** UPDATE: Currently seeking a research/sci-comm role in India. **
I am a conservation biologist with twelve years of experience using molecular tools and associated analytical techniques concerning population and landscape genetics. I am also proficient in multiple geospatial analyses across platforms.
Currently, I am employed as a postdoctoral research associate at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA. My role involves integrating bat genetics, molecular dietary analysis, and gut microbiome data from insectivorous bats sampled across a habitat quality gradient in Malaysia.
I completed my PhD in Wildlife Science from Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun (Saurashtra University) in April 2021. For my doctoral study, I worked on the population- and socio-genetics of Asian elephants and modelled elephant habitat use while identifying the ecological determinants of space utilization by employing a sign survey-based approach under the occupancy framework. In addition, I used a combination of questionnaire survey and molecular tracking to understand spatio-temporal and individualistic patterns of crop-raiding, the most common form of human-elephant conflict across the south and south-east Asia.
During my PhD, I was simultaneously associated with projects on the molecular ecology of multiple species at my current lab, providing analytical support. Since 2018, I have led the genetics components of three consultancy projects concerning the conservation and management of the Indian antelope (blackbuck), tiger and elephant in habitats earmarked for upcoming developmental projects.
I am a conservation biologist with twelve years of experience using molecular tools and associated analytical techniques concerning population and landscape genetics. I am also proficient in multiple geospatial analyses across platforms.
Currently, I am employed as a postdoctoral research associate at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA. My role involves integrating bat genetics, molecular dietary analysis, and gut microbiome data from insectivorous bats sampled across a habitat quality gradient in Malaysia.
I completed my PhD in Wildlife Science from Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun (Saurashtra University) in April 2021. For my doctoral study, I worked on the population- and socio-genetics of Asian elephants and modelled elephant habitat use while identifying the ecological determinants of space utilization by employing a sign survey-based approach under the occupancy framework. In addition, I used a combination of questionnaire survey and molecular tracking to understand spatio-temporal and individualistic patterns of crop-raiding, the most common form of human-elephant conflict across the south and south-east Asia.
During my PhD, I was simultaneously associated with projects on the molecular ecology of multiple species at my current lab, providing analytical support. Since 2018, I have led the genetics components of three consultancy projects concerning the conservation and management of the Indian antelope (blackbuck), tiger and elephant in habitats earmarked for upcoming developmental projects.
Research interests
Population and landscape genetics/genomics: Use of genetic/genomic markers along with geospatial parameters to assess functional genetic connectivity, spatial genetic structure, historical demography and evolutionary response to climatic variables at multiple spatial scales
eDNA for biodiversity assessment: Broad and fine-scale biodiversity characterization and monitoring and identifying the ecological correlates using environmental samples
Trophic ecology: Documenting heterogeneities in dietary patterns of mammals in response to variabilities in habitat, microclimate and sex/individual-based nutritional requirements and preferences using emergent techniques, e.g. metabarcoding
eDNA for biodiversity assessment: Broad and fine-scale biodiversity characterization and monitoring and identifying the ecological correlates using environmental samples
Trophic ecology: Documenting heterogeneities in dietary patterns of mammals in response to variabilities in habitat, microclimate and sex/individual-based nutritional requirements and preferences using emergent techniques, e.g. metabarcoding
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Wildlife Science (2013-2021)
Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, India under Saurashtra University, Rajkot, India
Thesis title: Habitat occupancy in relation to crop-raiding behaviour and genetic variation in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in north-west India using non invasive genetic sampling
Master of Science in Environment Management (2009-2011)
Forest Research Institute (Deemed) University, Dehradun, India
Thesis title: Food habits and use of molecular tools to determine differential predation by tigers in Ranthambore National Park
Bachelor of Science in Zoology (Honours) (2006-2009)
Presidency College, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India
Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, India under Saurashtra University, Rajkot, India
Thesis title: Habitat occupancy in relation to crop-raiding behaviour and genetic variation in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in north-west India using non invasive genetic sampling
Master of Science in Environment Management (2009-2011)
Forest Research Institute (Deemed) University, Dehradun, India
Thesis title: Food habits and use of molecular tools to determine differential predation by tigers in Ranthambore National Park
Bachelor of Science in Zoology (Honours) (2006-2009)
Presidency College, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India
Recent publications
Puneet Pandey, Sujeet Kumar Singh, Rahul De, Reeta Sharma, B Navaneethan, MP Manjrekar, Ritesh Vishwakarma, Jasbeer Singh Chauhan, HS Negi, HS Pabla, Aseem Shrivastava, Parag Nigam, Kalyanasundaram Sankar, Bilal Habib, SP Goyal
Wildlife Research, vol. 52, 2025
Rahul De, Reeta Sharma, Sujeet Kumar Singh, Rita Rasteiro, Ranjana Bhaskar, Imran Khan, Rajapandian Kanagaraj, Kashmira Kakati, Parag Nigam, A Christy Williams, others
Conservation Science and Practice, 2024, pp. e13075
Reeta Sharma, Rahul De, Jean-Philippe Puyravaud, Jyotirmayee Parida, A Sedhupathy, Tamanna Kalam, Abdul Rahim, K Muthamizh Selvan, N Arumugam, SP Goyal, Priya Davidar
Conservation Genetics, vol. 25, 2024, pp. 1175–1193
Rahul De, Reeta Sharma, Parag Nigam, Amirtharaj Christy Williams, Bilal Habib, Surendra Prakash Goyal
Conservation Genetics Resources, vol. 15, 2023, pp. 163--173
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