Current Lab Members
Sarah P. Flanagan
Dr. Sarah Flanagan is a Senior Lecturer in Evolutionary Biology in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, USA in 2011. In 2016 she completed her PhD in Biology with Adam Jones at Texas A&M University, and then was a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Sarah’s research focuses on the evolution of complex traits and how selection interacts with the genome. The lab’s research activities fall into two major categories: (1) understanding how sexual selection acts on traits and shapes mating systems and (2) investigating the genomic basis of traits, including the signature selection leaves on the genome. Read more about Sarah on her personal website, where she maintains a blog.
Coley Tosto
Coley Tosto is currently working towards a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences investigating the role sexual selection pressures have in sex-biased gene expression using pipefish as a model system. Her overall research interests surround the evolution of different mating systems and all the factors that are involved in shaping them. She is working in collaboration with Heather Masonjones and Emily Rose.
Emily Beasley
Emily is using three Stigmatopora species of pipefish to investigate the role of sexual selection in the evolution of sex-biased gene expression. Emily earned her undergraduate honours degree from Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, in 2015. In 2018, she completed her MSc by Research at Middlesex University in London, England. Her current research interests include bioinformatics, evolutionary biology, conservation biology, and behavioural ecology. Emily is co-supervised by Prof. Elissa Cameron (University of Canterbury) and Prof. Bob Wong (Monash University). Email: emily.beasley@pg.canterbury.ac.nz
Alexandra Cox
Alexandra is a PhD student co-supervised by Sarah and Dr Claudia Meisrimler. Alexanda completed her MSc thesis, supported by the Bioprotection Aotearoa Center of Research Excellence, on similar topics to her PhD, and she is now funded by Food Transitions 2050. Her work focuses on the parasitic oomycete, Phytophthora cinnamomi and identifying the genes responsible for its pathogenicity. By annotating the genome of P. cinnamomi, Alexandra’s work will contribute to a larger effort in developing counter measures against this invasive species. Her main research interests are bioinformatics, molecular genetics, plant biology and conservation.
Juan Lee
Juan is a PhD student working on pipefish taxonomy, phylogeography, and population genetics. His MSc work in South Korea focused on behaviour and developmental biology, and he is exciting to be working on syngnathid genetics for his PhD.
Georgia Gwatkin
Georgia Gwatkin is currently pursuing a MSc in Biological Sciences, co-supervised by Dr. Sarah Flanagan and Dr. Michelle LaRue. Georgia’s research focuses on investigating the terrestrial habitat preferences and intra-seasonal movements of little penguins/kororā at Flea Bay/Pōhatu, working in collaboration with the Helps Pōhatu Conservation Trust. Her research interests include conservation biology, spatial ecology, and behavioural ecology.
Ella Peoples
Ella Peoples is a summer research scholarship student. She recently finished a Bachelor of Science majoring in biological sciences and is currently deciding on a course of postgraduate study for 2024. Her research project involves little blue penguins/kororā and the Ixodes ticks which parasitize them. The ticks are also vector for pathogens which may pose a conservation risk to the kororā if an outbreak should occur. This project will involve developing and optimizing a method to screen ticks for pathogens. Her research interests are stable isotopes ecology, genetics, conservation biology and environmental toxicology, particularly in marine ecosystems.
Myles Landon
Myles is a summer research scholarship student, working on a comparative analysis of pipefish mating systems. He is about to begin his third year as a Biochemistry Major at the University of Canterbury and is excited to have hands-on laboratory experience on a research project outside of the classroom.