Evolutionary biology

How species originate and what has driven the evolution of millions of organisms on our planet remain some of the hotly debated questions in science. With recent technological developments in genomics, it is now possible to disentangle the genetic architecture of speciation, the evolution of adaptive traits , and how different organisms are related. The Evolutionary Biology Research Theme combines these genomic approaches with cutting- edge ecology, environmental science and paleobiology to address the following challenges: (a) how organisms have evolved to become adapted to their biotic and physical environments, including reconstructing and visualising the tree of life; (b) global patterns of biodiversity, including modelling and predictions under global change scenarios; (c) microbial evolution , including pathogen resistance, fungal diversity , viral evolution and bacterial communities.
Research groups
Dr Arkhat Abzhanov
Dr Arkhat Abzhanov
Reader in Evolution and Developmental Genetics
Dr Michalis Barkoulas

Dr Michalis Barkoulas
Senior Lecturer
Professor Tim Barraclough
Professor Tim Barraclough
Visiting Professor
Professor Miguel Bastos Araujo
Professor Miguel Bastos Araujo
Visiting Professor
Professor Thomas D C Bell
Professor Thomas D C Bell
Professor of Microbial Ecology
Professor Martin I Bidartondo

Professor Martin I Bidartondo
Professor of Molecular Ecology
Dr Martin D Brazeau
Dr Martin D Brazeau
Senior Lecturer
Professor Austin Burt

Professor Austin Burt
Professor of Evolutionary Genetics
Dr Tanai Cardona Londono

Dr Tanai Cardona Londono
UKRI Future Leaders Fellow
Dr Lauren J Cator

Dr Lauren J Cator
Senior Lecturer
Dr Matteo Fumagalli

Dr Matteo Fumagalli
Lecturer in Quantitative Evolution
Dr Richard J Gill
Dr Richard J Gill
Senior Lecturer
Emeritus Professor Russell Lande FRS

Emeritus Professor Russell Lande FRS
Emeritus Professor of Population Biology
Dr Mara K N Lawniczak
Dr Mara K N Lawniczak
Honorary Lecturer
Professor Armand M Leroi

Professor Armand M Leroi
Professor of Evolutionary Developmental Biology
Dr David Orme
Dr David Orme
Teaching Fellow
Dr Samraat Pawar
Dr Samraat Pawar
Reader in Theoretical Ecology
Professor Andy Purvis
Professor Andy Purvis
Research Investigator
Dr James L Rosindell
Dr James L Rosindell
Reader in Biodiversity Theory
Professor Vincent Savolainen

Professor Vincent Savolainen
Professor of Organismic Biology
Professor Michael P H Stumpf
Professor Michael P H Stumpf
Visiting Professor
Dr Michael Tristem

Dr Michael Tristem
Principal Teaching Fellow
Professor Jason M Tylianakis
Professor Jason M Tylianakis
Visiting Professor
Professor Alfried P Vogler

Professor Alfried P Vogler
Professor of Molecular Systematics