OdysysLab
​environmental adaptation and -stress response
Picture
  • Home
    • Blog
    • CASSANDRA
    • Lab members >
      • Liam Connell
      • Megan Power
      • Sofia Vamos
      • Kaylee Beine
      • Ed Gilbert
      • Sarena Banu
      • Jiao Li
      • Alumni >
        • Adam Bates
        • Lauric Feugere
        • Luana Mincarelli
      • MSc and final year projects >
        • Kelly O'Regan
        • Angel Ekeaneke
        • Lydia Eccleston
        • Annika Wolberg
        • Eabha O'Donnell
        • Massimo Bonnello
        • Aideen McGinn

ABOUT

Picture
We are based at the School of Biological and Environmental Sciences at University College Dublin, Ireland. Our research focuses on the molecular response of organisms to environmental changes, at different levels of biological organisation and time scales. We apply functional and comparative genomics approaches that help us understand common vs. unique molecular responses across different groups of organisms, with ectothermic ("cold-blooded") species as models of choice.  

Picture

CASSANDRA genes database


​

​​Together with our latest paper in the Journal of Animal ecology, we have launched an interactive database of genes involved in climate adaptation and -stress response called CASSANDRA (ClimAte StresS and Adaptation in NonmoDel oRgAnisms). We have now set up CASSANDRA to serve as a community resource to collect information on genes with signatures of selection and stress response in response to environmental changes. 

Why is this useful? To better target future research into suitable climate stress biomarkers and genes which help to organismal physiology to adapt to changing climates. 
Visit & Submit data to Cassandra
Wollenberg Valero, K.C., Garcia-Porta, J., Irisarri, I., Feugere, L., Bates, A., Kirchhof, S., Glavaš, O.J., Pafilis, P., Samuel, S.F., Müller, J. Vences, M., Turner, A.P., Beltran-Alvarez, P.,  and Storey, K.B. 2021. Functional genomics of abiotic environmental adaptation in lacertid lizards and other vertebrates. Journal of Animal Ecology, special issue: understanding Climate Change response in the age of Genomics. DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13617
Picture

News from the lab

Picture
September' 24. Lots of lab news - check out the blog!

June '24.
Congratulations to final year students Aideen and Eabha for completing their research projects, and a warm welcome to summer research students Lydia, Annika, Angel and Kelly. 


March'22 Kat has been awarded a five-year ERC Consolidator award to study the effect of heat stress on cold-blooded animals. Still waiting for official association of the UK with Horizon Europe but in the meantime, we're very excited!

visit bLOG
...Also check out this newly published database of evaporative water loss in squamate reptiles: Le Galliard, J.F., et al. 2021. (Data article)
RESEARCH
Picture
Multiple anthropogenic stressors
Our climate is changing, leading to diverse negative consequences for aquatic life. We are studying what exactly happens when multiple independent stressors, such as high temperature, low ocean pH, and contaminants from plastic pollution collide. Our models of choice are local marine invertebrates from Yorkshire, and we are collaborating with the National Lobster Hatchery in Cornwall and Cromarty Mussels in Scotland.​​
Picture
Environmental adaptation genomics
​
We are studying the genetics and the generality of adaptation and stress response to changes in the abiotic environment. Here, we use lizards as model group (for example Anolis lizards or the group of Old World lacertid lizards) but also branch out to comparing different species across the tree of life. For example, we use zebrafish embryos for solving more in-depth questions related to the underlying molecular mechanisms. 
Picture
Climate stress feedback loops​​
​
Chemicals are the main mode of communication for aquatic animals, and they are well studied in social contexts. But what effect does climate change have on this chemical communication? We find that it may amplify the effects of climate stressors themselves. We are investigating this question in animals as diverse as zebrafish embryos, toxic red tide algae and marine invertebrates in collaboration with other research groups.

Picture
Future oceans Laboratory Natural Selection experiment
Will future oceans lead to changes in the way communities function? We are participating in a collaborative project with the University of Southampton for which we will study the permanence of such changes at the genetic level, using the marine harbour ragworm Hediste diversicolor as model organism and laboratory natural selection over several generations in current and future oceans as experimental design.
Picture
Frog genetic diversity & resources​
​
Kat has worked with frogs, the most threatened group of vertebrates, since her undergraduate studies, mainly investigating the patterns and processes underlining the exceptional biodiversity of Madagascan frogs, and by wrangling large data sets. She is currently putting this knowledge to use by contributing to collaborative projects on using emerging genomic resources in amphibians for conservation purposes and to solve fundamental questions of their evolution.
​
Picture
Other projects
​
​
​We also work on a range of other projects that don't fit into any of the main themes. These are exciting collaborations including evolutionary computing, education research, teaching and even public health!


