Eryn McFarlane

Eryn McFarlane is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at York University, part of the Faculty of Science. Her research focuses on anthropogenic hybridization, combining fieldwork, genetics, and statistical modeling to study hybridization processes in wild animals such as deer in Scotland and deer mice in Canada. She also develops simulation-based approaches to explore evolutionary genetics questions.

Dr. McFarlane holds a postdoctoral background from the University of Wyoming (2021–2023) and the University of Edinburgh (2019–2021). Her work bridges empirical and computational methods, emphasizing the interplay between genetic variation, environmental factors, and hybridization outcomes. She is committed to teaching about genetic variation and its complex interactions with phenotypic traits.

Her research has addressed topics such as locus-specific introgression, metabolic rate in hybrid zones, and the genetic basis of speciation. She collaborates with institutions like Josephine Pemberton’s lab at the University of Edinburgh and Alex Buerkle’s team at the University of Wyoming. Current projects include hybridization between deer mice and white-footed mice in Canada and genomic analyses of hybrid zones.

McFarlane’s publications span evolutionary genetics, conservation biology, and statistical methodology. She has contributed to discussions on postdoctoral mental health and workforce development through collaborative consortia models.