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School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences

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  1. School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences
  2. About us
  3. Our departments
  4. Biology

Biology

The Biology department at Queen Mary focusses on ecological, evolutionary and developmental processes, at the scale of DNA up to ecosystems. We have particular research strengths in Evolutionary Genetics & Genomics, and in Microbial & Network Ecology, and we teach in these areas at Foundation, BSc, MSc and PhD levels.

Research

 

The research of Biology is embedded within two centres:

Centre for Biodiversity and Sustainability

Centre for Evolutionary and Functional Genomics

Evolutionary and Functional Genomics

We are working to understand the genetic, evolutionary and functional changes that underpin population structure, adaptation, development and behaviour. For this we combine a variety of methodological approaches, from high-throughput sequencing and microscopy to computer modeling.

The impact of our research includes: the conservation management of loggerhead turtles in Cape Verde; the development of policy to reduce the spread of disease in wild plants, especially of ash dieback, acute oak decline and emerald ash borer; the localization of disease hotspots that can be used to target health interventions; and the establishment of a new National Park in Tanzania.

Biodiversity and Sustainability

We study the organisation and function of ecosystems, both in terrestrial and aquatic environments. Our research covers a broad range of scales, from individuals and populations, to communities and global biogeochemical cycles. We employ multi-disciplinary approaches that include metagenomics, mass spectrometry, field ecology and theoretical modeling.

The impact of our research includes: work to measure the effectiveness of Glastir Advanced, a location-targeted, cost-effective sustainable land management scheme in Wales; development of a new UK River Invertebrate Classification Tool (RICT), now being used by the Scottish government to manage sediment pollution, and; the development of Typical Length (TyL) indicator, to underpin an “ecosystem approach” to fisheries management.

 

T&R staff

Name Position Department Research subgroup Interests
Buggs, Prof. Richard Professor of Evolutionary Genomics Biology Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics Tree, Genomics, Ash Dieback, Evolution, Ecology, Genetics
de Mendoza, Dr Alex  Senior Lecturer In Bioinformatics (T&R)  Biology   Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics  Evolution, Genetics, Epigenetics, Comparative Genomics, Molecular Biology, Bioinformatics 
dos Reis Barros, Dr Mario  Senior Lecturer, Nanchang Joint Programme  Biology   Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics  Computational biology, Evolution, Molecular Evolution, Phylogenetics, Population Genetics 
Eizaguirre, Dr Christophe Professor of Evolutionary and Conservation Genetics, Head of Biology Department  Biology Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics Aquatic Ecology, Climate Change, Conservation Genetics, Evolutionary Ecology, Fish, Marine Turtles
Elphick, Prof. Maurice Professor of Physiology and Neuroscience Biology Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics Physiology, Neuroscience, Evolution, Neuropeptide, Echinoderm, Cannabinoid
Eyice-Broadbent, Dr Ozge Senior Lecturer in Molecular Microbial Ecology Biology Microbial and Network Ecology Microbial ecology - Biogeochemistry - Ecosystem function - Microbial diversity
Frantz, Dr Laurent Senior Lecturer in Molecular Genetics/Informatics (on the Nanchang Joint Programme) Biology Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics Evolution, Genetics, Speciation, Domestication
Henry, Dr Lee Senior Lecturer  Biology Microbial and Network Ecology  Bacterial symbiosis, Insect ecology and evolution, Evolutionary genetics, Molecular evolution, Adaptation, Microbial ecology 
Hurd, Dr Paul Reader in Epigenetics Biology Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics Epigenetics, Genetics, Genomics, Phenotype, Environment
Jones, Dr Iwan Head of the River Communities Group Biology Microbial and Network Ecology Freshwater Ecology, Community Structure, Food Webs, Invertabrates, Algae, Plants
Knell, Dr Robert Professor of Evolutionary Ecology Biology Microbial and Network Ecology  Ecology, Evolution, Infectious Disease, Parasite, Immunity, Sexual Selection 
Kratina, Dr Pavel Senior Lecturer in Ecology Biology Microbial and Network Ecology Aquatic Ecology, Food Webs, Climate Change, Ecosystem Function, Conservation, Evolutionary Ecology
Leitch, Prof. Andrew Professor of Plant Genetics, Director of Postgraduate Taught Programmes Biology Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics Polyploidy, Cytogenetics, Plant Genomics, Stoichiogenomics, Nicotiana, Ecology, Evolution
Martin-Duran, Dr Chema  Senior Lecturer in Organismal Biology  Biology Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics  Evolution, Developmental Biology, Animal Development
Nichols, Prof. Richard  Professor of Evolutionary Genetics  Biology Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics  Genetics, Evolution, Virology, Genomics 
Rossberg, Dr Axel  Reader in Theoretical Ecology  Biology Microbial and Network Ecology  Aquatic - ecology - Biodiversity - Community structure - Food webs - Conservation - Spatial patterns - Mathematical models 
Rossiter, Prof. Stephen  Professor in Molecular Ecology and Evolution Biology  Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics  Evolution, Ecology, Genomics, Genetics, Mammals, Bats 
Stollewerk, Dr Angelika  Reader in Evolutionary Developmental Biology  Biology  Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics  Neurobiology, Evolution, Arthropods, Neurogenesis, Neural Precursor Identity 
Trimmer, Prof Mark Professor of Biogeochemistry Biology Microbial and Network Ecology Aquatic Ecology, Climate Change, Stable Isotopes, Ecosystem Function, Marine, Biochemistry
Wurm, Dr Yannick Reader in Evolutionary Genomics and Bioinformatics Biology Evolutionary Genetics and Genomics Ants, Genomics, Evolution, Sociality, Behaviour

T&S staff 

Name Position Department Subgroup Interests
Faulkes, Dr Chris Reader in Evolutionary Ecology, Chair of Biology & Biochemistry Exam Board, SBCS Foundation Programme coordinator Biology T&S Group African Mole-rats, Naked Mole-rat, Social Evolution, Comparative Sociogenomics, Rodent Phylogeography, Social Suppression of Reproduction
Faulkner, Dr Sally Senior Lecturer, Director of Teaching and Learning (DTL) in Biology Biology T&S Group Conservation Biology, Wildlife Crime, Human-wildlife Conflict, The Illegal Wildlife Trade
Hone, Dr David Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director of Education Biology T&S Group Fossils, Paleontology, Ecology, Behaviour, Sexual Selection, Dinosaurs, Pterosaurs, Archosaurs, Predator-Prey Interactions, Body Size
Littlefair, Dr Joanne Lecturer in Biological Sciences Biology T&S Group Bioinformatics, Genetics, Ecology

 

 

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