Prof. L S Shashidhara, who holds Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, specializes in Genetics, Molecular Biology and Evolutionary biology. His group has identified key mechanisms that specify organ development and regulate growth control during embryonic development. Currently, they are studying the status of these evolutionarily conserved mechanisms in human epithelial cancers.

Prior to Ashoka, Prof Shashidhara worked at CCMB, Hyderabad and IISER Pune. He has served/is serving as Chair/co-chair/member of various apex committees of Government of India and S&T organizations, particularly those dealing with education, funding, innovation, policy, international relations and outreach. For his contribution to basic and applied biology, Prof Shashidhara is recognized with top science awards in India and he is an elected Fellow of Science Academies of India and European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) and currently the President of International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS).