Staff profile

I completed my BSc in Evolutionary Biology at Edinburgh University. Following my undergrad, I stayed in Edinburgh to pursue a MSc in Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, where using whole genome sequences and behavioural experiments I attempted to find an explanation for a wing colour polymorphism found in a small population of Danaus chrysippus. 

For my PhD I will be working on Drosophila suzukii. It develops into two morphs depending on temperature. These two seasonal morphs (summer and winter) differ in their morphology and behaviour. Of interest to my project is their eyes. The winter morph has more but narrower ommatidia than the summer morph, which might lead to differences in their visual capability. In this project, at Prof. McGregor’s lab, I will characterize the differences in eye morphology between these two morphs, investigate the molecular basis behind these differences and test the impacts of these differences on vision