Vaishali Bhaumik
PhD student, Biodiversity Lab, NCBS
I have a Bachelors in genetics but I am broadly interested in ethology and evolution. I am currently working on two projects: a long-term study of the diversification of butterfly body forms, and my specific doctoral research project on Indian butterfly migrations. Butterfly morphologies differ enormously across taxa, and their evolution may be explained, in part, by comparing them in light of their behaviour and ecology. The migration research is focused on four species of danaines that migrate annually across the Indian subcontinent, and we study them by looking at the physical and genetic differences between migratory and non-migratory populations of these species.
Both my projects allow me to work in the field as well as in the lab, which is great! In my free time I enjoy arts and crafts, solving puzzles, reading sci-fi/fantasy books, watching sci-fi/fantasy/comedy movies and TV shows, spasmodically trying to learn the violin and German, getting involved in long drawn out debates on social issues, and food.