- Computational Biology Group
- School of Computing Sciences
- University of East Anglia
- Norwich
- NR4 7TJ
- UK
- +44 (0)
Research
I am interested in using evolutionary simulation modelling to address questions in evolution, ecology, and Earth system science. In particular, I am interested in the intersection between these three areas, i.e., the coevolution of life and its physical environment.
Current work is investigating how the coevolution of bacteria and bacteriophage affects the marine microbial ecosystem. Other work has used individual-based models of microbial evolutionary ecology to explore the dynamic interactions between evolving organisms and the environment, including nonlinear transitions in ecosystem behaviour driven by evolutionary innovation, the evolutionary emergence of environmental regulation, and other Gaian phenomena such as nutrient recycling and ecological robustness.
I am also involved with the ADAM project, which is building an adaptive model of the marine ecosystem in the Archaean period of Earth history. In support of my modelling work I am beginning to carry out laboratory experiments with microbial microcosms formed from naturally sampled sediment and pond water. The microcosms are based on Winogradsky columns - we formed the Winogradsky Group to link interested people. If you are interested in any of these ideas you might like to take a look at the Adaptive Modelling Club, a reading group that I convene at UEA.
Previous work
From October 2007 until August 2009 I worked on the NERC QUEST project, seeking to develop and apply methods for quantifying the effects of feedbacks in biogeochemical cycles. I have previously worked on computational modelling of neuronal networks, artificial intelligence, and evolutionary robotics.Other activities
In 2007 I co-organised a workshop on Extending the Darwinian Framework at the ECAL conference in Lisbon. In 2008 I organised a session on ‘Models for Gaia Theory’ at the ALIFE XI conference in Winchester, UK. In 2009 I attended the European Society for Evolutionary Biology meeting in Turin and the European Conference on Artificial Life meeting in Budapest, amongst others. At ECAL I co-organised a session on levels of selection in evolution. In February 2010, we hosted a workshop Modelling evolutionary and ecological processes in the Earth system.
Biography
I studied maths at the University of Birmingham, then computer science at the University of Leeds. This was followed by an MSc in Evolutionary and Adaptive Systems in what was formerly COGS at the University of Sussex. My Phd work was in the Biosystems group of the University of Leeds, supervised by Dr Jason Noble (now of University of Southampton). I then spent 3 years as a postdoc working with Prof Tim Lenton in the Earth System Modelling Group at University of East Anglia.
In my free time I play hockey and other sports, and like to travel. I live in Norwich with my wife Abby and our son Benny.
PhDs/PostDocs
I am always interested to hear from people wanting to do a PhD or postdoc in my research area – send me an email.