As a molecular biologist, microbiologist and immunologist, Dr. Sankarans studies a wide variety of systems ranging from the human immune system in aging to the use of molecular biology in species identification in the environment. She is particularly interested in studying the relationships between frog and fish species in streams and applying innovative technologies to the process. Dr Sankaran has applied real-time PCR technology to the identification of frog and trout species in eDNA samples collected in the PCT. She plans to continue studying these samples to identify pathogens in eDNA and their relation to the distribution of frog and trout species. These molecular biology tools can be used in several proposed studies of the IBE.