As a child in Beaverton, Ashwin Sivakumar saw puffins as distant creatures, like penguins or polar bears. That changed during a family trip to Cannon Beach. With a local volunteer’s help, he looked through a birdwatching scope and spotted puffins at Haystack Rock. The excitement of knowing these birds were just an hour and a half away was incredible. He started wondering what other amazing birds he could find nearby.
Soon enough, Ashwin convinced his dad to take him birdwatching at places like Sauvie Island. By sixth grade, he had identified 206 bird species in the U.S. Fast forward a decade, and Ashwin was majoring in integrative biology at Harvard. He was doing groundbreaking research on bird genes and their wing variations. His birding list had grown to over 500 species, and he inspired others to take up birdwatching too.
Now, as he prepares to finish his research, Ashwin is setting his sights on even bigger questions about evolution and biodiversity. He’s been awarded a Marshall Scholarship, a prestigious honor given to only 43 U.S. students for 2026, which will fund his Ph.D. studies in England.
In an unexpected turn, he’s shifting his focus from birds to fish, specifically a colorful family known as cichlids. He’ll work with Richard Durbin, a top evolutionary geneticist at the University of Cambridge. Cichlids are fascinating—they’ve evolved from a single species into over 1,000 different species in under a million years. Surprisingly, 800 of these species are found in one lake in Africa, demonstrating how diversity can thrive even without physical barriers.
What intrigues Ashwin is figuring out the genetic differences that make these fish distinct species. Researchers are good at explaining variations within a single species, like why some humans are taller than others. But understanding the genetic roots of differences between species is more complicated. Ashwin plans to develop new methods to tackle this challenge.
Andrew Berry, an evolutionary geneticist from Harvard, believes Ashwin is set to make significant contributions to science. He highlights not only Ashwin’s academic talent but also his ability to explain complex ideas in an engaging way. This skill is crucial for making science accessible to everyone.
Ashwin’s research will benefit from genomic sequencing already done on about 200 cichlid species. He aims to study their evolution deeply, even hoping to visit Lake Malawi, home to numerous cichlid species, during his time at Cambridge. His work might help the world better understand and tackle issues like climate change and extinction.
Berry emphasizes the importance of knowing how species form and die off over time. This knowledge is vital for effective conservation efforts, especially amidst the current biodiversity crisis. Ashwin’s unique blend of scientific skills and public communication could lead to meaningful advancements.
Additionally, Ashwin is eager to learn how scientific cultures differ in the U.K. compared to the U.S. He’s also interested in the rewilding projects in Great Britain, particularly in Scotland, aimed at restoring native habitats and species.
His passion for the natural world drives his work. “It captures our wonder every day,” he says, reflecting on his lifelong interest in wildlife and the environment.
For more insights about evolutionary genetics and biodiversity, check out resources from the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
