Madhava Meegaskumbura

Summary

PROFESSOR & PI - An evolutionary biologist interested in understanding the processes of diversification from ecological, evolutionary and developmental contexts. Ph.D. in Biology from Boston University USA, on the diversification of a newly discovered radiation of nearly 100 species of frogs from Sri Lanka. Was a Ziff Environmental Postdoctoral Fellow at the Harvard University Center for the Environment (HUCE) and Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ), studying correlates of extinctions in amphibians. Next, worked at the Department of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology at University of Peradeniya, serving as a Professor. Currently works as a Professor at Guangxi University in China. Has published over 100 papers, including several in Science. Works on amphibian and freshwater fish (also cavefish) systems including their microbiomes and diseases. Has described more than 50 species of frogs, freshwater fishes and a mammal, often using integrative taxonomic methods, together with contributions to higher order classification. Notable awards are: Frank A. Belamarich Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation (Boston University), Top 10 Species Award, and Presidential Awards for Research. Serves as a Co-Chair for Amphibian Specialist Group Sri Lanka (ASG/IUCN/SSC). A freshwater fish (Schistura madhavai) and a fairy orchid (Oberonia meegaskumburae), are named after him. Serves as an Academic Editor/Editorial Board member for PeerJ, BMC Ecology & Evolution and PlosOne.

Biodiversity Biogeography Climate Change Biology Ecology Ecosystem Science Environmental Health Evolutionary Studies Genomics Taxonomy Zoology

Past or current institution affiliations