Academic Interests
My main research interests are centered around the genomic basis of evolutionary adaptation at different time scales and how genomes evolve in the response to evolutionary and ecological processes. I specialize in comparing whole genome sequencing data from different populations or species. I have a special interest in structural genomic variation, which are rearrangements of DNA such as inversions, duplications, deletions, translocations and insertions. Structural variation can have a significant effect on phenotypic traits and thus drive evolutionary adaptation and speciation.
In the COMPARE project lead by Prof. Kjetill S. Jakobsen I am collaborating with immunologists to investigate the evolution of immune genes in Atlantic cod. I am also involved in the Aqua Genome Project – a major population genomics undertaking with whole-genome sequencing data from 885 individuals of Atlantic cod across its geographic range. Lastly I am the PI of the snowy owl population genomics project. I thoroughly enjoy the highly inter-disciplinary nature of these projects.