Lauren Sumner-Rooney

Dr. Lauren Sumner-Rooney serves as an Emmy Noether Junior Group Leader at the Museum of Natural History, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Research in Berlin, Germany. Previously, she held research positions at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History (2017-2021) and Museum für Naturkunde (2016-2017).

Her academic background includes:

• PhD from Queen's University Belfast (2012-2015) under Dr. Julia Sigwart
• Research Assistant position at Royal Veterinary College, London (2015-2016)

Dr. Sumner-Rooney's research program focuses on the evolution and function of visual systems in invertebrates with multiple eyes, including molluscs, spiders, and echinoderms. She employs an interdisciplinary approach combining digital morphology, neuroethology, evolutionary developmental biology, and comparative phylogenetics to investigate how complex visual systems evolve and function across diverse taxa.

Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on visual system evolution, with particular emphasis on brittle stars, chitons, and spiders. The work integrates anatomical, behavioral, and molecular approaches to understand visual adaptations in challenging environments, including light-limited habitats and those affected by artificial light pollution.

Her significant recognition includes:

• Emmy Noether Junior Group Leader fellowship

Dr. Sumner-Rooney currently co-supervises three PhD students across the University of Bristol and Oxford Brookes University. At Oxford (2017-2021), she served as a Biological Sciences Tutor, teaching ecology, evolution, and animal development, while convening practical sessions in comparative morphology and digital imaging techniques.

She leads the MultiplEye research group which investigates:

• Functional evolution of vision in many-eyed organisms
• Extraocular photoreception mechanisms
• Digital morphology and advanced imaging methods
• Evolutionary pathways of eye loss
• Ecological impacts of artificial light pollution