Bruce A. Hay is a Professor of Biology at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), affiliated with the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering. He earned his B.A. from Claremont McKenna College (1982) and Ph.D. from the University of California, San Francisco (1989). His research focuses on genetic engineering, mitochondrial quality control, and applied evolutionary biology. Key projects include developing gene drives for population modification (e.g., mosquitoes, citrus psyllids), engineering mitochondrial DNA repair mechanisms, and creating lifetime contraceptives for mammals. Research Themes: Genetic engineering, neurodegenerative diseases, population control, and biotechnology applications. Collaborations: Works with Ming Guo (UCLA Neurology) on mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer’s/Parkinson’s disease. Lab Activities: The Hay Lab develops technologies like vectored contraception (VC) and Cleave and Rescue gene drives for ecological and biomedical applications. Recent work includes a 2024 Nature Plants study on plant gene drives and a 2022 PNAS publication on population elimination strategies for conservation. He also pioneered the SKIES learning system to enhance student engagement and co-founded the Community Science Academy (CSA@Caltech) to advance accessible science education. Grants: Principal Investigator on a Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation grant (2014-2015) supporting high school science initiatives and portable molecular sensors.
Paul Rainey is a Professor and Director of the Department of Microbial Population Biology at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön, Germany. He also serves as Professor at ESPCI Paris and holds an adjunct position at the New Zealand Institute for Advanced Study (NZIAS). His research spans microbial evolution, ecological scaffolding, and biophysics, supported by the Max Planck Society and collaborations across institutions. University of Canterbury – BSc, MSc, PhD Paul's research focuses on experimental evolution, ecological complexity, and the emergence of individuality in microbial systems. Recent work explores evolutionary rescue, biophysical mechanisms of surface colonization, and the interplay between ecological and genetic factors in adaptation. His publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches, merging microbial ecology with theoretical frameworks for evolutionary transitions. Key themes include stochastic phenotype switching, genome streamlining, and the role of environmental structure in shaping evolutionary trajectories. Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand Member of EMBO Paul leads the Laboratory for Evolutionary Genetics at ESPCI Paris and collaborates with institutions like Kiel University and the CRC 1182. His work addresses microbial community dynamics, evolutionary medicine, and the broader implications of eco-evolutionary feedback in biological systems.
Cock van Oosterhout is a Professor of Evolutionary Genetics at the University of East Anglia (UEA), UK. He is Deputy Director of the Earth and Life Systems Alliance (ELSA) and a member of the Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation. His academic journey includes a PhD from Leiden University (Netherlands) and postdoctoral work at the University of Hull (UK). He has held roles from Post-doc to Reader before becoming a Professor in 2015. Research Interests: Evolutionary and population genetics of birds, fish, insects, plants, fungi, and oomycetes; recombination, hybridization, and introgression in genomics; immune gene evolution (MHC); software development (e.g., Micro-Checker, Hybrid-Check, Gyro-Scope). Recent Projects: Conservation genomics of endangered birds (Royal Society-funded). Pesticide-resistance gene evolution in aphids (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council). Adaptive evolution in polar diatoms (Leverhulme Trust). Teaching & Supervision: Teaches modules in Ecological Modelling and Evolutionary Biology. Supervises UG/MSc/PhD students in computational modelling and bioinformatics. Collaborates on marine biology projects in Tobago. Labs/Teams: Leads research at Norwich Research Park, collaborating with institutions in the UK and globally. Active in conservation initiatives for species like the pink pigeon and Mauritius birds.
