Dr Prateek Dey, Research Associate – 1, BSBB project

Email: pratikdey23@gmail.com

Research Interest: I am a researcher in avian biology and currently a Research Associate at the Central University of South Bihar, where I study urban bird communities using integrated tools. My research focuses on understanding genomic variations across different bird species to develop effective strategies for their conservation. I earned my PhD in 2025 from the Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON-WII), where my dissertation explored genomic variations in wild and domestic quails. Through my work I hope to bridge the gap between field ecology and molecular biology. I have hands-on field experience in mist-netting and sampling live birds, paired with expertise in next-generation sequencing, whole genome sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis. During my doctoral training I served as a Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellow at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, USA.

Trisha Mondal, PhD Scholar, CSIR NET SRF

Email: trishamondal@cusb.ac.in

Research Interest: My research interests focus on avian molecular ecology, population genetics, and cooperative breeding, with particular emphasis on babblers. I investigate genome-wide microsatellite marker development and cross-species validation to assess genetic diversity and relatedness in natural populations of different babbler species. Overall, I aim to understand how genetic relationships and social behaviour interact to shape cooperative breeding systems in birds.

Divya Kumari, PhD Scholar

Email: Divya.kumari2838@gmail.com

Research Interest: My research focuses on population dynamics, nesting ecology in a stork species and how their behavioural patterns change throughout the nesting period. Alongside this, I study feather morphology and microstructure, examining structural variation across different feather types within individuals.

Manisha Kumari, Ph.D. in Life Science, GATE (EY), KSET (Life Science)

ORCID: 0009-0009-7235-0281

Email: manishadaradh2027@gmail.com

Research Interest: I am fascinated by how an embryonic gonad gradually acquires its sexual identity and develops into an ovary or testis. My PhD research explores avian sex differentiation, experimentally induced sex reversal, and gonadal physiology in chickens, combining developmental observations with molecular tools such as PCR/qPCR, molecular sexing and gene-expression analysis. What gives this work deeper meaning for me is its connection to animal welfare: understanding the biology of sex determination may eventually help reduce the culling of unwanted day-old chicks, limit biological waste, and support more humane poultry production. I also hope that insights from the chicken model can contribute more broadly to avian reproductive biology and the conservation of wild birds.

Sk Imran, PhD Scholar

Email: si46625@gmail.com

Research Interest: My doctoral research focuses on deciphering the drivers of cooperative breeding. By integrating nesting ecology, kinship dynamics, and individual physiology to understand and map the potential helpers in the cooperative breeding groups. I am also interested in continuing bird migration studies. Beyond research, I am motivated by the large goal of Bird conservation. 

Sampad Samrat Senapaty, PhD Scholar, CSIR NET JRF

Email: s.samratsenapaty@gmail.com

Research Interest: My research explores how bird communities persist and change within rapidly urbanising landscapes. I examine seasonal shifts in urban bird diversity and identify indicator species that reflect the ecological condition of city habitats as well as the potential role of synanthropic birds as carriers and environmental reservoirs of multidrug-resistant bacteria. My work bridges urban ecology and One Health, and aims to inform both urban
biodiversity planning and antimicrobial resistance surveillance in Indian cities.

Aafreen Kalim, PhD Scholar

Email: kalimaafreen03@gmail.com

Research Interest: I am interested in understanding how birds respond to climate change at the genetic level. I would like to study the population genetics of wild bird populations and amine how changing climate may affect their genetic diversity, gene flow and long-term genetic health. Currently, I am using ensemble species distribution models to predict how species ranges and populations may shift under future climate scenarios. In the long term, I hope to combine genetic and distribution data to identify vulnerable populations and support bird conservation in India.

Aditya Chandra Jha, Project Associate–I, DST-PURSE project, CSIR-NET, GATE Qualified

Email: adityachjha@gmail.com

Research Interests: Molecular biology and environmental DNA (eDNA), focusing on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in poultry and wild birds.

Harshit Vaish, Project Associate–II, DST-PURSE project

Email: NA

Research Interests: I want to understand the depth of allelic variation in the Storks of South Bihar, how much different (or similar) they are to the populations elsewhere. This research will help us understand how unique our stork populations are and direct us towards better conservation policies.

Shreya Anand, Project Associate-I, DST-PURSE project

Email: anandshreya2002@gmail.com

Research Interests: My research interests encompass avian genomics, population genetics, and phylogenomics, with a particular focus on applying integrative genomic approaches to investigate avian evolution, genetic diversity, population structure, and evolutionary relationships. I aim to contribute to advancing genome-informed research in avian biology and evolutionary studies.

Pradumna Pathak, Project Associate -I (PM Professor Project)

Email: pradumnapathak04@gmail.com

Research Interest: Studying the impact of heat stress and artificial light at night on the endocrine physiology, reproduction, and productivity of livestock, poultry, and fisheries in the Magadh region of Bihar.