ProfessorSimon Ho

Project Opportunities

Title: Molecular Ecology, Evolution, and Phylogenetics

Summary of opportunity:

We supervise research in molecular ecology, molecular evolution, genomics, and phylogenetics

Opportunity synopsis:

Research in the “Molecular Ecology, Evolution, and Phylogenetics” group spans a range of topics and study organisms, including viruses, bacteria, plants, and animals. Our projects can include fieldwork, lab-based research, and computational analysis. Research projects can be designed in conjunction with collaborators from museums and herbaria. We welcome students from a variety of backgrounds, including biologists, medical scientists, and computer scientists. Our facilities include a large molecular laboratory and high-performance computing resources. We use a variety of molecular, genetic, computational, and entomological techniques. 

Project Opportunities

Title: The biological drivers of evolutionary rate variation

Summary of opportunity:

Phylogenomic data provide valuable opportunities for studying evolutionary rates and timescales. These analyses require theoretical and statistical tools based on molecular clocks. This project will use recently developed frameworks for exploring and testing evolutionary rate signals in phylogenomic data. This information will be used to test for drivers of evolutionary rate variation at the genome scale, using whole genome sequences from birds, ruminants, and other organisms. The project has strong potential to provide valuable insights into the biological factors that govern molecular evolution at the genome scale.