Riddhi Deshmukh

Dr. Riddhi Deshmukh is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Lausanne, working in the Chapuisat Group since November 2021. Her research focuses on the genetic bases of polymorphisms and complex adaptive traits in insect systems, particularly social ants and mimetic butterflies.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Biology, National Centre for Biological Science, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (2014-2020)
• M.Sc. Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (2012-2014)
• B.Sc. Biotechnology, Ramnarain Ruia College, Mumbai (2009-2012)

Dr. Deshmukh's work integrates evolutionary genetics, molecular biology, and behavioural ecology to investigate how genetic elements shape morphological and behavioural diversity. Her current projects examine the social supergene in Formica selysi ants and mimetic polymorphism in Papilio butterflies, utilizing genomic and transcriptomic approaches to unravel developmental mechanisms and evolutionary histories.

Her publication record (2017-2022) reveals consistent focus on genetic architecture of adaptive traits across insect taxa, with recurring themes including doublesex-mediated mimicry, supergene evolution, and molecular predictability in adaptation. These works demonstrate sophisticated integration of comparative genomics with evolutionary theory.

As a postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Deshmukh collaborates within the Chapuisat Group on social insect genetics. No independent grants or student advising are documented in available materials.

She contributes to the Chapuisat Group's research on ant social evolution, which employs field studies, genomic analyses, and experimental approaches to understand the genetic foundations of social polymorphism maintained over millions of years.