Sathyabhama Das Biju

S. D. Biju (Sathyabhama Das Biju)
Professor, Department of Environmental Studies
Department of Environmental Studies 
University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India 

Email:  [email protected], [email protected] 

Educational qualification
PhD (Biology) Vrije Universiteit Brussel Animal Science: Frog Systematics & Conservation 2007  
PhD (Botany) University of Calicut Plant Science: Angiosperm Systematics 1999 
MSc (Botany) University of Kerala 1987

Areas of specialization
Systematics | Taxonomy | Molecular phylogeny | Molecular evolution | Biogeography | Reproductive ecology | Biodiversity conservation

My primary research explores the patterns and mechanisms that have shaped how biodiversity has evolved, including speciation, extinction, diversification, and biogeography. For over three decades, I have been engaged in teaching and research in India and abroad, and was among the pioneers who integrated molecular studies into the discovery and description of new species from India. As a taxonomist, I have described 128 new amphibians (2 families, 10 genera, 116 species), nearly 25% of the country’s diversity. My work over the past three decades has drawn global attention to amphibians in India and the broader South Asian region.

Honours and Awards
Kerala Sree (Science): 2022 (3rd Highest Civilian Awards of Government of Kerala)
Radcliffe Fellow, Harvard University, USA: 2023
Elected Fellow of Indian National Science Academy (FNA, INSA), New Delhi India: 2024
Elected Fellow of Indian Academy of Sciences (FASc), Bangalore, India: 2025
Fellow of Indian Angiosperm Taxonomy (FIAT)
Fellow of Society of Ethnobotanists (FES)
IUCN/ASG SABIN award 2008 for research & Conservation, citation and 25000 USD 
Sanctuary Asia Wildlife Service Award 2011, citation and 40000 INR 
Dr. Kamarudheen Environmental Award 2024, citation and 25000 INR

Affiliations 
Radcliffe Fellow: Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University (2023 – )
Associate: Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB), Harvard University (2022– )
Associate: Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ), Harvard University (elected 2023 – )
Visiting Professor: Vrije Universiteit Brussel(VUB), Brussels
Associate: Natural History Museum, London
Member: IUCN Species Survival Commission Amphibian Specialist Group 
Advisory member: National Museum of Natural History, New Delhi, Government of India 
Advisory member: Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleosciences, Government of India 
Member: Kerala State Biodiversity Board (2024  – )

Major administrative assignment
Dean, Faculty of Science: University of Delhi May 2019 to August 2020
The Faculty includes 12 departments and more than 240 teaching faculty members.
Head, Department of Environmental Studies: University of Delhi, three years from May 2019 to May 2022: The department offers two postgraduate courses: MA and MSc Environmental Studies
Member of the Executive Council: (similar to syndicate member) University of Delhi from May 2019 to August 2020: The principal executive authority of the University of Delhi, responsible for the management, administration, and control of all university funds and property.
Member of the Academic Council: (similar to senate member) University of Delhi, three years from May 2019 to May 2022): The Academic Council is the highest academic body of the University.
Member of Board of Research Studies (BRS):  University of Delhi, Sept 2012–Sept 2024; June 2026–June 2028; Sept 2022–Aug. 2024.
Member of Board of Studies: School of Human Ecology (SHE), Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD): 2023 –
Member: Project Advisory Committees in DST and DBT from 2009 onwards.
Chairperson and Member: Various University and Department level committees. Including Board of Research Studies
Director: LOST! Amphibians of India http://www.lostspeciesindia.org/LAI2/  2010-present
Director: Western Ghats Network of Protected Areas for Threatened Amphibians (WNPATA) http://www.wnpata.org/ 2009-present

Research and teaching experience: teaching 19 years; research 25 years
Radcliffe Fellow (2023 – ) Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University
Professor (2012 –), Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi
Associate Professor (2009 –2011), Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi
Reader (2006-2008) CEMDE and Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi 
Herpetologist (2003 – 2005) Vrije Universiteit, Brussels 
Scientist (1992–2003) Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute, Kerala
Invited Scientist (2001) National Museum of Natural History, France 
Visiting Researcher (2003) Natural History Museum, London (INSA-Royal Society Bilateral Exchange Program)
Visiting Researcher (2008) Natural History Museum, London (Royal Society London Fellowship)

Subjects Taught
Molecular Phylogeny | Systematics | Biodiversity | Conservation biology

PhD supervision (Year of PhD completion)
AWARDED: Ines Van Bocxlaer (2010); Rachunliu G Kamei (2013); Ashish Thomas (2013); Robin Suyesh (2014); Stephen Mahony (2016); Sonali Garg (2019); Akalabya Sarmah (2025); Karan Bisht (2026); Gopika C (2026). IN PROGRESS: Tage Tajo; Radhakrishna Upadhyaya; Utkarsh Viswas

Publications
~ 100 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals
(complete list)

Selected TEN Publications
Biju SD and Bossuyt F. 2003. New frog family from India reveals an ancient biogeographical link with the Seychelles. Nature 425: 711–714.

