Rui Miguel Macieira De Faria

Biography

"I got my PhD degree at the University of Porto in 2007. Since then, I have been conducting my postdoctoral research at IBE- University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; and at CIBIO-InBIO/University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. In 2010 I was awarded a research project from the Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) to study the genetic mechanisms of parallel evolution; and in 2011, together with Katja Nowick from the University of Leipzig, I was awarded a grant to study chromosomal speciation by DAAD and FCT (”Acções Integradas Luso-Alemãs”).In particular, I’m interested in understanding: the role of chromosomal rearrangements in speciation (chromosomal speciation); the mechanisms of adaptation and ecological speciation through the study of parallel evolutionary events; the architecture of genetic incompatibilities (genomic and regulatory network) in speciation, using a systems biology approach; and the role of phenotypic plasticity in evolution. Currently, I’m focused on the study of genomic information (including sequence and expression data) of several species (from mollusks to primates), as well as on simulation studies. My goal is to inspire an open and creative environment within the lab for pursuing the answers for relevant questions in many different areas within the field of evolutionary biology. "

Research Interest

My research is primarily focused on the evolutionary genetics of reproductive isolation.