I am broadly interested in understanding the evolution of phenotypic diversity in vertebrates, particularly teleostean fishes, which represent the most speciose clade of vertebrate animals. My research is highly interdisciplinary, combining both macroevolutionary analysis with comparative developmental biology to synthesise an integrated understanding of morphological variation. My DPhil (PhD) research primarily focused on examining the macroevolutionary dynamics of vertebral column evolution in African cichlid fishes (Subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae), a remarkably diverse and speciose teleostean clade that includes the remarkable, explosive adaptive radiations of Lakes Tanganyika, Malawi, and Victoria. I investigated how patterns of vertebral diversity could inform our understanding of the evolution of the developmental mechanisms underpinning these traits. I am currently working on multiple projects, including elucidating the genetic mechanisms underpinning vertebral column regionalisation using interspecific hybrid lines bred during my DPhil and investigating the development and evolution of vertebral shape in Lake Malawi cichlids.
