Agneesh Barua

Dr. Agneesh Barua is an HFSP Long-Term Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Lausanne, working in the Department of Ecology and Evolution within the Faculty of Biology and Medicine. He is a member of the Robinson-Rechavi Group, where he conducts research on the genetic basis of phenotypic evolution using teleost fishes as his primary model system.

Dr. Barua received his PhD in evolutionary genetics from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) in Japan, where he focused on the evolutionary genetics of complex traits, particularly snake venom. His educational background includes an MSc in Genetics from the University of Calcutta, India, and a BSc (Hons) in Zoology from the University of Delhi, India.

His research employs quantitative genetics, phylogenetic comparative methods, genomics, transcriptomics, and network approaches to understand the genetic basis of complex trait evolution. Currently at UNIL, he investigates life-history transitions to uncover the genetic mechanisms driving phenotypic evolution in teleost fishes. His previous work on snake venom revealed how conserved gene regulatory networks (the 'metavenom') enable the evolution of oral venom systems across tetrapods.

Dr. Barua's publication record demonstrates significant contributions to understanding molecular convergence, evolutionary rates, and the genetic architecture of complex traits. His research has shown that venom systems evolve through transitions in evolutionary rates rather than driving speciation events, and that many venom components across diverse lineages share common evolutionary origins rather than evolving independently.

His notable achievements include:

• Peter Gruss Dissertation Excellence Award (2023)
• Honorable mention for International Birnstiel Award (2023)
• HFSP Long-Term Postdoctoral fellowship (~$250,000 for 3 years, 2022)
• SMBE Graduate Student Excellence Award (2022)

Dr. Barua has received widespread recognition for his work, with his 'metavenom' research featured in major media outlets including National Geographic, The Independent, and Live Science. Experts in the field have described his approach as 'novel and elegant' and his PNAS paper as 'a real landmark in the field.' He has also been active in teaching, delivering lectures on phylogenetic comparative methods, quantitative genetics, and evolutionary biology at both graduate and undergraduate levels.

His research has established important connections between seemingly disparate biological systems, demonstrating how conserved genetic frameworks can give rise to specialized traits like venom across evolutionary lineages. This work has significant implications for understanding the evolution of complex traits more broadly.