Research

Gene drives, microbiomes, and data-rich biology teaching

I am an Associate Professor in Genetics & Data Science in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia. My work connects insect genetics, microbiomes, synthetic biology, and computational teaching across research and higher education.

Overview

My research is based in molecular genetics and evolutionary biology, with a particular focus on developing and testing genetic technologies for pest control. I am especially interested in gene drive systems, transgene expression, and the evolutionary and practical questions that shape applied genetic pest management.

Alongside this work, I develop teaching in genetics, genomics, statistics, and data science. That teaching emphasis feeds back into the lab’s broader interest in clear computational practice, open resources, and accessible training.

Research areas

genetic pest management

Many insects damage crops or spread human disease, and the chemical insecticides used to control them can harm the environment and lose effectiveness as pests evolve…

microbiomes

Insects carry communities of gut bacteria, and there has been growing interest in whether these microbes shape how their hosts feed, grow, and even choose mates. We…

Teaching

I teach across undergraduate and postgraduate modules in biological sciences, with a strong focus on genetics, genomics, molecular biology, and data science.

Teaching