Senior Associate Researchers
Professor Phil Bunker The Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences, National Research Council of Canada- Research Interests:
- Molecular Spectroscopy and Symmetry.
- Research is directed towards developing and applying theoretical methods for predicting, analyzing and understanding the results of high resolution molecular spectroscopy experiments. Current research falls into three areas: Molecular symmetry, the rovibronic spectra of floppy molecules, and the Renner effect.
Professor Lynda Delph Department of Biology, Indiana University- Research Interests:
- Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology.
- Evolutionary-genetic research on factors constraining and promoting adaptive evolution and speciation. Our research utilizes flowering plants to understand the genetic integration of traits and the underlying ecological factors involved in phenotypic evolution. One focus is on the question of why gender and sexual dimorphism evolves and is maintained, and utilizes gynodioecious and dioecious species, which are relatively common in the New Zealand flora. The work involves observations and experiments in natural populations, quantitative-genetic experiments, artificial selection, and approaches using molecular markers as a way of integrating ecology, physiology, and genetics into our understanding of plant phenotypes.
Professor Nigel French EpiCentre, Massey University- Research Interests:
- Molecular epidemiology.
- Combining molecular biology and epidemiology to understand the transmission of infectious agents between animals and man. Interest in the use of phylogenetic and genealogical (coalescent-based) tools, infectious disease modelling and spatial modelling, to understand the origin, evolution and emergence of zoonotic pathogens. Both laboratory-based and theoretical tools have been applied to determine the relative contribution of different animal reservoirs to the burden of human enteric disease, and have informed national control strategies. Also long-term interest in the epidemiology of both infectious and non-infectious diseases that have a severe impact on animal welfare.
Professor Ben Jacobsen Department of Commerce, Massey University- Research Interests:
- Finance, Financial Markets, Stock Markets, Commodity Prices, Financial Crises, Asset Pricing, Stock Market Return Predictability, Behavioral Finance.
- Current topics include among others: the effect of war and peace on stock markets, stock market anomalies, weather effects and stock markets, gender differences in optimism, stock market predictability using changing intervals of observations, sentiment, bubbles and fundamental values, historical stock market data.
Professor David Lambert Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University- Research Interests:
- Molecular Biology and Evolution.
- Focused on aspects of evolutionary theory and evolutionary genetics, particularly in relation to species theory, the nature of Darwinian biology and ancient DNA. Our research has pioneered approaches to the estimation of evolutionary rates, as measured by changes in ancient DNA over time, and has made a special study of Adélie penguins from the Antarctic, representing one of the best sources of ancient DNA yet discovered, as well as ancient DNA from extinct moa. Other research has enabled the reconstruction of the phylogenetic relationships among moa species testing the use of DNA barcoding to determine its efficacy to the identification of species of ancient life.
Professor Curt Lively Department of Biology, Indiana University- Research Interests:
- Evolutionary Ecology.
- I am interested in the evolution and ecology of interspecific interactions, particularly between hosts and parasites. My group and I have used both theoretical and empirical studies to study host-parasite coevolution, the ecology and evolution of virulence, the evolution of phenotypic plasticity, the evolution of recombination, and the evolutionary maintenance of sex. Empirical work has been primarily focused on interactions between a common New Zealand snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) and the digenetic trematodes that infect it. The snail is especially suited for studies on the maintenance of sex, as both sexual and asexual forms coexist.
Professor Mick Roberts IMMS, Massey University- Research Interests:
- Mathematical Biology.
- The development of mathematical models that explain why pathogens have evolved their present characteristics, in particular models for the evolution and transmission of a virus. Model for the dynamics of the HIV virus, and the interaction between within-host virus evolution and between-host virus transmission. The analysis of models for invading infections, and models for control strategies to contain exotic infections. Threshold quantities and control strategies for endemic infections.