People

Current and past members of the group

Caspian seal fieldwork team October 2017
Caspian seal fieldwork team October 2017. I’m second from the left, with blue jacket and cap.

Group Leader – Dr Simon Goodman

I undertook my PhD in the Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge and then moved to a post-doctoral position at the University of Edinburgh. This was followed by a Research Fellowship at the Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, before joining the University of Leeds in 2004, where I am now lead for the Sustainable Ecosystems and Adaptation Research Pillar in the School of Biology.

I am co-chair of the IUCN Pinniped Specialist Group, and a member of the IUCN Parasite Specialist Group. I have provided scientific policy advice to a range of governmental and non-governmental organisations at home and overseas including The Galapagos National Park Service, The United Nations Environment Programme, European Food Safety Authority, Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands, as well as scientific consultancy to industry.

Visiting Fellows

  • Dr Cecilia Paradiso – Evolutionary genomics of Galapagos iguana species
  • Dr Betty Boyse – Monitoring marine vertebrates through eDNA
  • Dr Linas Svolkinas – Human impacts & biodiversity conservation in the Caspian region
  • Dr Laura Najera Cortazar – Conservation genomics of myotis bats in Baja Mexico
  • Dr Elena Valsecchi – Marine eDNA
  • Dr Lilia Dmitrieva – Caspian seal ecology and conservation
  • Dr Jenny Dunn – Avian disease ecology

PhD Students

  • Jenny Barber – Environmental biosensors for amphibian pathogens
  • Isna Rashid Razak – Using eDNA to quantify species interactions
  • Katie Prosser – The philosophy of ‘de-extinction’ and its role in conservation
  • Tim Brown – Conservation strategies for parasites
  • Jeni Sage-Sidwell – Evolution & genomics of lactation strategies in pinnipeds

MRes and MBiol Students

  • Fazeed Kotta – Evolution & genomics of lactation strategies in pinnipeds
  • Nimna Wickramasinga – eDNA monitoring of Sri Lankan fisheries

Alumni

Past PhD students
  • Julia Lopez Delgado – Evolutionary genomics of Galapagos iguana species
  • Harrison Tan – Population dynamics and climate change risks for Caspian seals
  • Betty Boyse – Monitoring marine vertebrates through eDNA
  • David Orr – Evolution & genomics of lactation strategies in pinnipeds
  • Linas Svolkinas – Human impacts & biodiversity conservation in the Caspian region
  • Liam Fitzpatrick – Disease Ecology of avian malaria in Galapagos
  • Laura Najera Cortazar – Conservation genomics of myotis bats in Baja Mexico
  • Rebecca Thomas – Molecular epidemiology of trichomonas in European turtle doves
  • Leandro Patino – Galapagos giant tortoise disease ecology
  • Paddy Brock – Galapagos sea lion disease ecology
  • Lilia Dmitrieva – Caspian seal ecology and conservation
  • Rose Cairns – The social science of conservation policy development in Galapagos
  • Gillian Eastwood – Disease ecology of West Nile Virus in Galapagos
  • Larisa Lee Cruz – Population biology of blue footed boobies in Galapagos
  • Arnaud Bataille – Population genetics of Galapagos mosquitoes
  • Alex McCarthy – Genetics of disease susceptibility for morbilliviruses in pinnipeds
Past fellows
  • Dr Shairah Abdul Razak – Phylogenomics of pinnipeds
  • Dr Lilia Dmitrieva – Caspian seal ecology and conservation