Biju SD and Bossuyt F. 2009. Systematics and phylogeny of Philautus Gistel, 1848 (Anura, Rhacophoridae) in the Western Ghats of India, with descriptions of 12 new species. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 155: 374–444. (corresponding author)

Biju SD, Garg S, Mahony S, Wijayathilaka N, Senevirathne G and Meegaskumbura M. 2014. DNA barcoding, phylogeny and systematics of Golden-backed frogs (Hylarana, Ranidae) of the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot, with the description of seven new species. Contributions to Zoology 83 (4) 269–335. (corresponding author)

Biju SD, Senevirathne G, Garg S, Mahony S, Kamei RG, Thomas A, Shouche Y, Raxworthy CJ, Meegaskumbura S and Bocxlaer Van I. 2016. Frankixalus, a new rhacophorid genus of tree hole breeding frogs with oophagous tadpoles. PLoS One 11(1): e0145727 (corresponding author)

Van Bocxlaer I, Loader SP, Roelants K, Biju SD, Menegon M, Bossuyt F. 2010. Gradual adaptation toward a range-expansion phenotype initiated the global radiation of toads. Science 327: 679–682. (PhD student publication)

Roelants K, Gower DJ, Wilkinson M, Loader SP, Biju SD, Guillaume K, Moriau L and F Bossuyt F. 2007. Global patterns of diversification in the history of modern amphibians. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 104: 887–892.

Garg S and Biju SD. 2019. New microhylid frog genus from Peninsular India with Southeast Asian affinity suggests multiple Cenozoic biotic exchanges between India and Eurasia. Scientific Reports 9: 1906. (PhD student publication; corresponding author)

Kamei RG, Mauro DS, Gower DJ, Bocxlaer IV, Sherratt E, Thomas A, Babu S, Bossuyt F, Wilkinson M and Biju SD. 2012. Discovery of a new family of amphibians from Northeast India with ancient links to Africa. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, London 279 (1737): 2396–2401. (PhD student publication, sole corresponding author)

Garg S, Suyesh R, Das A, Jiang J, Wijayathilaka N, Amarasinghe AAT, Alhadi F, Vineeth KK, Aravind NA, Senevirathne G, Meegaskumbura M and Biju SD. 2018. Systematic revision of Microhyla (Microhylidae) frogs of South Asia: a molecular, morphological, and acoustic assessment. Vertebrate Zoology 69(1): 1–71. (PhD student publication, corresponding author)

Garg S, Suyesh R, Das S, Bee MA and Biju SD. 2021. An integrative approach to infer systematic relationships and define species groups in the shrub frog genus Raorchestes, with description of five new species from the Western Ghats, India.  PeerJ 9:e10791. (PhD student publication, corresponding author)

Citations 

Keynote / Plenary / Invited Lectures / Talk delivered / Interviews (selected)

• BBC Global News
• BBC News
• BBC Radio: Outlook. The Frogman of India
• Museum of Comparative Zoology (Herpetology section), Harvard University
• TEDx. Lost! Amphibians of India, Mysore, India
• New York: Award Acceptance Lecture, IUCN/ASG Sabin Award 
• Spain: National Museum of Natural Sciences, Madrid: Where is the Amphibian Hotspot? 
• Washington DC, Conservation International: Amphibians of India 
• London, Natural History Museum: Darwin lecture: Nasikabatrachidae: a new family of amphibians
• BBC Radio: London. Nasikabatrachidae: a new family of amphibians
• Seoul University, Korea:LIFE: understanding with uncertain knowledge – halting human induced amphibian extinction
• 5th Asian Herpetological Conference, Chengdu, China: Plenary lecture
• CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology: Life of PI – ‘My FROGS and I’
• The National Academy of Sciences, India (North Eastern Chapter): Biodiversity and Conservation: Lessons from amphibians
• Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi: LIFE: understanding with uncertain knowledge – halting human induced amphibian extinction
• Columbia: IUCN/ASG, GWC, Lost! Amphibians of India
• Science Academies’ Lecture Workshop (INSA, NASI, IASc): LIFE: understanding with uncertain knowledge – halting human induced amphibian extinction
• North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong: Biodiversity: Prospects and Concerns
• Mumbai: Sanctuary Asia: Wildlife Service Award 
• Kerala, Kerala Forest Department: Lost! Amphibians of India
• Hindu College: LIFE: understanding with uncertain knowledge – halting human induced amphibian extinction

Media (selected)
The Economist | BBC | BBC Global | BBC News | CNN | Gulf News | Motherboard | Sanctuary Asia | The Week | Out Look | Mail Today | BBC Radio | CEPF | The New York Times | Harvard Gazette