Gaurav grew up in Bangalore, a city in southern India. He studied at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Pune, India with a background in mathematics and biology. During his bachelor’s degree, he worked on projects in computational biology, stochastic processes, and microbial ecology.
Personal Interests
Beyond research, Gaurav enjoys playing Dungeons and Dragons, cooking, and hiking. Since arriving in Plön, he has developed a newfound appreciation for board games and swimming in the wonderful local lakes.
Master’s Thesis Research
For his master’s thesis in Plön, Gaurav investigated the origins of endosymbiosis. Endosymbiosis has given rise to some of the most fascinating long-term associations in nature, such as mitochondria in eukaryotic cells and the nutritional endosymbionts of aphids, which have been engaged in obligate symbioses for hundreds of millions of years. His research addressed fundamental questions: What brings and keeps these organisms together? How does the relationship between host and symbiont change over time? He used tools from evolutionary game theory and adaptive dynamics to explore these questions.
Research Interests
- Eco-evolutionary processes and biodiversity
- Evolution of biological complexity
- Major evolutionary transitions in individuality
- Endosymbiosis and symbiotic associations
- Host-symbiont evolution
- Long-term evolutionary associations
- Evolutionary game theory
- Adaptive dynamics
- Complex systems
Academic Background
Gaurav brings together a diverse background combining:
- Mathematical modeling and theory
- Biological understanding and ecology
- Computational approaches
- Systems thinking
His work focuses on understanding how and why major evolutionary transitions occurred and what mechanisms sustain the associations between different organisms over evolutionary time.