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
Reader in Molecular Genetics
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
Visiting Reader
Dr Lauren J Cator

Dr Lauren J Cator
Senior Lecturer
Dr Magda Charalambous
Dr Magda Charalambous
Principal Teaching Fellow
Dr Ste Cook

Dr Ste Cook
Principal Teaching Fellow
Professor Matthew Fisher

Professor Matthew Fisher
Professor of Fungal Disease Epidemiology
Dr Matteo Fumagalli

Dr Matteo Fumagalli
Visiting Researcher
Dr Audrey J Geffen

Dr Audrey J Geffen
Senior Strategic Teaching Fellow
Dr Richard J Gill

Dr Richard J Gill
Senior Lecturer
Dr Peter Graystock

Dr Peter Graystock
Lecturer in Human and Animal Health
Dr Vassiliki Koufopanou

Dr Vassiliki Koufopanou
Research Fellow in Evolutionary Genetics
Professor Armand M Leroi

Professor Armand M Leroi
Professor of Evolutionary Developmental Biology
Dr Will Pearse

Dr Will Pearse
Reader in Evolutionary Ecology
Professor Andy Purvis
Professor Andy Purvis
Research Investigator
Professor James L Rosindell

Professor James L Rosindell
Professor of Biodiversity Theory
Professor Vincent Savolainen

Professor Vincent Savolainen
Professor of Organismic Biology
Dr Julia Schroeder
Dr Julia Schroeder
Senior Lecturer
Professor Joseph A Tobias

Professor Joseph A Tobias
Professor of Biodiversity & Ecosystems
Dr Michael Tristem

Dr Michael Tristem
Principal Teaching Fellow
Dr Marco Trizzino

Dr Marco Trizzino
Senior Lecturer in Developmental Genomics
Professor Alfried P Vogler

Professor Alfried P Vogler
Professor of Molecular Systematics