Riya is a second-year Master's student working under the guide of Professor Deren Eaton. Their research focuses on reproductive incompatibilities between divergent, weedy Amaranth species. Using transmission ratio distortion (TRD) mapping to analyze deviations in Mendellian allele frequencies inherited from F1s into gamete pools, they aim to infer recombination maps and identify incompatibility QTL. This work will contribute to our understanding of speciation under disrupted gene flow, leading to reproductive barriers, with important implications for weed management amongst Amaranth species. Outside of research, Riya serves on the Graduate Resource Association of Student Scientists (GRASS), Outreach Committee, and Women in Science at Columbia (WISC). When time permits, they volunteer at outreach events across New York City (E.g., BraiNY Brain Awareness Week, ZI Saturday Science, HRPK Wetlab Look-ins).
