Alexei Maklakov

Alexei Maklakov is a Professor of Evolutionary Biology and Biogerontology at the University of East Anglia, School of Biological Sciences. He is an active faculty member and principal investigator leading a research group focused on the evolution of ageing and life histories. He is affiliated with several research centers, including the Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging, the Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, and the Organisms and the Environment research group.

Research Interests:
His research centers on fundamental questions in evolutionary biology, particularly:

• Why do organisms age?
• Why do males and females exhibit different life histories and lifespans?
• How do trade-offs shape the evolution of ageing?

His lab investigates the evolution of life histories, sexual dimorphism, and conflicts between the sexes, integrating evolutionary theory of ageing with sexual selection theory. Current interests include age-specific nutrient-sensing signaling, transgenerational effects of lifespan extension, and sex differences in ageing. Research is conducted using diverse organisms such as roundworms (C. elegans), beetles, fruit flies, birds, and human population data.

Research Trends:
His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on experimental and theoretical approaches to ageing. Key themes include transgenerational fitness effects, cost-free lifespan extension, and trade-offs between early-life fitness and reproductive ageing. The work combines molecular genetics (e.g., RNAi, gene expression), experimental evolution, and long-term ecological studies, demonstrating a multidisciplinary approach bridging molecular biology and evolutionary ecology.

Scientific Awards:
No specific awards or fellowships are mentioned in the provided text.

Advising and Grants:
Alexei Maklakov is accepting PhD students and actively supervises research. He leads several major externally funded research projects, including:

• Leverhulme Trust: The mechanisms and adaptive value of transgenerational epigenetic effects (2023–2027)
• BBSRC: I see / smell / touch / hear and therefore I am: sex differences in perception alter survival and reproduction (2022–2025)
• NERC: Testing classical and emerging evolutionary theories of ageing in ecologically relevant environments (2022–2025)
• NERC: Understanding the breadth and depth of heatwave damage to reproduction across insect systems (2020–2024)
• BBSRC: The cost of longevity: transgenerational consequences of parental lifespan extension for offspring fitness (2018–2021)

These grants reflect sustained funding and leadership in evolutionary gerontology.

Labs and Teams:
He leads his own research lab, accessible via alexeimaklakov.com. He collaborates closely with researchers such as Professor Tracey Chapman, Dr. Simone Immler, and Dr. Edward Duxbury. He is also a member of the BIO Executive and serves as Director of Research within his school, indicating significant administrative and leadership responsibilities.