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Welcome to Angus Davison's lab website.
I am an Associate Professor and Reader in Evolutionary Genetics in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham. I run a research lab, teach undergraduates and supervise postgraduates. I am also the Careers Officer for the Biology group of degrees. This is my lab home page, otherwise see my University home page, LinkedIn page or @angus_davison.
In my lab, we use snails to understand evolutionary and developmental genetics. In one project, we are using snails to understand the left-right symmetry breaking event that takes place during early development, using both lab and field-based studies: just how is chirality determined at the molecular level? In another project, we are investigating the evolutionary origins of supergenes, using the charismatic snail Cepaea. Finally, as snails are one of the most speciose groups, we are using new technologies to understand how this biodiversity has come about, by investigating a model adaptive radiation of snails in subtropical Japan (Ogasawara). All of these projects are technology led: new DNA sequencing techniques are enabling us to do what was not possible only a few years ago.
"Nature is often complicated" is the opening line from Bryan Clarke's 1979 paper "The evolution of genetic diversity" (Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 205, 453-474).
New PhD projects for 2020 start
We already advertsied a NERC studentship - deadline has gone, sorry - but hope soon to be advertising two BBSRC studentships, one of which will be a CASE. Watch this space or follow me on twitter - should be out in a week or two.
Two funded PhD projects in the Davison lab
The Davison lab at the University of Nottingham is seeking enthusiastic and well-qualified students to apply for two PhD positions, both funded by the BBSRC DTP. Deadline 8th December 2017. Apply here.
PhD research published
BBSRC-funded PhD student Paul Richards published one of the chapters from his thesis in Evolution Letters. It is a pleasure to get this paper out and is research that we really enjoyed, involving several field trips to Japan, genomic work using RAD-seq and bioinformatics.
RIP Jeremy - a legacy to genetics and science
Jeremy the snail made the news again. Unfortunately, Jeremy was found dead on Wednesday October 11th. However, the good news is that we finally got some babies! You can read all about it in the New York Times, the BBC, hear about it on the BBC, NPR, or see Jeremy's scientist talking about it on Sky (ignore the trolls!). Jeremy's departure was also heralded with front page banner on the University of Nottingham website. As Science magazine put it, "Not even celebrity snails live forever". RIP Jeremy.