My research lies at the intersection of evolution, behaviour and genomics, with a particular focus on understanding the causes and consequences of male reproductive senescence. I primarily use Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism, and a combination of fitness assays and -omics approaches to explore the molecular mechanisms, contributing factors, and fitness implications of ejaculate senescence.
Current research in the lab include: (1) Understanding how sperm and seminal fluid contribute to fertility declines with male age; (2) Investigating the intergenerational effects of male age, sperm age, and diet on offspring fitness and behaviour, and uncovering the underlying mechanisms; (3) Exploring how early-life experiences and environmental factors shape adult phenotypes.
Our work has been supported by the Royal Society, BBSRC, Wellcome Trust, and Oxford-specific funding schemes.
behaviour, evolution, genetics physiology
