Nick Barton

Nick Barton is a Professor at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), specializing in evolutionary genetics. He leads the Barton Group, focusing on mathematical models of evolution, including speciation, adaptation, and hybrid zones. His research combines theoretical approaches with empirical studies, such as the long-term analysis of snapdragon hybrid zones in the Pyrenees. Barton has held academic roles since 1980, including Dean of the ISTA Graduate School (2015–2021) and Professorships at the University of Edinburgh and University College London. His work has earned prestigious awards, including membership in the US National Academy of Sciences and the Erwin Schrödinger Prize. He advises numerous PhD students and postdocs, and his lab collaborates on projects like the 'HaplotypeStructure' ERC grant.

• Education: PhD in Genetics from the University of East Anglia (1979), B.A. in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University (1976).
• Research: Evolutionary dynamics, spatial population genetics, and quantitative trait evolution. Key areas include speciation mechanisms, polygenic adaptation, and inferring selection from genetic data.
• Awards: Over 20 major honors, including ERC grants and medals from the Royal Society and Leopoldina.
• Grants: Extensive funding from NERC, ERC, and others for projects on genealogies, hybrid zones, and genome evolution.

His lab actively engages in fieldwork, particularly in the Spanish Pyrenees, and maintains collaborations across disciplines, linking mathematical models with empirical data to advance evolutionary theory.