Cells, Organisms and Molecular Genetics

Parasitology, evolutionary biology and ecology

We have a highly active, interdisciplinary research team exploring parasitology, evolutionary biology and ecology. Together, the team studies both laboratory and wild populations of carefully chosen study species, including invertebrates such as fruit flies, cockroaches and arachnids.

Our biologists, parasitologists, cell biologists and immunologists (Professor Rita Tewari, Professor Mike Doenhoff and Professor Jan Bradley), collaborate with ecologists (Professor Andrew MacColl, Professor Francis Gilbert, Associate Professor Tom Reader) and evolutionary geneticists (Professor James McInerney, Associate Professor Mary O'Connell, Associate Professor Levi Yant, Associate Professor Angus Davison, Assistant Professor Chris Wade, Professor Olivier Hanotte, Professor John Brookfield and Professor Sara Goodacre).

They’re also joined by affiliates working in ecology and evolution in Assistant Professor Kate Durrant and Assistant Professor Tamsin Majerus.

The team’s current work is furthering our understanding of the factors that contribute to variation in immune responses, through studies of species including wild rodents. They’re also determining how species adapt to new environments, exploring cases such as the freshwater stickleback fish, whose marine ancestors were repeatedly able to colonise freshwater habitats.

Parasitology, evolutionary biology and ecology
 

Research that’s making an impact

World-first study helps secure sustainable cattle farming in Africa

How we’re mapping cattle genomes to improve breeding programmes and food supplies.

 
 

Jeremy the snail drives new understanding of body asymmetry

How one lefty garden snail inspired a major study into organ placement.

 
 

Paving the way for allergy-preventing immunotherapies

How we’re solving the mystery of allergic prevalence in developed countries.

 
 

Weaving a web of synthetic spider silk

How a chance meeting led to the development of an innovative antibiotic fibre.

 
 

Revealing the remarkable genetic history of Arabian camels

How we’re unlocking the secrets of an increasingly important species.

 
 

Spiders sailing the seven seas

How spiders are taking to the oceans and being tracked by our very own SpiderLab.

 
 

Working to lift the disease burden in developing countries

How calorie intake makes a surprising difference to malarial mortality.

 
 

Shifting the power

How giving communities back control can make development more sustainable.

 
 

Our research
team

Postgraduate
opportunities

 

 

Cells, Organisms and Molecular Genetics

School of Life Sciences
University of Nottingham
Medical School
Queen's Medical Centre
Nottingham NG7 2UH