The
Chavhan
Lab for
Understanding
Evolution
Members
Yashraj Chavhan
Principal Investigator
Assistant Professor, IISER TVM
I am an evolutionary biologist who is a fan of neat experiments and effective metaphors. I have wide-ranging interests in the evolution of asexual systems. Before joining IISER TVM, I was a Wenner-Gren Postdoctoral Fellow with Dr Peter Lind at Umeå University, where I developed a new research direction on the plasticity-driven evolution of macroscopic multicellularity. During this time, I also studied how mutational biases shape bacterial evolution. For my PhD under the guidance of Prof. Sutirth Dey at IISER Pune, I studied how the sizes of asexual populations influence their adaptive and maladaptive dynamics. Prior to my PhD, I pursued an Integrated Master’s degree in Biotechnology from the Institute of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology (IBB) in Pune.
Muhammed Hadi
PhD student, IISER TVM (2024 batch)
I’m a PhD student at the early stages of my exploration into the factors that influence the emergence and maintenance of multicellularity in microorganisms. Think of me as a detective, peeling back the layers of evolution to uncover the ancient processes that brought us from simple cells to the complex creatures we are today. No magnifying glass, just a lot of petri dishes! I completed my Master's degree in Zoology from St. Joseph's College Kerala, where I focused on ecology. But my curiosity didn’t stop there—it evolved. Beyond my research, I have a broad range of interests and enjoy exploring new ideas and learning about different topics—whether it’s experimenting with new dishes in the kitchen, traveling to new places, or enjoying old melody songs while honing my skills in illustration art. They say curiosity killed the cat, but for me, it’s what keeps life interesting—and who knows, it might just lead to another degree!
Diya Elizabeth Shaji
MS dissertation student
BS-MS IISER TVM (2020 batch)
I am a final-year integrated BS-MS student from IISER TVM majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry. My interests lie in understanding the pattern and process of evolution. The fields that fascinate me the most are experimental evolution, molecular ecology, and general theoretical aspects of evolution. As part of my master's thesis, I'll be doing experiments to better understand the origin, evolution, and dynamics of multicellularity. Besides science, I enjoy cooking, eating good food, and napping.
Gatikrushna Mishra
Semester project student
BS-MS IISER TVM (2021 batch)
I am a 4th year BS-MS student at IISER pursuing my major in Biological Sciences. Having joined CLUE, I want to learn more about the evolution of multicellularity in prokaryotes, design neat evolutionary experiments and have fun with microbes to build on my interests. I am also interested in theoretical aspects of evolution and multicellularity.Apart from being a nerd about biology, you can find me playing badminton, listening to various genres of music, watching all sorts of movies, clicking pictures, journaling and dressing as the Mahabali during Onam. I am also a member of Proteus, the Biology Club of IISER TVM,conducting various events and talks. Currently, I am the editor of the Club’s Magazine, Nucleus.
Padmanabhan Kannan Unnithan
a
Semester project student
BS-MS IISER TVM (2021 batch)
I am a fourth-year integrated BS-MS student at IISER Thiruvananthapuram, majoring in biology with a minor in physics. My research focuses on leveraging computational approaches to better understand biological systems.Right now im working on modeling cell populations to understand the origin, evolution, and dynamics of multicellularity. Alongside computational work, I have hands-on experience in wet lab techniques, including host-pathogen interaction (HPI) studies. Outside of academics, I have a passion for reading, cooking, and writing.
We are very eager to work with with fellow Evolutionary Biology enthusiasts at many distinct levels (ranging from first-year college undergrads to established postdocs). Please contact Yash (the PI) if you would like to join the lab! Please do visit our Research page to see if your academic interests align with ours!