Angus Davison

Angus Davison is an Associate Professor in Evolutionary Genetics at the University of Nottingham's School of Life Sciences, where he serves as Careers Officer for Biology degrees. His research integrates field studies, genomics, and developmental biology to investigate fundamental evolutionary questions using snails as model systems.

His primary research focuses include:

• Deciphering the molecular basis of left-right asymmetry using Lymnaea stagnalis
• Investigating supergene evolution in Cepaea nemoralis color polymorphism
• Studying adaptive radiation in Japanese Euhadra and Mandarina snails through genomic approaches
• Exploring conservation genetics of mustelids and other taxa

His work leverages cutting-edge DNA sequencing technologies, RAD-seq, and bioinformatics to address questions of chirality determination, speciation mechanisms, and biodiversity origins.

Davison's publication trends reveal strong emphasis on molluscan genomics (47% of recent articles), evolutionary developmental biology (29%), and population genetics (24%). His research increasingly integrates high-throughput sequencing with field-based ecological studies, particularly in Japanese island systems. Notable projects include the molecular characterization of Jeremy the snail's left-coiling mutation and genomic investigations of Cepaea's supergene architecture.

Davison actively supervises PhD and Master's students, with documented advisees including Paul Richards (PhD), Harriet Johnson (PhD), and Nebis Navarro (MRes). His lab receives primary funding from BBSRC, with additional support from The Royal Society, JSPS, and the Daiwa Foundation. Key collaborations include Professor Mark Blaxter (University of Edinburgh) for bioinformatics and Professor Satoshi Chiba (Tohoku University) for Japanese field studies.

The lab maintains strong field research components in Japan's Ogasawara Islands and the UK, utilizing both laboratory and natural population studies. Current projects include BBSRC-funded investigations into snail chirality determination mechanisms and adaptive radiation genomics, with emphasis on applying new sequencing technologies to long-standing evolutionary questions.