Doctoral Fellows

Debashruti Das

Debashruti Das is a senior research fellow in our lab. She hails from West Bengal, graduated from Bethune College, University of Calcutta (2016), and completed her post-graduation from the Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University (2018). She cleared CSIR LS in 2019 and enrolled in PhD under the University UGC-RET fellowship. She is currently working to identify genetic markers associated with tuberculosis susceptibility and resistance. A keen travel and music enthusiast, she has always been passionate about learning and experiencing new things both inside and outside the lab. 

Chanchal Devnani

Chanchal Devnani is currently a UGC-SRF fellow in the Gyan Lab. She finished her schooling from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh in 2016. She has received letter for appreciation from Smt. Smriti Irani (former education minister of India) in her High School days. She completed her Graduation (B. Sc) in Zoology from Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh in 2019 and Post-Graduation in Zoology with an Endocrinology Specialization in 2021 from Guru Ghasidas university, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. Her dissertation in post-graduation was on "Suppressive effect of gonadal steroids on cell mediated immunity". She has cracked Joint CSIR-UGC NET (2020 & 2022), CGSET (2019), and GATE (2022). She has joined the lab as UGC-JRF fellow in 2022 and ever since she is working on the genetic ancestry and forensic studies of the Sindhi population.

Bishnu Deo Yadav

Bishnu finished his schooling from Kendriya Vidyalaya, Maithon Dam in 2011. He Completed his Graduation (B.sc) in Zoology from Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribagh, Jharkhand in 2014 and Post-Graduation in Zoology with an Entomology Specialisation in 2016 from Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribagh, Jharkhand. His dissertation in Post-Graduation was “Apiculture in Jharkhand” He cracked Joint CSIR UGC NET (2021). He Joined the lab as UGC Fellow in 2022 and ever since he is working on the “Study of Forensic Genetic markers among Indian population”

Shailesh Desai

Shailesh is originally from Gujarat, India, and has recently joined Gyan Lab with CSIR-JRF, All India Rank 37. He has speciic interests in Wildlife Conservation and is all set to work with Ancient DNA, to reveal the past and any contemporary Environmental Influence in general elements of several species.

Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek Sharma is a Junior Research Fellow in our lab. He hails from the hills of Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh. He joined the lab in April 2025. He has done his schooling from D.A.V. Public School, Paonta Sahib, Himachal Pradesh. He completed his graduation in Zoology from Degree College, Paonta Sahib in 2020 and Master's in Zoology from Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Punjab in 2022. He has qualified CSIR-UGC NET in 2023 & 2024. He is aspiring to do his doctoral research on Genetic Diversity and selection in Himachal Pradesh populations. He is a travel enthusiast and a literature, music and history buff.

Anvesha Shukla

Anvesha Shukla is originally from Deoria, Uttar Pradesh. She has recently joined Gyan Lab. She has cracked Joint CSIR UGC NET (2024 & 2025), GATE XL (2024 & 2025), DBT JRF 2025, ICMR JRF 2025 and ICAR AICE Examination 2024. She graduated and post graduated from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur in Zoology with specialization in Entomology. She has been awarded in debate by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Lok Sabha speaker Mr. Om Birla. As per her passion to understand human evolution, she is currently working on Genetic Ancestry Reconstruction and Genome Wide Disease Mapping in Marwadi Population of India. She is highly interested in public speaking and travelling to explore and understand the diversity of human population.

Sunakshi Sharma

Sunakshi Sharma is a PhD student in the Gyan Lab and is originally from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. She completed her B.Sc. (Hons.) in Zoology from BHU, Varanasi in 2023, and her M.Sc. in Zoology with specialization in Molecular Genetics from the University of Lucknow in 2025. During her M.Sc., she studied genetic polymorphisms associated with cervical cancer, focusing on SNPs in the MMP9 gene. She has qualified GATE XL 2025 and CSIR-UGC NET (Life Sciences) 2025.

Her research interests include disease genetics, population genomics, and palaeogenomics in humans. Her current research focuses on understanding how ancestry from early human genomes contributes to patterns of genetic risk for diseases in modern populations.

In her free time, she enjoys classical dance, music, travelling, exploring new places, playing badminton, and practicing yoga.

Diksha Kumari

Diksha Kumari is a research scholar in the Gyan Lab, originally from Bihar. She completed her postgraduate degree in Zoology from Patna University. Her academic interests lie in population genetics, human evolution, and disease mapping. She has qualified CSIR-UGC NET, GATE XL .

At Gyan Lab, she is currently working on genetic ancestry reconstruction and genome-wide disease mapping in the Bihar and its adjoining population.Her research aims to understand the genetic diversity, population structure, and disease susceptibility patterns among communities in Bihar, contributing to broader insights into human population history in India.

Apart from research, she is interested in literature, dance, music, cooking and enjoys travelling.