Darwin Tree of Life team

I am the Researcher Leader for Ancient DNA, and the Head of the Division of Vertebrates and Anthropology in the Earth Sciences Department. I mainly work on projects that involve recovering DNA from different parts of the museum collection, from ancient humans to 20^th century insects.

I am also the Principal Investigator for the Museum’s part of DToL, which means I make sure all of the science runs smoothly, and that we keep in touch with the other project partners. I am interested in getting genomes from many different species, but particularly the mammals, where we already have specimens stretching back over thousands of years.

I lead on the Natural History Museum’s sampling programme, representing the museum on the DToL Samples Working Group, as well as chairing the Terrestrial Arthropods Working Group. Part of my role is to ensure we have the right people and processes in place at the Museum to make this project a success.

My research interests lie in the taxonomy and evolution of parasitoid wasps, so I’m particularly keen to see genomes from wasps which have co-opted viruses which help them overcome host immune defences. And genomes from any of the species I’ve described from the UK would be rather neat!

I am a Researcher Leader in Genomics in the Science Department of NHM. I have over 25 years of genomics experience across plant, animal, and environmental DNA (metagenomics). My research typically has an element of cutting-edge technology or innovation in either molecular biology or bioinformatics, its been interesting to switch from modern to collection material since I moved to the museum in 2018.

As the senior responsible owner (SRO) for the Natural History Museum’s DToL project, I work with the DToL team and others to ensure that the project meets its objectives, delivers the projected outcomes and realises the benefits. I’m particularly interested in agriculturally relevant genomes, and how we can use the Museum's collections to add knowledge to the biology of species with new high-quality DToL genomes.

I’m responsible for the financial and project management of the DToL project as well as overall operational coordination. This involves liaising with the DToL team and Sanger on budgetary and operational matters and ensuring that everything is in place for the project team to successfully deliver.

I also chair the fortnightly Museum DToL meeting, which brings together the whole team to discuss how the project is progressing. I have a background in molecular biology and it is amazing to see these techniques being used for such a worthwhile and necessary biodiversity project. The project will provide a huge amount of genome data which will support UK biodiversity research going forward and I’m really proud that I’m a part of it!

I'm the Senior Curator in Charge of small orders, which is a diverse group of insect orders and non-insect hexapods. My research focus includes the taxonomy of freshwater invertebrates, exploring their role as bioindicators of water quality and accelerating their identification and water quality monitoring through DNA-based methods.

In the DToL project, I help lead on the sampling of freshwater invertebrates, working with the Museum team and our network of external partners to ensure specimens are available for sequencing. I'm particularly interested in using the genomes of freshwater invertebrates to explore freshwater biodiversity through environmental DNA - the trace fragments of DNA that all organisms leave behind.

I manage the Molecular Collections facility (MCf) at the Museum, developing and curating the 2M biodiversity sample repository, making biodiversity genetic resources accessible to the wider scientific community.

I have over 30 years of experience in and laboratory management and molecular biology research from both industry and academia with research at the Museum including a wide variety of projects in non-human species in taxonomy and evolution.

From 2008, I have focussed on molecular collections management and biobanking, aligning and collaborating in initiatives in the EU and US including ESBB, ISBER, GGBN, SYNTHESYS, Frozen Ark and more recently CryoArks and DToL projects.

DToL specimens and samples for all taxa are stored in MCf freezers and liquid nitrogen tanks, sorted, formatted (2D barcoded) and accessioned into the Museum's molecular reference collections by the DToL Sample Curator, Heather Allen.

It's my responsibility to coordinate and manage sample collection and track the progress of each specimen as it goes from the field or externally donated to being databased in the Museum's CMS, processed in the laboratories and then shipped to the Wellcome Sanger Institute to begin whole genome sequencing.

I work closely with everyone on the DToL team (within the Museum and with external partners) to ensure we are targeting the right species, maintaining a good taxonomic breath of samples and collecting the highest quality specimens. I am the Co-Chair of the Chordata working group on the project and take part in specimen R and D discussions for chordates, arthropods and marine Metazoa.

I have a background in animal pathology and wildlife epidemiology and have worked in scientific institutions in England and Spain. I am particularly interested in native species conservation. This project plays a crucial role in mapping their genetic variability, sometimes for the very first time.