Aashish Jha

Aashish Jha is an Assistant Professor of Biology at NYU Abu Dhabi, specializing in population genetics and microbiome research. He leads the Himalayan Diversity Project, focusing on genetic and microbiome studies of Himalayan populations. His work spans Nepal, India, Africa, and Oceania, supported by grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Stanford CEHG. He holds a BA from UC Berkeley and a PhD from the University of Chicago, with postdoctoral research at Stanford. Beyond academia, he served as Director of Bioinformatics at NomNomNow and consulted for CDB Consulting. Jha teaches courses like Bioinformatics and Capstone Projects, emphasizing computational tools and genomics. His research bridges anthropology, ecology, and public health, with over two dozen peer-reviewed publications.

• Education: BA Molecular & Cellular Biology, UC Berkeley; PhD Human Genetics, University of Chicago
• Research Interests: Population genetics, microbiome dynamics, metagenomics, cultural heritage, and public health applications
• Courses Taught: Bioinformatics, Capstone Projects in Biology & Computer Science, Microbial Self: Microbes and Identity, Fermentation
• Grants: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Stanford CEHG

His work highlights microbial biodiversity's role in human health, cultural practices, and environmental adaptation. Ongoing projects include studying non-communicable diseases in indigenous Nepali populations and gut microbiome transitions across lifestyles.