Adaptation
Adaptation is the 'fit' between organisms and their environment.
Yet, we know surprisingly little about how adaptations evolve because they are constructed from beneficial mutations, which are often very rare and difficult to study. Our work uses genomics to find the genetic changes that cause adaptation and test competing theories about how adaptations evolve, including the contribution of so-called 'silent' mutations (those that don't change the protein) to this process.
Diversification
We study the factors that drive evolutionary diversification.
Diversification occurs when a single population becomes differentiated into two or more recognizably distinct populations or species. We study the ecological and genetic factors that drive this process and how they interact to determine the rate and extent of evolutionary diversification.
Application
The real impact of our fundamental research
We strive to ensure that our fundamental research has real impact on the lives and well being of others. We have ongoing research programs on the genetics of chronic infection in cystic fibrosis, the evolution and spread of antibiotic resistance, and the prevalence of microbial pathogens, including viruses and antibiotic resistant bacteria, in the built environment.