Henrik Jensen is a Senior Research Investigator in the Department of Mathematics at Imperial College London's Faculty of Natural Sciences. His work spans applied mathematics, mathematical physics, and interdisciplinary complexity science. He holds affiliations with the CFM-Imperial Institute of Quantitative Finance, Centre for Complexity Science, and the Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet. His research focuses on emergent phenomena in systems ranging from biological populations to financial networks. Notable contributions include studies on metapopulation dynamics, epigenetic regulation in birds, and information-theoretic approaches to complex systems. Dr. Jensen has presented globally at conferences like the Brazilian Meeting of Condensed Matter Physics and the Complex 2012 conference. His expertise bridges theoretical frameworks with empirical data, particularly in evolutionary ecology and climate modeling. His current work explores multi-generational fitness effects, genomic prediction in wild populations, and the interplay between environment and genetic architecture. He has pioneered methodologies for analyzing cosmological data using group entropies and developed computational tools for genetic assignment in metapopulations. His lab integrates mathematical modeling with field studies to address challenges in conservation biology and systems biology. While no formal students are listed, his collaborative approach has generated extensive interdisciplinary publications.
Gregory L. Owens is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Victoria. He leads the Owens Lab, which specializes in evolutionary genomics and conservation biology research focusing on sunflowers, kelp, and rockfish. His work integrates genomic approaches with ecological and evolutionary questions to understand adaptation and speciation processes. Dr. Owens completed his MSc in Biology at the University of Victoria studying opsin gene expression in the four-eyed fish Anableps anableps . He then earned a PhD in Botany from the University of British Columbia, where he used genomics to study hybridization in sunflowers. Following this, he received the prestigious Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship to work on structural variation in sunflowers at the University of California, Berkeley. His research spans several key areas of evolutionary genomics. In sunflower research, he investigates the genomic basis of adaptation and speciation, with particular interest in hybridization, introgression, and the role of chromosomal inversions in adaptation. His lab has demonstrated that introgression is common between multiple sunflower species and that inversions play a crucial role in adaptation. In marine systems, his lab works with the Kelp Rescue Initiative to build genomic resources for kelp conservation, including chromosome-scale genomes for Macrocystis and Nereocystis . Additionally, his lab develops genomic resources for rockfish species to explore population connectivity, adaptation across latitudinal gradients, and the genetic basis of extreme lifespans. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on structural genomic variation, particularly inversions, and their role in adaptation across diverse systems. His work demonstrates how chromosomal rearrangements facilitate parallel evolution and adaptation to environmental challenges. His research spans both plant and marine systems, showing remarkable versatility in applying genomic approaches to fundamental evolutionary questions. His scientific accomplishments include the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship. His publications appear in high-impact journals including Nature , Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , Molecular Biology and Evolution , and Current Biology . Dr. Owens actively mentors students at various levels. His current lab includes Martin Liu (MSc student studying population genomics of a rare endemic Lupine species) and Jordan Bemmels (Postdoctoral Researcher studying population genetic structure in British Columbia kelp species). His former students include Kaede Hirabayashi (now Research Associate at UBC), Nathan Sykes (MSc), Koa Planedin (Honours), and Sara Wuitchick (now Assistant Professor at Mount Royal University). He has also supervised numerous directed studies students and undergraduate research associates. The Owens Lab maintains active collaborations with the Rieseberg Lab at UBC and participates in the Kelp Rescue Initiative. His lab combines field work, genomic analyses, and computational approaches to address fundamental questions in evolutionary biology and conservation genomics.
Ilkka Kronholm is an Associate Professor in evolutionary biology at the University of Jyväskylä, affiliated with the Department of Biological and Environmental Science under the Faculty of Mathematics and Science. His research focuses on understanding how genetic and epigenetic variation drives evolutionary adaptation in response to environmental changes. Key areas include epigenetic modifications, chromatin structure impacts on mutation rates, and experimental evolution using microbial systems. Recent work emphasizes the role of epigenetics in microbial adaptation to fluctuating temperatures and stress conditions. Collaborative projects include analyzing fungal growth dynamics via microfluidics and exploring the evolutionary consequences of prophage activation in bacterial pathogens. Kronholm's lab utilizes genomic, bioinformatic, and quantitative genetics approaches to bridge mechanistic and evolutionary questions. Publications highlight themes like epigenetic regulation of antimicrobial resistance, transgenerational effects in fungi, and the interplay between mutation spectra and chromatin architecture. His work contributes to theoretical frameworks linking short-term phenotypic plasticity with long-term evolutionary trajectories.
