Ecology and Evolution on Land and Sea

Welcome to the Helyar Research Group. We are based in the School of Biological Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast.

My interests focus on using genomic tools to answer questions in ecology and evolution. Much of my current research is on marine systems, and in recent years I’ve worked with lots of fish (herring, cod, mackerel, deep-sea sharks…) and even some non-fishy species (sea-cucumbers, prawns and clams are all currently being studied in the lab). The questions are also quite varied, from determining fine scale population genetics to support more sustainable fishing practices, through food authenticity, to identifying improvements that can be made in managing inner-city waterways.

However, with a degree in Ecology, an MSc in Quantitative Genetics, and a PhD applying genetics to host pathogen dynamics in wild mammals, there are a lots of questions that excite me, and I really enjoy the wide variety of research that takes place in our lab. One theme that pulls all of this together is using cutting edge portable genomic platforms that enable research to be done faster and cheaper than before; whether its testing food for pathogens in Africa, or determining if an algal bloom is toxic, often the answers are needed quickly, and current NGS methods can deliver this.

We are a friendly group that currently has 3 PhD students and an Independent Research Fellow. Everyone in the group has their own diverse research interests but they are all using cutting edge genomic techniques to help answer their questions. Current work is focused on population genetics, eDNA and metabarcoding, and study systems include endangered amphibians, invasive fish, freshwater invertebrates…. and even food!

The web site is currently being built…. hopefully there will be lots more information in a few days!