Simon Aeschbacher

Simon Aeschbacher is an Independent Research Fellow at the Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich. His work bridges mathematical theory, computational methods, and genomic data to address fundamental questions in evolutionary biology.

His educational background includes:

• M.Sc. in Zoology (2007) and undergraduate studies (2001-2003) at University of Zurich
• Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology (2008-2011) at University of Edinburgh/IST Austria under Nick Barton
• Postdoctoral positions at University of Vienna (2011-2013), UC Davis (2014-2016), and University of Bern (2017)

Aeschbacher's research centers on population genomics, specializing in the interplay between gene flow, natural selection, and recombination. His work combines mathematical modeling with genomic analyses to investigate local adaptation, speciation, and human evolutionary history. Key contributions include developing methods for demographic inference and quantifying selection against gene flow.

His publication record shows a clear trajectory from theoretical foundations (early work on linkage effects) to applied genomic methodologies (recent development of gIMble for barrier detection). Current research emphasizes human evolution, plant speciation, and hybridization dynamics across diverse taxa.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Swiss NSF Advanced Postdoc.Mobility Fellowship

While not explicitly mentioned in the text, his role as Independent Research Fellow implies grant leadership and potential mentoring responsibilities. His work with multiple international collaborators suggests active participation in research networks across Europe and North America.