Current research examines historical patterns of diversification among genes, genomes, and organisms.  Various research projects use molecular characters to understanding evolution at several levels of organization including molecular evolution at the genetic or genomic level, divergence of populations and species, and phylogenetic patterns among species and higher taxa.  Taxonomically, research primarily focuses on North American freshwater fishes; however, there are projects on several other animal groups.  Another major focus is development of methodological/computational approaches for improving phylogenetic inference by extracting historical signal from background noise in DNA sequences.

- Patterns of nucleotide change and character quality in phylogenetic analysis.   In particular, this involves assessing the relative historical information content of characters that conflict on phylogenetic trees (homoplasy).  We would like to know, when is homoplasy misleading, when is homoplasy not misleading, and how do we recognize the difference and make use of this information?

- Environmental Genomics. We are exploring how levels of genome-wide variation and patterns of gene expression are related to responses to environmental change in different species. We also would like to know whether levels of genomic variation or responses to environmental variables are found in particular patterns in invasive species.

- Using genealogical patterns to understand processes of population divergence and speciation.  What do gene genealogies reveal about the historical, demographic, and selective factors associated with speciation in natural populations?

- Development of "high-throughput phylogenetics". Or, toward a true "phylogenomics". This involves sequencing a very large number of genes from many taxa. We are focusing on vertebrate genes that are readily amplified in all taxa, phylogenetically informative, and of functional interest.

- Systematics, biogeography, and conservation of fishes with emphasis on species native to central and southwestern North America.  Includes molecular population genetic and phylogenetic studies of native species and field surveys of the distribution and abundance of fishes in Oklahoma.

- Using phylogenomics to develop a comprehensive, robust phylogeny of fishes in collaboration with Deep Fin, an international consortium of investigators.

         
Scenes from the lab

Prospective graduate students