Conservation Genomics:
We are interested in the assessment of natural genetic variation harbored by animal populations, and how it is related to aspects relevant to their conservation. This often requires the use of noninvasive genetic sampling approaches (molecular scatology) to avoid the need for the capture of endangered or elusive animals or the use of ancient DNA technologies to study variation over long evolutionary time scales.
In an unrelated effort to understand the genetic threats to endangered species we are also applying bioinformatics approaches to search for emerging signs of genetic deterioration in the genome sequences obtained from endangered species, such as elephants or the great apes.