Kor-jent van Dijk

Dr. Kor-jent van Dijk is a Grant-Funded Researcher (A) in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Adelaide, within the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology. His current research focuses on population genetics and evolution of plants, particularly seagrasses, utilizing molecular genetic techniques including traditional and next-generation sequencing (NGS). He leads projects involving Hybrid Capture methods (e.g., OzBaits) to study phylogenetic and phylogeographic relationships in plants. His work also explores applications of environmental DNA (eDNA) and ancient DNA (aDNA) in ecological and conservation studies.

Research Interests: Dr. van Dijk's expertise spans molecular genetics, plant evolution, and conservation biology. Key areas include seagrass genetics, population connectivity, and the development of genomic tools for ecological and forensic applications. His work integrates field studies with advanced molecular techniques to address questions about biodiversity, ecological dynamics, and human impacts on natural systems.

Publications: Dr. van Dijk's recent work emphasizes seagrass genetics, environmental DNA analysis, and phylogenomics. His studies highlight the utility of targeted capture approaches in resolving evolutionary relationships and ecological patterns in both terrestrial and marine systems. Notable contributions include advancements in eDNA methodologies for detecting plant communities and identifying species in complex environments.

Supervision: He is eligible to supervise Masters and PhD students in relevant fields, emphasizing molecular ecology and conservation genetics. His research group collaborates with Prof. Michelle Waycott, focusing on innovative genetic and genomic approaches to address ecological challenges.

Labs/Teams: Dr. van Dijk is part of the Waycott Lab, which specializes in marine and plant genomics, conservation genetics, and ecological applications of molecular technologies. His work contributes to interdisciplinary projects at the University of Adelaide and beyond.