Honours project opportunity: Human evolution
We are seeking a motivated undergraduate Honours student to undertake a project that will examine the deep mitochondrial ancestry of modern humans. This project is suitable for students majoring in Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, or Genetics and Genetics at the University of Sydney. Refining the root region of the human mitochondrial evolutionary tree Supervisor: …
Fairy wrasses and fairy tales!
The fairy wrasses are a captivating and diverse group of fishes found throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans. A study led by MEEP Lab PhD student Yi-Kai Tea has resolved the evolutionary relationships among fairy wrasses. By analysing a data set comprising nearly 1000 genetic markers, Kai reconstructed the evolutionary history and patterns of diversification …
Two PhD completions in the MEEP Lab
Two members of the MEEP Lab, Cara Van Der Wal and Kyle Ewart, completed their doctoral studies in the first half of 2020. Congratulations to both Cara and Kyle! Cara Van Der Wal was awarded a PhD for her work on the evolution and phylogeny of crustaceans, specifically mantis shrimp and crayfish. Some of her …
MEEP PhD student profiled in Australian Geographic
Perry Beasley-Hall, a PhD student in the MEEP Lab, is one of four Aussie women working in entomology profiled in Australian Geographic. She was interviewed to discuss perceptions of entomology as a male-dominated field and how these might be dispelled to encourage more female students to study insects. Her fascination with Australian native cockroaches is also described in …
Solving the mystery of the Australian Museum’s moa
An undergraduate scholar hosted by the MEEP Lab, Eugene Kwok, spent six weeks investigating a mysterious moa specimen that was found hanging in a locker in the Australian Museum. Hosted by the MEEP Lab, Eugene worked in collaboration with researchers at the museum to establish the identity of the fossil moa. Eugene was funded by …
Three MEEP students receive their PhDs
Three students from the MEEP Lab have been awarded their doctorates in the past few weeks. Andrew Ritchie was awarded a PhD for his thesis “Evaluating the performance of diversification models for reconstructing evolutionary history”. Chapters of the thesis have been published in Organisms Diversity & Evolution and in Systematic Biology. Andrew is about to commence a postdoctoral research …
PhD student Jun Tong delivers Scholar’s Address
MEEP PhD candidate Jun Tong delivered the Scholar’s Address at the recent Faculty of Science Awards ceremony at the University of Sydney. Jun’s address, delivered to an audience of high-achieving students, their parents, distinguished alumni, and staff, concerned the importance of scientific research and scholarship. The Faculty of Science Awards ceremony is held annually, with …
Theses from two PhD students
Two students from the MEEP lab, Martyna Molak and Luana Lins, recently completed their doctoral work. Martyna was awarded her PhD for her thesis entitled “Evolutionary Analysis of Ancient DNA Sequences”. Luana Lins recently submitted her PhD thesis on the evolution and diversity of isopod crustaceans. Both theses included chapters that had been published as …
Genetics Society of Australasia Conference 2014
Eight members of the MEEP laboratory attended the Genetics Society of Australasia Conference, held at the University of Sydney 6-11 July. A/Prof. Simon Ho, Sebastian Duchene, Daej Arab, Frank Jia, Charles Foster, Jun Tong, and Andrew Ritchie gave talks about their research. Jun Tong received a Student Talk Prize Honourable Mention for his presentation. Sebastian …
Genetics Society of Australasia Conference 2013
Members of the MEEP Lab presented 4 talks and 5 posters at the Genetics Society of Australasia Conference 2013 (July 14–17), held at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. The conference was attended by about 250 researchers and students. Two PhD students from MEEP won prizes at the conference. Sebastian Duchene won a …