I am an evolutionary biologist interested in the evolution of colour, flight and ornaments. My research focuses on using natural history collections to understand how and why specific traits evolved. While I primarily use phylogenetic comparative methods, I also incorporate genomics and experimental approaches, such as wind tunnels, to explore trait function and evolution.
Currently, I am investigating the evolution of iridescent coloration: its function, evolutionary history, and genomic underpinnings. I am also exploring how well physical models can predict the colours of extant animals, with the goal of applying these models to reconstruct the colours of extinct species.
Keywords
Iridescence, ornithology, ornaments, feathers