Aashish Jha

Aashish Jha is an Assistant Professor of Biology at New York University Abu Dhabi. His research focuses on population genetics, microbiome, metagenomics, ELSI, heritage, and genomics. Jha uses genomics to decipher human population histories and microbiomes, with recent work centered on traditional Himalayan populations. His current projects include genomics and microbiomics of Nepal, India, Africa, and Oceania. Jha received his BA in Molecular and Cellular Biology from The University of California Berkeley and his PhD in Human Genetics from The University of Chicago. During his postdoctoral scholarship at Stanford University, he initiated The Himalayan Diversity Project. His work in the Himalaya is supported by grants from The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Stanford University Center for Computational, Evolutionary, and Human Genomics (CEHG). He joined NYU Abu Dhabi in 2020.

Aashish R. Jha is a researcher at New York University Abu Dhabi, focusing on microbiome genetics, genomics, and evolution. His work explores the genetic and genomic basis of human and microbial evolution, with a particular emphasis on ancient genomes, population genetics, and microbiome dynamics across diverse lifestyles. Jha's research includes studies on human dispersals, copy-number variation, and the role of gut microbiomes in health and disease. He has also investigated the genetic signals of hypoxia adaptation in both humans and Drosophila, as well as the immunological responses to viral infections such as HIV-1 and HTLV-1. His studies integrate genomic, transcriptomic, and microbiome data to uncover evolutionary and functional insights.