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Chitrang is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Biology at Vanderbilt University, where his research explores the evolution of circadian rhythms, how organisms keep time in a changing world. Guided by curiosity and a deep sense of purpose, his work bridges theory and natural complexity, shaped by both discovery and the learning that comes from experiments that don’t go as planned.

Originally from India, Chitrang’s scientific journey took shape during his Ph.D. in Bengaluru, where he studied how circadian clocks in fruit flies evolve under naturalistic conditions. At Vanderbilt, in the Johnson lab, he tackled fundamental questions about the origins of circadian clocks using cyanobacteria, revealing that the ability of these clocks to sustain themselves without environmental cues may have evolved in response to seasonal changes in day length—an exciting contribution to the field of chronobiology.

Alongside his research, Chitrang has been deeply engaged in service and community-building through the Vanderbilt International Researchers Alliance (VIRAL), supporting and advocating for international scholars. He is now transitioning to a senior postdoctoral role in the Department of Biology at Texas A&M University, where he will build on the scientific foundation and mentorship gained at Vanderbilt as he advances the next stage of his research program.