Professor Vicki Friesen is a faculty member in the Department of Biology at Queen's University, part of the Faculty of Arts and Science. Her research focuses on evolutionary and conservation genetics, particularly in seabirds, aiming to understand mechanisms of biodiversity generation and conservation applications. She holds a cross-appointment in the School of Environmental Studies. Her research interests include evolutionary genetics, conservation genetics, biodiversity origins, and the impacts of climate change on seabird populations. She uses next-generation sequencing to study local adaptation and genetic diversity in species such as seabirds, passerines, and fish. Education: Though not explicitly detailed here, her academic roles suggest advanced training in biology or genetics. Labs/Teams: Leads the Friesen Lab, focusing on Arctic ecology and conservation genomics. Advising: Supervises numerous graduate and undergraduate students in topics like migratory mechanisms, conservation genomics, and immunology. Her work emphasizes the application of genetic tools to conservation challenges, such as delineating conservation units and understanding hybridization dynamics in threatened species.
Michael Hochberg is a Distinguished Research Director at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) in France, with affiliations including External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute and Section Head at the Faculty of 1000. His career spans over 100 publications and significant contributions to evolutionary biology and ecology. Key roles: External Professor (Santa Fe Institute), Founding Editor of Ecology Letters , Associate Editor at Science Advances Research focuses on cancer evolution, phage therapy, social evolution, and host-parasite coevolution. Received the CNRS Silver Medal (1997) and grants from ANR, INCA, and the McDonnell Foundation. Trained over 50 Masters and PhD students and supervised 10 postdoctoral researchers. Recent work includes ecological modeling of cancer therapy resistance and phage-bacteria networks.
Anders Bergström is a Lecturer at the University of East Anglia's School of Biological Sciences and a member of the Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation. His research focuses on evolutionary history using ancient DNA, analyzing genetic diversity in species like red foxes, red squirrels, dogs/wolves, and humans. Key projects include studying urban fox adaptations and red squirrel genetic rescue efforts, funded by the Royal Society and Leverhulme Trust. He leads the Philip Leverhulme Prize-winning research program in Biological Sciences (2023). His work combines archaeology, genomics, and ecology to unravel species’ histories, with high-impact publications in Nature and Science. Notable contributions include resolving canine ancestry, human migration patterns, and ancient plague research. Collaborations span global institutions, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach to evolutionary biology. Current projects address genetic decline in red squirrels and urban environmental adaptations. He actively supervises PhD students through Doctoral Training Partnerships, emphasizing genetic rescue strategies and genomic conservation. Awards include the Philip Leverhulme Prize (2023), recognized across 123 news outlets and 285 Mendeley readers. His lab integrates ancient DNA analysis with modern genomic tools to address ecological and anthropological questions, bridging past and present biological systems.
Dr. Lyanne Brouwer is a researcher at James Cook University's College of Science and Engineering, specializing in Zoology and Ecology. Her work focuses on avian behavior, evolutionary strategies, and ecological impacts of environmental change. Academic Rank: Researcher Institution: James Cook University Dr. Brouwer's research spans ornithology , evolutionary biology , and ecology , with particular emphasis on cooperative breeding systems, parental investment, and climate change effects on bird populations. Her recent publications explore topics such as sex-ratio biases, paternity assurance mechanisms, and vocal communication in fairy-wrens. Scientific trends in her work include urban ecology (analyzing anthropogenic impacts), climate sensitivity (meta-analyzing global avian responses), and behavioral innovation (studying prenatal learning and rescue behaviors). She contributes to computational biology through tools like the HIPHOP R package for parentage analysis. Dr. Brouwer investigates ecological constraints in tropical coastal ecosystems and integrates fitness components across generations in cooperatively breeding species. Her work combines field studies with statistical modeling to understand population viability under environmental stressors.
