• Royce Fellowship
Pathikrit
Bhattacharyya

Concentration 

Geology; Biology

Award Year 

2013
Nerve, Nurse and Nurture: An Integrative Study of Nervous System Development in Siphonophores

Faculty Sponsor: Casey Dunn

Pathikrit began his research of siphonophores, a group of marine organisms that have evolved as physiologically integrated colonies, by investigating the organisms’ advanced colony-level nervous system. He then attempted to establish a captive population of siphonophores in order to use previously inapplicable study techniques on the animals. Pathikrit’s project culminated in animation videos of his work, which will make siphonophore biology accessible to audiences beyond research and academia.

Pathikrit lives in San Francisco, CA and is currently the Instructional Design Lead at California Academy of Sciences. He was previously the Curriculum Designer and Product Analyst at IXL Learning.