Pedro Manuel Silva

Biography

"I have been interested for a long time in the potential of molecular genetic techniques in explaining the processes that lead to the phenotypic and genetic patterns observed in wild and domestic populations, and the applicability of these methodologies to Wildlife Conservation. I started my research at CIBIO-InBIO under de supervision of Dr. Paulo Célio Alves investigating the variation at coat color genes in hares (genus Lepus). Then, during my Master's degree supervised by Dr. Raquel Godinho, I developed highly diagnostic molecular markers for the efficient distinction and identification of hybrids of two wild/domesticated pairs of carnivore species in the Iberian Peninsula: wolves/dogs and wild/domestic cats. During my PhD, my goal is to identify the patterns of genetic diversity in Iberian wolves (Canis lupus signatus) and to better understand their past demographic history and current population structure. For this, I'm using information gained from both traditional genetic markers (microsatellites) as well as genomic data generated from high-throughput sequencing. Also, in collaboration with the labs of my co-supervisor Dr. Robert Wayne (University of California, Los Angeles), and of Dr. John Novembre (University of Chicago), I was involved in comparative genomics projects of several canids, namely dogs, wolves and jackals."

Research Interest

I have a broad interest in phylogeography, population genetics, molecular ecology, and in the application of molecular and bioinformatic tools to these areas.