MISS ROSALIN SIMPSON

MISS ROSALIN SIMPSON
MISS ROSALIN SIMPSON
MISS ROSALIN SIMPSON

Research PG

About

Biography

I am currently a 3rd year PhD student in the School of Biological Sciences. My research involves harnessing a mixture of comparative and functional genomics to examine adaptive potential in predatory mite species (Acari).

s_scimitus_test.pngMy PhD research project aims to identify the molecular basis of plastic phenotypic responses to temperatures and agrochemicals in the predatory mite - Stratiolaelaps scimitus. I will use transcriptomics and epigenomics to identify differentially expressed genes during acute temperature change and with previous exposure. I will further use comparative genomics to investigate genome-wide patterns of positive selection in mites with predatory lifestyles to gain a broader evolutionary insight into the genetic basis of mite ecology.

 

Education

2020 - Present: PhD Biological Sciences (QUADRAT DTP) - University of Aberdeen

2015-2020: MSci (hons) Biological Sciences (Bioinformatics) - 1st Class Honours (University of Dundee)

Qualifications

  • MSci Biological Sciences (Bioinformatics) 
    2020 - University of Dundee 

External Memberships

Organiser of the 28th European Meeting for PhD Students in Evolutionary Biology (EMPSEB28)

Treasurer and Social Events planner

Member of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution

Research

Research Areas

Biological and Environmental Sciences

Research Specialisms

  • Bioinformatics
  • Evolution
  • Genomics
  • Transcriptomics

Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is HESA open data, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.

Knowledge Exchange

Conferences Attended

University of Aberdeen School of Biological Sciences PGR Conference 2023

Oral presentation: Genomic Signatures of the Parallel Evolution of Predatory lifestyles in Acari mites

University of Aberdeen School of Biological Sciences PGR Conference 2022

Poster presentation: Harnessing Comparative and Functional Genomics to Examine Adaptive Potential in Predatory and Pest Mite Species (Acari) 

European Meeting for PhD students in Evolutionary Biology (EMPSEB27) 2022

Rosalin presenting her research at EMPSEB27Oral presentation: The Evolutionary History and Adaptive Potential of Predatory Mites (Acari) – a New Sustainable Biocontrol System to Ensure Food Security Amid Global Change.

Poster presentation: Harnessing Comparative and Functional Genomics to Examine Adaptive Potential in Predatory and Pest Mite Species (Acari) 

I wrote a short blog post about my experience attending EMPSEB27 here: My EMPSEB27 Experience

Funding and Grants

2020 NERC QUADRAT DTP Postgraduate Research Studentship

2022 PGR Travel Grant Scholarship from the Charles Sutherland Scholarship fund: £475

2023 PGR Travel Grant Scholarship from the Alfred E. Clyne Scholarship fund: £900

2023 SULSA Network Support Grant: £1000