Rayis TR
IISER BS-MS Student
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RESEARCH INTERESTS:
My interest in ecology is driven by the constant curiosity about how the nature around us is shaped to become the way it is now. This curiosity directed me towards the concepts in evolutionary biology, specifically biogeography, and one of the best tools to answer this question - population genetics. My journey towards ecology started in my childhood, which was spent mainly in the rural landscapes of Kerala, where I used to go around, observe (and sometimes interfere with) the things around me. My current research interests developed after joining various projects in the Bird lab, which exposed me to multiple aspects of ecological research including landscape ecology, biogeography, and bioacoustics. The fieldwork, including vegetation sampling, biodiversity surveys, mosquito trapping and identification, and mist-netting, and multiple analytical techniques such as demographic analysis, SDMs, and phylogenetics that I got to do as a part of the lab, helped me to properly orient my interests. During this time I was introduced to demographic history analysis. The fact that these analyses not only let you understand population-level changes in a species but also let you figure out the intricate relationships between a species to its habitat led me to my master's project. I plan to analyze the recent demographic history of birds endemic to the Shola Skyisalnds to assess how the landscape changes in the recent past have affected their ecology. Even though my current taxa of interest is Birds, I always try to keep it broad and am fascinated by other taxas including, Snakes, Amphibians, and Spiders. I also plan to keep my interests broad so as to sample and explore more as it goes by. PERSONAL AND OTHER INTERESTS:
Most of my free time is spent taking random nature walks and treks in the landscapes around me, which most of the time will be integrated with birding, herping, and even stargazing on a clear night. I always enjoy trying out new foods (sometimes in weird combinations). Moreover, I love a good sci-fi movie, series, or book, whatever it may be. 
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