Rahul De, PhD (Wildlife Science)

Postdoctoral Research Associate


Curriculum vitae


[email protected]; [email protected]


Department of Biological Sciences

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409



Rahul De, PhD (Wildlife Science)

Postdoctoral Research Associate


Contact

Rahul De, PhD (Wildlife Science)

Postdoctoral Research Associate


Curriculum vitae


[email protected]; [email protected]


Department of Biological Sciences

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409




About


I am a conservation geneticist with ten years of experience using molecular tools and associated analytical techniques concerning population and landscape genetics.  I am also proficient in multiple geospatial analyses across platforms. 

Currently, I am employed as a postdoctoral research associate at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, USA. My role involves integrating bat genetics, molecular dietary analysis, and gut microbiome data from insectivorous bats sampled across a habitat quality gradient in Malaysia.

I completed my PhD in Wildlife Science from Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun (Saurashtra University) in April 2021. For my doctoral study, I worked on the population- and socio-genetics of Asian elephants and modelled elephant habitat use while identifying the ecological determinants of space utilization by employing a sign survey-based approach under the occupancy framework. In addition, I used a combination of questionnaire survey and molecular tracking to understand spatio-temporal and individualistic patterns of crop-raiding, the most common form of human-elephant conflict across the south and south-east Asia. 

During my PhD, I was simultaneously associated with projects on the molecular ecology of multiple species at my current lab, providing analytical support. Since 2018, I have led the genetics components of three consultancy projects concerning the conservation and management of the Indian antelope (blackbuck), tiger and elephant in habitats earmarked for upcoming developmental projects. 

Research interests

Population and landscape genetics/genomics:  Use of genetic/genomic markers along with geospatial parameters to assess functional genetic connectivity, spatial genetic structure, historical demography and evolutionary response to climatic variables at multiple spatial scales

eDNA for biodiversity assessment: Broad and fine-scale biodiversity characterization and monitoring and identifying the ecological correlates using environmental samples

Trophic ecology: Documenting heterogeneities in dietary patterns of mammals in response to variabilities in habitat, microclimate and sex/individual-based nutritional requirements and preferences using emergent techniques, e.g. metabarcoding 


Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Wildlife Science (2013-2021)
Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, India under Saurashtra University, Rajkot, India
Thesis title: Habitat occupancy in relation to crop-raiding behaviour and genetic variation in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in north-west India using non invasive genetic sampling

Master of Science in Environment Management (2009-2011)
Forest Research Institute (Deemed) University, Dehradun, India
Thesis title: Food habits and use of molecular tools to determine differential predation by tigers in Ranthambore National Park

Bachelor of Science in Zoology (Honours) (2006-2009)
Presidency College, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India 
   

Recent publications


Conservation implications of high gene flow and lack of pronounced spatial genetic structure in elephants supported by contiguous suitable habitat in north-western India


Rahul De, Reeta Sharma, Sujeet Kumar Singh, Rita Rasteiro, Ranjana Bhaskar, Imran Khan, Rajapandian Kanagaraj, Kashmira Kakati, Parag Nigam, A Christy Williams, others

Conservation Science and Practice, 2024, pp. e13075


Identifying sex and individual from faecal DNA of the Asian elephant using a single multiplex PCR for population monitoring


Rahul De, Reeta Sharma, Parag Nigam, Amirtharaj Christy Williams, Bilal Habib, Surendra Prakash Goyal

Conservation Genetics Resources, vol. 15, 2023, pp. 163--173


Predicting the impact of climate change on range and genetic diversity patterns of the endangered endemic Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius) in the western Ghats, India


Rajapandian Kanagaraj, Bheem Dutt Joshi, Rahul De, MA Predit, Sujeet K Singh, Puneet Pandey, Vinay Kumar, Vipin Sharma, M Kumar, Rakesh Matura, others

Landscape Ecology, 2023, pp. 1--17


Connect elephant habitats in Asia


Priya Davidar, Reeta Sharma, Shermin de Silva, Ahimsa Campos-Arceiz, Benoit Goossens, Jean-Philippe Puyravaud, Bilal Habib, Rahul De, Ee Phin Wong, Dinesh Neupane, Nurzhafarina Binti Othman, Surendra Prakash Goyal

Science, vol. 379, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2023 Feb, pp. 765-765


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