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Research group

Ecology and Evolution

Reddish butterfly on yellow flower surrounded by green.

Our research focuses on adaptations to changing environments, including the responses of organisms to stress factors brought about by environmental change at physiological, population and community levels.

Part of Biological sciences

About

We are addressing current and future issues of global significance such as:

  • adaptations to changing environments 
  • sustainable use of natural resources including energy 
  • food and water security
  • biodiversity conservation 

 
Our research works across a variety of scales: 

  • from molecules to whole organisms 
  • populations
  • communities
  • landscapes 

 
We use and combine expertise from: 

  • ecological and evolutionary processes
  • conservation science
  • genetics
  • modern analytical approaches for big data 

Research highlights

An artist's impression of two bipedal carnivorous dinosaurs fighting over a successful hunt.

Describing new dinosaur species

Culture and creativity
Environment, sustainability and clean growth
PhD student Chris Barker, Dr Neil Gostling and his team have described three species of dinosaur previously unknown to science, from bones found on the Isle of Wight.

Securing food for the future

Environment, sustainability and clean growth
Health and wellbeing
Future societies and communities
Our researchers are finding ways to provide food security for the future.
Read more

People, projects and publications

People

Dr Jan Janouskovec PhD

Lecturer in Ecology

Research interests

  • Marine phytoplankton and parasites
  • Symbiotic interactions
  • Biodiversity, evolution, genomics

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Jan

Email: J.Janouskovec@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 2380 590 258

Google Scholar
ORCID

Dr Jeff Thompson

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • Evolution of animal body plans
  • Macroevolution
  • Molecular Palaeobiology

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Jeff

Email: J.R.Thompson@soton.ac.uk

ORCID

Dr Jorn Cheney

Lecturer in Natural Sciences

Research interests

  • Locomotion
  • Wing morphing
  • Tissues and tissue mechanics

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Jorn

Email: J.Cheney@soton.ac.uk

ORCID

Dr Kelvin Peh

Assoc Professor of Conservation Science

Research interests

  • Kelvin Peh’s interests range from forest ecology to urban wildlife in respect of diversity an…
  • Tropical Forest Ecology – Kelvin’s work on monodominance in tropical tree-dominated systems -…
  • Ecosystem Services – Kelvin is best known for his leading role in the development of TESSA (T…

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Kelvin

Email: K.Peh@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 4367

ORCID

Dr Lex Kraaijeveld

Principal Teaching Fellow
Connect with Lex

Email: A.R.Kraaijeveld@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 3436

ORCID

Dr Luis Yanez-Guerra

Lecturer in Pharmacology

Research interests

  • Evolution of the nervous system (non-bilaterian animals_
  • Pharmacology
  • Receptor deorphanisation (GPCRs)

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Luis

Email: L.A.Yanez-Guerra@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 7521167566

ORCID

Professor Mark Chapman

Professor

Research interests

  • Novel and Underutilised Crops (NUCs) for climate change resilience and food security
  • The genomic bases of speciation and hybridisation
  • Domestication genomics

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Mark

Email: M.Chapman@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 4396

ORCID

Dr Neil J. Gostling BSc PhD FLS

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Palaeobiology
  • Molecular Biology

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Neil J.

Email: N.J.Gostling@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 8141

Google Scholar
ORCID
LinkedIn
Twitter

Professor Patrick Doncaster

Professor of Ecology

Research interests

  • Population ecology 
  • Conservation management of forest and freshwater lake ecosystems
  • Conservation technology and tools for data analysis
Connect with Patrick

Email: cpd@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 4352

ORCID

Dr Robert Holland

Lecturer in Natural Sciences

Accepting applications from PhD students

Connect with Robert

Email: R.A.Holland@soton.ac.uk

Tel: +44 23 8059 4387

ORCID
Lex Kraaijeveld
Principal Teaching Fellow
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I am interested in the interplay between ecological and evolutionary processes, specifically in the interaction between insects and their parasites or pathogens.