Welcome!

We study the evolution of biodiversity – past, present and future. Our studies range in scope from specific, isolated taxa to global pan-biomic patterns and innovative ways of prioritising for biodiversity conservation. We integrate large datasets and use a host of methods in phylogenetics, palaeobiology, biogeography, climatic modelling, bioinformatics, ecology and conservation. Our work has shed light on the evolution of several taxa and biomes but there is yet more to discover so that we can understand, conserve and restore Earth's extraordinary biodiversity.

What we do

We aim to be one of the most creative, productive and exciting research groups in evolutionary biology and biogeography. We want to understand how biological diversity has evolved and how it will be affected by ongoing climate change and habitat destruction. The scope of our studies range from specific organism groups in isolated regions in the Neotropics to global cross-taxonomic patterns.

News:
A Brazilian adventure and two new Science papers

Blog:
Extinct or just shy? a quest to find the least known skinks in East Africa

Who we are

We are a diverse research group with varied scientific backgrounds covering a range of academic and technical specialisms. We come from countries all over the globe and work on many different scientific questions and organism groups.


Despite our breadth of backgrounds and interests, we are united by a genuine interest in understanding how biological diversity has evolved, how it varies over space and time, and which factors and processes determine this variation.


The team

Values

Quality

We prioritize quality above quantity in scientific publications.

Commitment

We love what we do and we are committed to our work.

Openness

We share data, ideas, unpublished manuscripts and research applications.

Innovation

We develop new solutions, challenge old assumptions, test hypotheses and experiment with new techniques.

Research Highlights

The Past, Present and Future of Neotropical Biodiversity

The Rise and Fall
of Species

The Quest for Cinchona –
a Phylogenetic Tale