Queen Mary University of London Postdoctoral Fellow recognised for work on butterfly development

Winners of this year’s L’Oréal UNESCO For Women In Science Awards, which took place on 18th March in the House of Commons.

This program supports exceptional early-career women scientists in the UK and Ireland. 

Dr Seudre's research focuses on the developmental mechanisms underlying phenotypic plasticity in tropical butterflies. Phenotypic plasticity, the expression of multiple phenotypes from one genome, allows organisms to adjust their physical characteristics in response to environmental factors. Dr Seudre's work aims to uncover how butterflies evolved this adaptation, with a long-term goal of integrating epigenetic mechanisms into our understanding of resilience in changing ecosystems. 

She said: "I am honoured to be recognised by L'Oréal UNESCO for my research. Understanding how butterflies adapt to their environment is not only fascinating but is also crucial for our understanding of how species respond to climate change. The flexibility of this award represents a rare opportunity for transformation, extending beyond enhancing my career prospects and fostering a healthier work-life balance as a mother to also build trust among the public and the research community.”