Dr. Peter Arcese is the FRBC Chair of Applied Conservation Biology and co-Director of the Centre for Applied Conservation Research in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of British Columbia. His research focuses on ecology and evolution of small populations, conservation biology, and human impacts on ecosystems. He has led long-term studies on song sparrows and other species, emphasizing population genetics, inbreeding effects, and invasive species management. With over 100 publications and 28 graduate students, his work bridges theoretical and applied conservation, addressing biodiversity loss and reserve design. Education: PhD in Zoology (UBC), postdoctoral work in Tanzania. Awards include NSF Young Investigator Award and Fellowship in the American Ornithologists Union. Active in global conservation initiatives, including Andean bear conservation and Garry Oak ecosystem restoration. His lab develops tools like the prioritizr R package for conservation prioritization. Key contributions include documenting human-driven ecosystem changes, designing nature reserves, and guiding policy through empirical research. Collaborations span institutions like The Nature Trust of BC and international conservation groups. Current projects address climate adaptation, genetic rescue in small populations, and urban biodiversity challenges.
Hendrik-Jan Megens is an Assistant Professor in Animal Breeding and Genetics at Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Netherlands, affiliated with the Wageningen Institute for Advanced Studies (WIAS). His dr.ir. title reflects a Dutch engineering doctorate, and he maintains an active research profile with over 200 publications and 51 datasets. His work integrates genomic analysis with conservation and aquaculture applications across vertebrate species. Research interests focus on: Genomic consequences of inbreeding in fragmented populations Environmental adaptation mechanisms in aquaculture species Structural variants in chromosome evolution Functional annotation of deleterious mutations Epigenetic regulation in reproductive transitions Genotype-environment interactions in growth traits Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal dual expertise in wildlife conservation (European wild boar, sharks) and aquaculture genomics (tilapia, seabream, oysters). Key trends include application of long-read sequencing (Pore-C) for structural variant detection, pCADD-based prioritization of causal mutations, and investigation of polyploidy effects in teleost fish. His work bridges fundamental evolutionary questions with practical breeding challenges. Megens has co-supervised 12 research projects including five PhD candidates: S. Ousley: Super corals project (reef restoration genomics) G. Kuguru: Black tipped reef shark diversity (Maldives) A. Blasweiler: AquaFAANG (fish health immunology) X. Yu: Nile tilapia adaptation architecture H. van Kruistum: Livebearing fish reproductive genomics He leads projects on genomic tools development (pCADD) and contributes to international consortia like the European Reference Genome Atlas. His team collaborates across WUR's Animal Breeding and Genetics group, focusing on translating genomic findings into conservation strategies and sustainable aquaculture practices through field studies and computational pipelines.
