Broadly speaking, my postdoc is aimed at using next-generation sequencing data to investigate phylogenomic relationships among Lepidoptera. In addition, I am involved in exploring the different possibilities for sequencing DNA from museum samples for phylogenomic research.

I am interested in the application of genetic technologies, particularly next-generation sequencing methods, to the study of various organisms to gain a better understanding of their biology and evolution. In particular, I enjoy applying these technologies to help gain a better understanding of phylogenetics and molecular evolutionary patterns.

I completed my PhD in 2017 at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. My MSc and PhD focused on using next-generation sequencing technologies to investigate various aspects of Weta biology and evolution. Weta are insects endemic to New Zealand. My PhD was supervised by Thomas Buckley (Landcare Research) and Richard Newcomb (Plant and Food Research), and focused on applying three next-generation sequencing applications to the New Zealand weta. I studied the molecular evolutionary patterns associated with alpine adaptation, De novo assembled the Deinacrida fallai genome and undertook a conservation genomic analysis on three species of conservation interest.