We are very happy to welcome our new Writing-Up Fellow Merin Joji to the KLI! Merin comes from a background in Biology, with a Master’s Zoology from PSG College of Arts and Science, India. She is currently an Integrated MSc/PhD student at the University of Copenhagen, studying the impacts of developmental stress on shell shapes in Indian freshwater turtles.

Merin’s PhD dissertation investigates how the shape of shells in Indian freshwater turtles are affected by environmental factors such as pollution and presence of invasive turtles. She employs geometric morphometric techniques, which involves the detailed analysis of 3D models of turtle and tortoise shells. By quantifying the subtle differences in shell morphology, she aims to uncover how environmental pressures, such as habitat changes, climate variations, and human activities, impacts the evolution and development of shell shapes, and developing a new conservation monitoring tool.

At the KLI, Merin will be working on her project. “D shell asymmetry as a monitoring tool for environmental stress in India’s freshwater turtles”.

Apart from this, she actively engages in disseminating science through publishing 3D models on Sketchfab, facilitating Citizen Science projects, conducting talks, and organizing PhD day.

Merin is a Writing-Up Fellow at the KLI starting 15 February to 14 August 2025.

Here’s wishing Merin a warm welcome and a fruitful stay at the KLI.