Support Staff
Dr. Nicola Stock (She/her)
Public Engagement Specialist
I am the Public Engagement with Research Manager at The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, and Project Lead for The Easter Bush Science Outreach Centre (EBSOC).
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I’ve worked in science communication and engagement for over ten years, but I started out as a scientist, working in the virology field across the UK. I believe that science is for everyone and am passionate about creating engagement programmes for non-specialist audiences so all can enjoy!
Eilidh Elliot (She/her)
Project Support Coordinator
After graduating with a BSc in Molecular biology, I have spent several years in administrative roles. I will be providing administrative support to the project leadership team as well as support the design and organisation of (exciting!) public engagement activities.
This role will bring together her love for science and organisation!
Principal Investigators
Prof. Dan Macqueen (He/him)
Project Lead
My interests span genomics, evolutionary biology, animal health, immunology, and pathogens. I am broadening my taxonomic horizons beyond fish to investigate evolution after whole genome duplication events across the tree of life.
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Dr. Ilia Leitch (Pro/noun)
Project Co-Lead
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Prof. Mark Blaxter (Pro/noun)
Project Co-Lead
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Prof. Phillip Donoghue (Pro/noun)
Project Co-Lead
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Dr. Alex Twyford (Pro/noun)
Project Co-Lead
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Dr. James Clark (Pro/noun)
Project Co-Lead
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Prof. Peter Holland (Pro/noun)
Project Co-Lead
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Dr. Tom Williams (Pro/noun)
Project Co-Lead
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Post-Doctoral Researcher
My research interests are genome evolution and how gene and genome duplications contribute to adaptability and evolutionary novelty — all topics central to this project. Specific past research areas include the causes and consequences of subgenome dominance, pangenome evolution in polyploids, and the evolution of specialized metabolism.
My role will be as a postdoctoral associate looking for signs of asynchronous diploidization across angiosperms with the group at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ​
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Dr. Kevin Bird (Pro/noun)
Dr. Richard Taylor (Pro/noun)
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Dr. Drew Larson (Pro/noun)
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ROSLIN 2 (Pro/noun)
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Dr. Emily Haley (She/her)
I enjoy applying bioinformatic tools to genomic sequence data to help answer questions about evolution. I have an undergraduate degree in Evolutionary Biology from The University of Edinburgh, followed by an MSc in Bioinformatics at The University of Glasgow. I completed my PhD at The University of Edinburgh in 2024, where I was studying hybridisation within the plant genus Antirrhinum (snapdragons).
In my current role as a postdoctoral researcher, I am excited to continue using bioinformatic analyses to explore the occurrence of rediploidisation, focussing on plants
Dr. Dearbhaile Casey (Pro/noun)
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Dr. Lucas Freitas (Pro/noun)
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BATH (Pro/noun)
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PhD Student
Brianna Banting (pro/noun)
I earned my MSc in Quantitative Genetics and Genome Analysis from the University of Edinburgh in 2023, where I studied introgression and species barriers among a group of montane willows that occur in Scotland.
Following a few years of working as a research assistant and exploring my interest in plant evolutionary biology, I am returning to Edinburgh to pursue a PhD with Dan MacQueen and Alex Twyford.