HistoryOct 2021-present. Head, School of Natural Sciences, University of GalwayDec 2015-present: Personal Professor in Zoology, Zoology, NUIGNov 2004-Dec 2015: Senior Lecturer, Zoology Dept. NUIG, Galway, Ireland.Apr 2010-Mar 2015: Head of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, NUIG.Oct 2001-Sept 2004: Lecturer, Biology Dept. NUI, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland.Mar 2000- Oct. 2001:Postdoctoral Molecular Biologist, Health Protection Agency, LondonNov 1997- Mar 2000: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Zoology Dept., NHM, London, UK.June 1998: PhD Zoology University College GalwayOct 1993: BSc Zoology, University College Galway.

My group are interested in evolution. We explore evolutionary relationships at different taxonomic levels and in different organisms. The main projects currently running in the lab are focused on the evolution of marine sponges and honeybees. Sponge Research: We include approachesinformation that will inform our understanding of evolution, e.g. ultrastructure of cells and tissues using electron microscopy, bioactivity and the types of chemical compounds produced by sponges, the types and functional roles of microbes living inside sponges, the genes and proteins used by sponges to make their skeletons. We now also include the use of OMICS (transcriptomics, genomics, and with collaborators, metabolomics) both for systematics and in the search for novel gene clusters coding for novel chemicals that may be of pharmacological use.Honeybee Research: We use multiple molecular approaches to understand the population genetics of the bees in Ireland showing that pure Apis mellifera mellifera is still widespread in Ireland. We have found many hundreds of honeybee colonies living in the wild over multiple years and are carrying out further study on these to determine how they can survive in the presence of varroa and its viruses without chemical treatment. We have been investigating the plants that bees feed on, and how they may be linked to microbiome diversity and honeybee health. Finally we have introduced the use of genomics data science to investigate further questions on detecting hybridisation and genomic signatures of selection.PhD StudentsRecently submittedMaria Vittoria Marra PhD Student (Tony Ryan Research Fellowship)Selective bioactivity has been indicated in several marine sponges collected in Ireland. In an effort to understand the origin and role of bioactive compounds in these sponges my project has the following aims in five Haliclona species of known phylogenetic relatedness (Haliclona indistincta, H. viscosa, H. simulans, H. cinerea and H. oculata):Characterize through multiple approaches including electron microscopy amp; next generation sequencing, possible prokaryotic and eukaryotic sponge symbionts in these target species in time and space.Investigate the functional role of suspected symbionts and of sponge cells with inclusions, especially as regards the production of compounds of interest.Investigate the origin and nature of the mucus of this sponge using multiple approachesRecently submitted Jose Maria Aguilar-Camacho PhD Student (Hardiman Research Scholarship) Biomineralization is the process by which organisms make inorganic structures enzymatically (such as sponges, corals and diatoms). Marine sponges produce spicules made of silica or calcium carbonate. These structures form the internal skeleton of the sponge, which is variable among species and form the basis of the traditional classification based on morphology. My PhD project is focused on the evolution and development of the skeleton of selected Irish haplosclerid sponges and towards the development of novel biomaterials.Maria Belinda A. Longakit PhD (NUI Galway College of Science Fellowship)PhD Topic: Evolutionary relationships of marine Haplosclerida inferred from molecular, morphological and ultrastructural dataInconsistencies between morphological and molecular classification of sponges in the Order Haplosclerida are common. My aim is to find additional characters particularly from sponge ultrastructure and use them to find support for evolutionary relationships suggested by other data. I will extend the numbers of species sequenced for currently poorly sampled clades and I will re-examine problematic species in the phylogenetic tree constructed from molecular data focusing on their morphology and ultrastructure. I will ultimately propose new taxonomic revisions and describe additional species.Keith Browne PhD Student (Tony Ryan Research Scholarship amp; Irish Research Council Fellowship holder) Contact Details; Zoology, Ryan Institute amp; School of Natural Sciences Phone: 353 (0)91 493195; Fax: 353 (0)91 525005 Email: K.BROWNE4atnuigalway.ie The mite Varroa destructor is largely responsible for the catastrophic reduction in viable colonies of the Dark Northern European honeybee Apis mellifera mellifera . Furthermore, hybridisation with imported sub-species is thought to have altered the genetic integrity of this bee to the point where it is now considered extinct across most of Europe but Ireland remains a stronghold for pure forms of this subspecies. This subspecies, also known as the Dark Northern honeybee, is adapted to colder, wetter weather and a shorter foraging season compared to the southern sub-species. These adaptations allow the production of honey in northern Europe and efficient pollination of crops and wild flora. My PhD research focuses on the adaptive evolution of this honeybee including how some bees display resistancetolerance to parasitism by Varroa . Observed colony traits and local environmental conditions, combined with genomics, genotyping and morphometric analysis of the bees will be used to determine those strains amp; traits offering greatest tolerance to Varroa whilst retaining local adaptations. This information will be employed to guide a breeding programme for Varroa resistant native Irish honeybees.Kenneth Sandoval PhD Student (Marie Curie ITN fellowship holder as part of IGNITE project) Contact Details; Zoology, Ryan Institute amp; School of Natural SciencesPhone: 353 (0)91 493195;Email: k.sandoval1atnuigalway.ieHaplosclerid sponges produce a range of bioactive compounds, with many different potential pharmacological uses. This project focuses on applying an OMICS approach to discover biosynthetic gene clusters potentially responsible for 3 alkylpyridinium polymers restricted to a group of related sponges. The project includes the sequencing of sponge genomes and the expression of candidate genes as well as consideration of the evolutionary origins of such compounds and genes.Stephen SmithPhD Student (a target=_blank rel=nofollow href=https:genomicsdatascience.ieSFI Centre for Research Training in Genomics Data Science )This project applies genomics data science to the honeybee population in Ireland to further investigate patterns of hybridisation and to detect genomic signatures of selection relating to survival mechanisms in the presence of the Varroa mite.The project includes generation and analysis of genome data from both wild and managed colonies. The student will also apply data science techniques to develop a bespoke website to handle the input of different types ofdata relating to the monitoring of wild colonies and the development of a breeding platform for beekeepers.img alt=img alt=img alt=img alt=img alt=img alt=img alt=