2023, as Co-Supervisor |
21 | Muskaan | MS18054 | Can divergent selection maintain local adaptations despite gene flow? | 2023, as Co-Supervisor |