Bahar Haghighat is a Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Robotics and Automation at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen. She leads the Distributed Autonomous Intelligent Systems (DAISY) Lab as Principal Investigator and contributes to academic governance as a Member of the Faculty Council. Her professional affiliations include the Royal Netherlands Institute of Engineers (KIVI), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and editorial roles with Nature Portfolio Journal Robotics and Springer Nature Journal Autonomous Robots. Her educational background includes: PhD in Robotics, Control, and Intelligent Systems from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland (2018) Master's degree in Electrical Engineering/Digital Electronics from Sharif University of Technology (SUT), Tehran, Iran Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering/Physics (double major) from Sharif University of Technology (SUT), Tehran, Iran Dr. Haghighat's research focuses on building novel miniaturized robotic swarms and algorithmic frameworks for sensing, surveying, and inspection applications. Her work spans mechatronics, electronics, embedded systems, embedded artificial intelligence and machine learning, and distributed systems. She envisions developing surface, aquatic, and aerial miniaturized robot swarms and small-scale intelligent devices for basic research and commercial applications including inspection of complex structures, environmental monitoring, space exploration, and search-and-rescue operations. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on swarm robotics, particularly using particle swarm optimization techniques for multi-robot coordination, surface inspection tasks, and spacecraft hull inspection. Her research shows an interdisciplinary approach combining mechatronic design with advanced algorithms for self-assembly and collective decision-making in resource-constrained robotic systems. Her notable scientific achievements include: EPFL's PhD research award of Gilbert Hausmann for the best PhD thesis in mechanical engineering, electricity, and physics (2019) EPFL distinction of excellence for a PhD thesis in Robotics, Control, and Intelligent Systems (2018) Swiss National Science Foundation Postdoc Mobility Fellowship (2019) Swiss National Science Foundation Early Postdoc Mobility Fellowship (2017) Third place in EPFL's "My Thesis in 180 Seconds" competition (2017) EECS Rising Star recognition (2021 at MIT and 2019 at UIUC) Dr. Haghighat has served as Program Co-Chair for The International Symposium on Distributed Autonomous Robotic Systems (DARS) and has held visiting scholar positions at MIT and Harvard University. Her research has received media attention for applications in Mars rover technology and drone swarms for defect detection. She leads the DAISY Lab, which focuses on distributed autonomous intelligent systems for various inspection and monitoring applications.
Dr Anke Frank is a Lecturer in Ecology at Charles Sturt University's School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences. She holds a PhD in Terrestrial Ecology from the University of Sydney (2010) and a teaching qualification from the University of Bonn. Her research focuses on predator-prey dynamics, introduced species impacts, and Indigenous-led 'right-way science' collaborations with the Budjiti people of Paroo River Country. She collaborates internationally through the Centre for Australian Studies (University of Cologne). Research Interests: Ecological impacts of invasive species Chemical ecology and predator-prey interactions Biodiversity conservation in dryland ecosystems Indigenous knowledge integration in ecological management Pathogen roles in wildlife ecosystems Teaching: Engages undergraduate/graduate students in ecology, conservation, and environmental statistics across multiple universities. Specializes in experiential learning through fieldwork and community events like International Bat Night. Collaborations: Works with global institutions (e.g., Leibniz Association, IPBES) to address UN Sustainability Goals and biodiversity targets. Active in cross-disciplinary initiatives like DroughtNet and Biodesert projects in South Africa. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with Dr. Greg Doran (fox scent research) and Assoc. Prof. Andrew Peters (wildlife disease ecology). Leads right-way science initiatives with Budjiti elders and CAS partners.
Robby Stoks is a Professor and Head of the Division of Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology at KU Leuven's Faculty of Science. His research integrates global change ecology, evolutionary ecology, and ecotoxicology to understand how natural populations cope with environmental challenges. Based in Leuven, Belgium, his laboratory focuses on aquatic invertebrates as model systems to study responses to rapid planetary changes. Stoks' research interests center on the intersection of global change ecology, evolutionary responses, and ecotoxicology. His work particularly examines how aquatic invertebrates navigate environmental stressors through the lens of environmental gradients and range expansions. He employs diverse methodologies including field monitoring, ecophysiology, predator-prey interaction studies, gut microbiome analyses, and various omics techniques to unravel complex ecological dynamics. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on microbiome-ecology interactions, particularly how gut microbiomes influence stress responses in damselflies and Daphnia. A clear pattern emerges showing how environmental stressors like pesticides, warming, and invasive species interact in complex ways, with microbiome composition often mediating these responses. His work increasingly addresses multistressor frameworks, demonstrating how evolutionary adaptations to one stressor (like heat tolerance) can be compromised by exposure to pollutants. Stoks leads the Laboratory of Evolutionary Stress Ecology and Ecotoxicology, which conducts research on environmental gradients, range expansions, and stressor interactions. His team's approach combines field-based natural experiments with controlled laboratory studies to understand both immediate and evolutionary responses to environmental change. Current projects appear to focus on microbiome-mediated stress responses, multistressor interactions, and the ecological consequences of body size reductions under warming.
