I am a molecular ecologist and assistant professor at National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bangalore. My research investigates population genetics and evolutionary history of mammals in the Indian subcontinent, including work to save India’s tigers. In July 2019, I was elected as a fellow to the Indian National Science Academy.  For my scientific contribution in the field of conservation biology, I received the Parker/Gentry Award in 2016 and the Core Fulbright Visiting Fellowship in 2015. My lab at NCBS has developed methods to conduct population monitoring and landscape/population genetics with tiger fecal samples.  Together with tiger expert K. Ullas Karanth, my lab has used genetic sampling to estimate the tiger population in Bandipur National Park. My research on the connectivity of tiger populations in Central India was presented in court to stay the widening of NH7 cutting across the Kanha-Pench corridor. My team’s research has had far-reaching impact over the years, especially in relation to increasing man-animal conflict in India.