Thomas Reed

Thomas Reed is a Senior Lecturer in Zoology at the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. He holds a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Edinburgh and has held academic roles since 2015, including College Lecturer at UCC and Research Fellow at BEES. His research focuses on evolutionary ecology, particularly how organisms adapt to human-influenced environments, with a focus on fish (Atlantic salmon, Pacific salmon, trout) and birds (woodland songbirds, seabirds). His work integrates field experiments, genetics, and modeling to study life history evolution and population dynamics.

Education:

• BSc Environmental Science (Hons), National University of Ireland, Galway (1998–2002)
• PhD in Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, UK (2004–2007)

Research Interests: His projects include studying reverse-domestication in Atlantic salmon, genetic introgression from farmed salmon, and migratory tactics in brown trout. He explores climate change impacts on marine vertebrates and malaria vector ecology. Recent grants include funding from the Marine Institute, Department of Agriculture, and Horizon 2020.

Articles Trends: Recent work emphasizes genetic and environmental drivers of migration, climate adaptation in fish populations, and genomic approaches to marine species forecasting. Key themes include evolutionary responses to human pressures and ecological stressor interactions.

Awards:

• 2019: Highly Commended Mid-Career Researcher Award (Irish Ecological Association)
• 2016: UCC Early Stage Researcher of the Year

Advising & Grants: Supervises doctoral students in evolutionary ecology. Secured grants totaling over €2.5M, including studies on salmon genetics and climate impacts. Collaborates with institutions like NOAA, University of Washington, and the Netherlands Institute of Ecology.

Labs/Teams: Active in BEES research groups on aquatic conservation and evolutionary genetics, working closely with collaborators such as Prof. Marcel Visser and Dr. Phillip McGinnity.