A leading modern research collection of geo-referenced data and deep-frozen DNA library, housed in a unique climate-controlled space, and supported by top museum scientists

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A central facility for species discovery, molecular systematics, and cutting-edge evolutionary, genomic and conservation genetic studies, facilitating global scientific collaborations

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About Biodiversity Lab Research Collections

Biodiversity Lab Research Collections at NCBS provide unmatched assets and resources to study India's incredible biodiversity. They include advanced taxonomic expertise, world-class infrastructure, equipment, and other research facilities needed for 21st century museum-based biodiversity research.

Our research in India's biodiversity hotspots is spearheading a remarkable number of species discoveries, offering insights into the richness and complexity of Indian biodiversity. This work depends critically on research collections. The Biodiversity Lab Research Collections have state-of-the-art facilities to hold dry and wet specimens, deep-frozen DNA library, and other biodiversity-related materials. The work space provides microscopes, imaging station, specimen preparation space, computers, and other essential equipment and resources for museum work. This facility supports several multi-institutional, national and international collaborations in taxonomic discovery, molecular systematics, and evolutionary and conservation genetics, supported by leading natural history museums and biodiversity scientists.

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No. of specimens: 40,000 100%
Type specimens: 175, representing 52 new species 65%
Frozen tissue collection: 21,000 specimens 90%
Data repatriation from historical collections: 15,000 specimens 83%
Digital library of specimen images: 45,000 images 100%
Global taxonomic collaborations: 6; No. of publications: 62 80%

The Collections Team

Ujwala Pawar

Curatorial Assistant and Research Fellow

Ujwala Pawar

Curatorial Assistant and Research Fellow
Email: ujwalamp@ncbs.res.in
Phone: +91 80 2366-6280

Prof. Krushnamegh Kunte

Faculty Coordinator of Research Collections

Prof. Krushnamegh Kunte

Faculty Coordinator of Research Collections

Associate Professor, NCBS
Curator of Lepidoptera, Cicadas and Odonata
 

Email: krushnamegh@ncbs.res.in
Phone: +91 80 2366-6085

Kiran Marathe

Curator of Cicadas and Spiders

Kiran Marathe

Curator of Cicadas and Spiders

NCBS Research Associate

 

Email: kiran@ifoundbutterflies.org
Phone: +91 80 2366-6280

Dipendra Nath Basu

Assistant Curator of Lepidoptera

Dipendra Nath Basu

Assistant Curator of Lepidoptera
Email: dipendran@ncbs.res.in
Phone: +91 80 2366-6086

Shantanu Joshi

Curator of Odonata

Shantanu Joshi

Curator of Odonata

NCBS Research Associate

 

Email: shantanu@ifoundbutterfiles.org
Phone: +91 80 2366-6280

Our Partners and Collaborators

We have extensive collaborations with prominent research institutions and museums across the world, such as the Zoological Survey of India (Kolkata), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (New Delhi), Natural History Museum (London), University Museum (University of Tokyo), Museum of Comparative Zoology (Harvard University), and the McGuire Centre for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity (Florida Museum of Natural History). These collaborations serve national and global research networks to prepare phylogenies of several major insect orders and herpetofaunal clades, especially the Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Hemiptera (bugs), and Coleoptera (beetles).