Meet The Team

Daniel is passionate about science, education, and nature. His research group does transdisciplinary research on adaptation and speciation. He focuses on integrating the multiple facets of genetics into a coherent framework to uncover the principles that govern the origins of forms and species. He is currently an ARC Future Fellow.

Candice is an evolutionary physiologist interested in how populations adapt and acclimate to new conditions. She is currently exploring the genetics of adaptive and complex traits. She is testing how network robustness and epistatic interactions modulate, buffer, or accelerate the response to selection. 

Mel works in evolutionary agriculture. She aims to use genomic prediction models to improve horticultural tree crops such as almond, mango, and macadamia. She is investigating the role of haplotypes and deleterious mutations can have in crop breeding. Mel is also using experimental evolution to explore the response to selection over multiple generations.

Maddie is a population geneticist that is exploring the interplay between recombination and natural selection during adaptation and speciation. She uses a system of replicated evolution in her research, and integrates data from development and physiology in her quest to understand how genetic interactions evolve under different selective regimes.

Henry is a student of gametic interactions. He is exploring the forces that drive the evolution of pollen-pistil interactions in plants and its consequences for speciation. He combines quantitative genetics and population genomics to understand pollen competition and cryptic female choice.

Avneet is investigating the genetic architecture of complex adaptations. She uses a combination of quantitative and population genomics to disentangle signals of adaptation from general patterns of divergence. She is using genomic prediction models to explore the replicated evolution of phenotypes.

Zoe is studying correlated responses to selection at the molecular level. She focuses on exploring how genetic networks facilitate cross-talk between signalling pathways and developmental outcomes. Her work centers around the evolution of shoot gravitropism.

Nick is currently exploring the nature of fitness landscapes. He is comparing Fisher's geometric models and Wright's rugged landscapes using population and quantitative genetic models of trait evolution. He is also interested in bringing together systems biology tools into his work.

During his honours year, Stefano will investigate the molecular evolution of hormonal pathways in plants. 

During her honours year, Kath will explore the molecular basis of gravitropism and the role of epistasis in creating phenotypic diversity across ecoptypes

Charles will begin his PhD in January 2023 and will be applying his knowledge in Machine Learning to problems in population divergent genetics of speciation. 

Zhen will begin her PhD in late 2023 and will be working on genome evolution during adaptive raadiation.