Mark D. Scherz is an Associate Professor at the Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen. His work focuses on evolutionary biology, taxonomy, and herpetofauna of Madagascar, integrating molecular and morphological approaches. ERC Starting Grant (GEMINI) for vertebrate miniaturization genomics Co-PI on DFG Taxon-OMICS grant Develops integrative taxonomic methods using micro-CT and museomics Research Interests : Specializes in the evolutionary dynamics of giant pseudo-island systems like Madagascar, investigating macroevolution, convergent evolution, and speciation. Key projects include: Phylogenetic analysis of microhylid and mantellid frogs Comparative osteology of miniaturized vertebrates Biofluorescence mechanisms in geckos and chameleons Biogeographic patterns in Malagasy reptiles/amphibians Publication Trends : Recent work emphasizes cross-disciplinary approaches (2025: skull morphology in snakes; 2024: amphibian genomics) 2021 studies on fluorescence and miniaturization Long-term taxonomic revisions of amphibians (2019-2024) Scientific Awards : ERC Starting Grant (2025) DFG Priority Programme participant (Taxon-OMICS) Collaborations : Works closely with Miguel Vences (Technical University of Braunschweig) and Frank Glaw (Bavarian State Collection of Zoology), focusing on Malagasy amphibians and reptiles.
David Alejandro Duchene Garzon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. His work bridges evolutionary biology with public health, focusing on the application of genomic and computational approaches to understand disease dynamics. Education: PhD in Molecular Evolution, Australian National University (2017) Bachelor of Science with Honours in Marine Biology, James Cook University Queensland (2012) Duchene's research traverses multiple fields including phylogenetic modeling, comparative analysis, biogeography, epidemiology (phylodynamics), and machine learning in public health. His past work has focused on explaining molecular evolution in both animal and pathogen genes using diverse statistical approaches. He connects processes at macro scales (macroevolution, macroecology, phylogeography) with those at micro scales (molecular evolution), addressing fundamental questions about how and why novel living beings and pathogens emerge. Currently, he is exploring the intersection of animal movement (neuroscience), infection (epidemiology), and genomics, particularly in identifying infections in livestock and wildlife using computer vision techniques. His recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on applying genomic approaches to epidemiology and evolutionary biology. These works span diverse topics including infectious disease modeling, molecular clock hypothesis testing, avian genomic evolution, and SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance. His research combines computational methods with biological insights to address complex questions in evolution and public health. Scientific Collaborations: Collaboration with Danish COVID-19 Genome Consortium (DCGC) International collaborations across multiple countries in genomic epidemiology Work with multiple genome-sequencing consortia Duchene has established himself as a key researcher bridging evolutionary biology and public health. His work on molecular evolution provides foundational insights that inform his current epidemiological research. He has developed strong collaborative networks across institutions and countries, particularly in genomic surveillance and evolutionary analysis. His current research direction toward computer vision applications for infection identification in wildlife represents an innovative interdisciplinary approach. Duchene maintains an active research program with significant impact, as evidenced by the broad dissemination of his work across news outlets, social media, and academic platforms. His research has been featured in major scientific journals including Nature and has influenced both academic discourse and public health practice.
Rute Andreia Rodrigues da Fonseca serves as an Associate Professor at the Section for Biodiversity within the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen. Her academic profile demonstrates significant contributions to evolutionary biology, population genomics, and conservation science through her extensive research portfolio of 55 publications spanning journal articles, reviews, and letters. Dr. da Fonseca's research interests encompass population genomics, evolutionary biology, conservation genetics, phylogenetics, ancient DNA analysis, marine biology, and plant genomics. Her work integrates molecular techniques with ecological and historical perspectives to understand biodiversity patterns across diverse taxa. She investigates both contemporary population dynamics and historical evolutionary processes, bridging fundamental science with practical applications in conservation and sustainable agriculture. Her approach combines field studies with advanced genomic analyses to address complex biological questions. Analysis of her publication record reveals a strong methodological focus on genomic approaches applied across diverse biological systems. Her research spans from high-impact studies on avian evolution published in Nature to practical applications in crop improvement for quinoa. She demonstrates particular expertise in analyzing population structure, historical connectivity, and adaptive processes across marine, terrestrial, and agricultural systems. This breadth of research while maintaining scientific rigor characterizes her scholarly contributions. Multiple papers picked up by 21-79 news outlets Research blogged about and widely shared across social media platforms Work on avian evolution in Nature received significant citations (110 in Scopus) and media attention Research referenced in policy sources and Wikipedia pages Dr. da Fonseca maintains an active collaborative network, working with researchers worldwide as evidenced by her multi-author publications with international teams. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the provided text, her extensive publication record suggests successful funding acquisition to support her research program. Her work bridges basic science with practical applications in conservation and agriculture, demonstrating the real-world impact of genomic research. Her research has established connections between historical ecology and contemporary conservation, particularly through her ancient DNA work on marine resources, while also advancing crop improvement through plant genomics research. This dual focus on understanding evolutionary processes and applying genomic knowledge to practical challenges characterizes her comprehensive approach to biodiversity science.
Hannah L. Owens is an Assistant Professor at the Center for Mountain Biodiversity within the Biodiversity Section of the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen. Her work focuses on evolutionary macroecology, integrating biogeography, phylogenetics, and climate change science to understand broad-scale biodiversity patterns across diverse taxonomic groups. Dr. Owens' research spans multiple organisms including fishes, butterflies, birds, plants, frogs, triatomine bugs, and various parasites. She has developed expertise in assembling large datasets from natural history collections and community science observations, with a particular emphasis on creating computational tools for repeatable and transparent geographic data analysis. Her research interests center around understanding how macroevolutionary and macroecological processes interact to generate biodiversity patterns. She is particularly interested in phylogenetic relationships, species distribution modeling, and the impacts of climate change on biodiversity across spatial and temporal scales. Her methodological approach combines large-scale data assembly with innovative analytical frameworks to uncover fundamental patterns in biodiversity. Analysis of her recent publications shows a strong focus on phylogenomic studies of diverse organisms (particularly butterflies and birds), methodological advances in species distribution modeling, and promoting open science practices in ecology and evolution. Her work often involves large international collaborations addressing fundamental questions in biodiversity science. Research Approach: Integration of macroevolutionary and macroecological perspectives Methodological Focus: Development of tools for transparent, repeatable geographic data analysis Taxonomic Expertise: Broad experience across multiple organism groups with fishes as primary focus Dr. Owens maintains an active research program with publications in high-impact journals including Nature Ecology and Evolution, demonstrating her significant contributions to understanding biodiversity patterns and processes. Her work bridges theoretical evolutionary biology with practical applications for conservation and environmental management.
