Lindell Bromham
Professor

I am interested in ways of testing ideas about macroevolutionary patterns and mechanisms, particularly the way that phylogenies constructed from DNA sequence data can be used to understand evolutionary past and processes. But in order to use molecular data to understand evolution, we need to understand how evolutionary information is recorded in the genome. Current research themes include:
  • How the tempo and mode of molecular evolution is influenced by species characteristics, environment, and macroevolutionary processes
  • How patterns of trait evolution on phylogenies reveal macroevolutionary mechanisms
  • How analytical methods from evolutionary biology can be adapted to studying patterns of language evolution.
Publications

Marcel Cardillo
Professor

I am interested in the past, present and future of biodiversity. I use phylogenetics, model-based biogeography, comparative methods and simulation approaches to reconstruct the historical events and infer the evolutionary processes that have shaped the biodiversity we see today. I'm interested in how evolutionary history has left some species particularly vulnerable to present-day human impacts, and how we can use this understanding to predict and plan for future extinction risk.

Xia Hua
Lecturer and DECRA Fellow

In general, I'm interested in developing evolutionary theories through a mathematical modelling approach. Currently, my research focuses on speciation and phylogenetic theory, trying to elucidate the links between molecular evolution and diversification processes. I'm also interested in applying physics to understand macroevolution.

Andrew Ritchie
Postdoctoral Research Assistant

I am interested in the relationship between molecules and macroevolution, and the ways in which the smallest elements of life are shaped by the same forces that drive the world we can see. I am using phylogenetic methods and molecular data to explore questions such as how to incorporate detailed biology into phylogenetic methods and how life history governs the economy of mutational cost and repair in ray-finned fish.

Felix Smits
Honours student

Drivers of Extinction Risk and Spatial Conservation Prioritization in Australian mammals

Supervisors: Marcel Cardillo

Rhiannon Schembri
Honours student

Molecular evolution and speciation in the Australian Eugongylus skink clade

Supervisors: Lindell Bromham, Craig Moritz

Alan Vincent
PhD student

Dynamics of ecological niches in Proteaceae

Supervisor: Marcel Cardillo

Keaghan Yaxley
Lab Visitor