Species interactions in animal communities
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I am a Research Associate at Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES) at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. I was a PhD student at CES from July 2014 - July 2019. My PhD dissertation was titled 'Understanding rules of assembly and species interactions in mixed-species bird flocks'. My research interests lie at the intersection of Animal Behaviour and Community Ecology and throughout my PhD I combined these interests to answer questions related to species interactions in animal communities. Currently, I am studying interactions within mixed-species animal groups, how they influence community composition and importance of some functional links in these groups using mixed-species bird flocks as a model system.
I am also interested in science education, writing and the learning sciences and have pursued my interests in these fields alongside my research over the past few years. |
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UPDATES
May 2020: This month, as we are still getting used to online teaching, interactions and meetings (the zoom fatigue is so real!), I spent time interacting with two groups of people about my PhD research - Grade 8 - 12 students and a Marathi (my native language) audience. Both these audiences were new to me and I thoroughly enjoyed preparing for both talks. I was excited to expand my Marathi vocabulary to speak about my work.
The interaction with school students was facilitated by Kalinga Centre for Rainforest Ecology, Agumbe and the one in Marathi was facilitated by the Maharashtra Pakshi Mitra Mandal. Very grateful for these opportunities.
The interaction with school students was facilitated by Kalinga Centre for Rainforest Ecology, Agumbe and the one in Marathi was facilitated by the Maharashtra Pakshi Mitra Mandal. Very grateful for these opportunities.
March 2020: I defended my PhD merely hours before our University went on a complete shutdown. Amid all the chaos and cancellations everywhere, because of the Corona virus outbreak, we went online with virtual attendees and live-streamed. I am officially done (pending-paperwork!).
November 2019: Visited Dai Shizuka's Lab to make progress on our collaborative work at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Very productive time. Thanks for hosting me, Dai. Link to Dai's lab webpage: https://shizukalab.com/
October 2019: Presented some of my PhD dissertation work at the AFO-WOS meeting at Cape May, New Jersey. Great meeting, wonderful and exciting research and people.
August 2019: I graduated from being a PhD student to being a Research Associate at the Centre for Ecological Sciences!
