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 (phenomes), 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) what are the mechanisms of evolution, including how organisms have evolved to become adapted to their biotic and physical environments, evolutionary development, reconstructing and visualising the tree of life; (b) what underlies global patterns of biodiversity, including modelling and predictions under global change scenarios; (c) how the evolution of species affect our own, including vector and disease evolution, viral evolution, fungal diversity, and microbiomes.
Institutes, centres and initiatives
This Research Theme is associated to the following institutes, centres and initiatives:
- Agri Futures Lab
- Artificial Intelligence Network
- Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet
- Grantham Institute
- Malaria Network
- Microbiome Network
Academic staff in this area
Dr Arkhat Abzhanov
Dr Arkhat Abzhanov
Reader in Evolution and Developmental Genetics
Dr Michalis Barkoulas
Dr Michalis Barkoulas
Senior Lecturer
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
Professor Matthew Fisher
Professor Matthew Fisher
Professor of Fungal Disease Epidemiology
Dr Matteo Fumagalli
Dr Matteo Fumagalli
Lecturer in Quantitative Evolution
Dr Richard J Gill
Dr Richard J Gill
Senior Lecturer
Dr Peter Graystock
Dr Peter Graystock
Imperial College Research Fellow
Professor Armand M Leroi
Professor Armand M Leroi
Professor of Evolutionary Developmental Biology
Dr Will Pearse
Dr Will Pearse
Senior Lecturer in Applied 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
Dr Joseph A Tobias
Dr Joseph A Tobias
Reader in Biodiversity and Ecosystems
Professor Alfried P Vogler
Professor Alfried P Vogler
Professor of Molecular Systematics