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Rich Kliman Professor Dept. of Biological Sciences Updated: 10 May 2013 |
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The research in our lab centers on questions in evolution and ecology. We are currently
studying (1) the evolution of codon usage bias, and (2) queen conch conservation and demography.
To carry out research in our lab, you should have an interest in
evolution, ecology, bioinformatics, and/or conservation. The philosophy of our lab is simple: the purpose of research is to contribute new knowledge to one's discipline. Undergraduate research also trains students to develop critical thinking, troubleshooting, technical and teamwork skills. Because new knowledge is of little value if it is not shared with other scholars in one's discipline, students in the lab are strongly encouraged to present their findings at regional and major research conferences, and to publish when appropriate. Current Members of the Lab Richard Kliman, Principal Investigator, evolution and ecological genetics. Renee Millican '15, queen conch genetics and natural history. Pictured: Beth Bachert '11, Laurie Cotroneo (former postdoc), Jen Schwab, Jenn Klecha (back), Kaleigh Fernald '12 (front), Chelsey Bihlear '11, Brandi Strauch '12, Sandy Coombe |  |
The research in our lab involves evolutionary and ecological genetics.
One major research area deals with the causes of variation
in synonymous codon usage within and among genes in Drosophila,
human papillomaviruses and Cryptococcus. Work on Drosophila (and other Diptera),
supported by
NIH,
is in collaboration with
Dr. Mohamed
Noor at Duke University and
Dr. Laurence Loewe at the
University of Wisconsin-Madison. Work on Cryptococcus, with
Dr. Amy Reese
as co-PI, is supported by
The National Human Genome Research
Institute of NIH. Part of our reason for studying codon bias is to better understand the
relationship between genetic recombination and the effectiveness of natural selection.
Most of the lab work for these projects (e.g., in-house DNA sequencing
and "next-generation" sequencing of whole genomes and transcriptomes) is complete, and our
current focus is on the data analysis. Codon
bias projects are best-suited for students with an interest in genetics and bioinformatics;
the work involves statistical analysis of very large data sets, and students should have
good computer skills and a willingness to work with multiple operating systems.