معرفی
Christopher Wheat is a Professor in the Department of Zoology at Stockholm University, where he leads the Wheat Research Group. His laboratory focuses on ecological and evolutionary genomics to investigate adaptation in natural populations across microevolutionary to macroevolutionary scales.
His research integrates multiple disciplines including molecular biology, population genetics, physiology, biochemistry, ecology, and systematics. Wheat primarily uses butterflies as model organisms due to their central role in ecological and evolutionary theory, with particular emphasis on the Squinting bush brown (Bicyclus anynana) and Colias species. His lab employs diverse methodologies ranging from traditional field techniques like butterfly netting to advanced genomic approaches including CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing.
Wheat's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on lepidopteran genomics, with particular attention to understanding the genetic basis of adaptive traits, life-history strategies, and host plant interactions. His work bridges fundamental evolutionary questions with practical genomic methodologies, contributing significantly to the field of evolutionary genetics.
He actively supervises research interns, Master's students, PhD candidates, and postdoctoral researchers, with numerous opportunities available in his lab. Wheat collaborates extensively through initiatives like LepEU (European Lepidopteran Population Genomics Consortium) and Project Psyche, which provides chromosome-scale reference genomes for diverse butterfly species.
His laboratory maintains strong connections with the 10kLepGenomes COST Action network, facilitating international collaboration and access to field samples from European populations of diverse butterfly species. Wheat regularly writes grants with candidates interested in joining his research group, with flexibility to pursue research interests beyond butterfly systems.
