معرفی
Nick Barton is a Professor and Group Leader at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), where he leads research in evolutionary genetics. He is affiliated with the SFB Polygenic Adaptation at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, reflecting collaborative research networks in Austria. His work bridges theoretical models and empirical data, particularly in hybrid zones and speciation.
- PhD in Genetics, University of East Anglia (1979)
- B.A. in Natural Sciences (Genetics), University of Cambridge (First Class, 1976)
His research interests center on evolutionary genetics, with a focus on hybrid zones, speciation, polygenic adaptation, and quantitative genetics. He uses mathematical models to study selection on large numbers of genes and spatially continuous populations. His long-term field study of Antirrhinum majus in the Spanish Pyrenees integrates genomics, ecology, and pollinator behavior to understand how species diverge. He also investigates theoretical models of recombination, coalescence with selection, and evolutionary computation.
The recent publications reflect a strong trend in genomic analysis of hybrid zones, fitness landscapes, self-incompatibility evolution, and theoretical models of information accumulation in evolution. Many studies combine field data with advanced computational methods like ancestral recombination graphs (ARGs) and population genomic inference.
His scientific awards include:
- Royal Society Darwin Medal (2006)
- Linnean Society Darwin-Wallace Medal (2009)
- ERC Advanced Grants (2009, 2010)
- Erwin Schrödinger Prize (2013)
- Mendel Medal (2013)
- Royal Society/Wolfson Research Merit Award (2005–2010)
Nick Barton has supervised numerous PhD students, including Parvathy Surendranadh, Oluwafunmilola Olusanya, Michal Hledik, and Eniko Edelsbrunner, whose theses cover topics like local adaptation, genetic load, and self-incompatibility. His research has been supported by major grants from the ERC (€1.9M), EPSRC, NERC, BBSRC, and FWF (€399K for Snapdragon speciation). He leads a vibrant research group involving postdocs and PhD students working on speciation, hybridization, and theoretical population genetics. The group conducts annual fieldwork in the Pyrenees, studying snapdragon hybrid zones, and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration with researchers in the UK, France, and Australia.
His lab, the Research Group of Nick Barton, is based at ISTA and includes postdocs like Hilde Schneemann, Daria Shipilina, and Benjamin Wölfl, and PhD students such as Louise Fouqueau and Gemma Puixeu. The group is known for integrating theoretical models with empirical data and for its collaborative, team-oriented approach to evolutionary research.
