Research topic
Research Description
As global temperatures rise due to global climate change, the natural world is changing in unprecedented ways and ecological communities are facing new environmental conditions. Species can respond to climate change ecologically, for example by altering when they emerge or reproduce, or evolutionarily, by adapting to new conditions. Although biologists have already begun to uncover general rules for how temperature affects ecological dynamics, we also need to know how temperature affects evolution in order to have a full understanding of how climate change will alter the natural world. My project will experimentally test how temperature affects the speed of evolution. Using the evolutionary model fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, I will test predictions from ecological and evolutionary theory that together determine the effect of temperature on the speed of evolution. I will conduct a large-scale field experiment with fruit flies that manipulates temperature and other relevant environmental variables and measures the speed of evolution at both the organismal and genetic levels. This project will enhance our ability to anticipate the scope of evolutionary change that will occur in the coming years in both natural and managed ecological systems and it will enable a more robust understanding of species’ capacity to rapidly adapt and avoid extinction as global climate change proceeds.
Why did you decide to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship at UBC? Did you consider other opportunities?
I decided to pursue a postdoc at UBC because the Biodiversity Research Centre (where I’m working) is home to an outstanding group of ecologists and evolutionary biologists. In particular, many of the leading voices on the topics I’ll be focusing on for my postdoctoral research--ecological and evolutionary responses to global change and competition--are at UBC.
What specifically attracted you to your research group?
I’ll be working with three research groups, each of which focuses on very a different aspect of ecology or evolutionary biology. Dr. Sarah Otto is a trailblazer in evolutionary theory, Dr. Mary O’Connor is a leading expert in testing the effects of global change on ecological systems, and Dr. Rachel Germain conducts groundbreaking research on the ecological and evolutionary consequences of competitive interactions. I feel extremely fortunate to get the chance to work with these three outstanding researchers, as my project lies at the intersection of their three specialties. I’m extra excited that I’ll be leading this team of powerhouse women who have served as role models for me in my own career.
What advice do you have for new postdoctoral fellows?
I would say try not to be afraid to reach out to people whose work you admire or who have more expertise on a topic to ask for help and advice. At least in my field people are very willing to chat and give advice. And on the flip side, I would also say embrace your new more senior role by offering to help people who are earlier in their career stage or starting out in your field! Scientific progress happens when we share knowledge, and this is also one the most enjoyable parts of being in academia.
What do you like to do for fun?
I have a two year old, so a lot of my fun time is spent on playgrounds these days! Luckily Vancouver has a lot of great playgrounds (and beaches and woods) to explore.
What is the most enjoyable aspect of your postdoctoral fellowship?
I love the freedom of being a postdoc--I feel like I can pursue my ideas with almost total freedom at this point in my career. Also, as a Biodiversity Postdoc I’m affiliated with multiple labs and am in charge of organizing seminars and retreats, so I interact with a lot of different people. This has been great for getting to know people and helping me feel like I’m part of the community, especially during COVID.
What are the biggest challenges you have faced, or anticipate facing, in your career?
Raising a kid while pursuing a research career that relies on intensive lab and field work has been very challenging at times – my kid and the organisms in my experiments both require a lot of attention, and this can be hard to juggle. Luckily I have an amazing partner to share the parenting duties - he really steps up when my experiments are demanding a lot of my attention.
What in your life or career has prepared you for this position?
I just finished a postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton, so that was great preparation for what it means to be a postdoc and how to get the most out of my time at UBC.
What does receiving this award mean for your career?
This award will be a huge help for me – it will give me more time at UBC and more financial freedom both in my research and my life.
What do you think the next step in your career will be?
Ideally I’ll be leading my own lab group at some point in the relatively near future!