​

​​

TWITter "X"

follow us at @OdysysLab
Picture

lab members

Picture

Assoc. prof. Katharina wollenberg ​Valero

UCD SBES School of Biology and Environmental Sciences
​Senior Fellow, UCD Conway Institute
CV
scholar
r gate
Picture

liam connell

Project co-ordinator, MolStressH2O project 
project
scholar
r gate
Picture

SArena banu nagoor pitchai

NERC PANORAMA DTP PhD student at the Energy and Environment Institute with Dr. Francisco Rivero at Hull York Medical School
PROJECT
scholar
r gate
Picture

Dr. megan power

Postdoctoral Fellow, MolStressH2O Project. 
project
scholar
R gate
Picture

sofia duarte vamos

PhD student, MolStressH2O project
project
r gate
Picture

Dr. nicky fletcher

Postdoctoral Fellow, NERC functional trait expressions grant with Dr. Jasmin Godbold, Dr. Jorg Hardege, Prof. Martin Solan, and CEFAS
project
r gate
Picture

Dr. kaylee beine

Postdoctoral Fellow, MolStressH2O project
project
r gate
Picture

Ed Gilbert

PhD student, NERC PANORAMA DTP, at the Energy & Environment Institute supervised by Dr. Pedro Beltran-Alvarez 
project
r gate
Picture

Jiao li

PhD student, MolStressH2O project
project
r gate

Picture

Annika wolberg

ARCADIA summer research student. Telomere length in Gallotia galloti with Ed and Megan.
Project
Picture

Lydia eccleston

ARCADIA summer research student. Heat stress-induced stress communication with Jiao.
PROJECT
Picture

angel eneaneke

Crawford-Hayes summer research student. Heat-stress induced stress communication with Jiao
project

Picture

Kelly O'regan

Crawford-Hayes summer research student. Updating the CASSANDRA database with Kaylee.
project

Affiliated lab members

Picture

Dr. Victoria moris​

​Postdoctoral Fellow, Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellow, with Dr. Jorg Hardege and Prof. Gaspar Jekely
​
scholar
r gate
Picture

jess hurley​

PhD student, Plastics in the Environment cluster, with Dr. Jorg Hardege and Dr. Simon Morley at British Antarctic Survey
​
​

project

alumni

Picture

Dr. luana fiorella mincarelli

 PhD 2023, University of Hull. ​Delivered to🎁: Scientist,  Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "Giuseppe Caporale" 
project
scholar
r gate
Picture

Dr. lauric feugere

PhD 2023, University of Hull. Delivered to🎁: Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Quebec, Rimouski
project
scholar
r gate
Picture

timothy emagbetere, MSc

MSc 2022,  University of Hull. Delivered to🎁:PhD student, Roy C. Carver Center for Genomics, University of Iowa.
R Gate

Picture

Dr. paula schirrmacher​

​PhD 2023, University of Hull MolStressH2O cluster​ with
​Dr. Jorg Hardege Dr. Christina Roggatz. 

Current role: Data Scientist, University of York ​​
project
R Gate
Picture

Dr. adam bates

PhD ​2023, University of Hull Endothelial Cells cluster with Dr. Francisco Rivero. Delivered to 🎁: Research Scientist, Wellcome Sanger Institute / Tree of Life project​
project
scholar
r gate
Picture

massimo bonello, MSc

MSc 2024.  Environmental Sustainability, UCD. Distribution modelling of Ireland's only native lizard, Zootoca vivipara
project

Picture

Undergraduate alumni

We supervise final year undergraduate projects which are integrated with the current research of the lab. Our undergrads are regularly co-authoring scientific publications.  
PROJECTS
Picture

Aideen mcginn

BSc, 2024. Nesting ecology of King Cobras in Thailand. With Ed Gilbert and Dr. Max Dolton Jones (Virginia Tech)
project
Picture

Eabha o'donnell

BSc, 2024: Influence of life stage on response to changing ocean conditions. With Dr. Nicky Fletcher
PROJECT
Where to find us: 

    contact form

Submit

FUNDERS

collaborators

vences lab
ChemEcol Hull
storey lab

image/photo credits

 photo credits: wall lizard @WolfgangHasselmann via Unsplash, Anthony F. S. Sandys - Cassandra., Franco Andreone - Boophis ulftunni; University of Florida via Dr. Ed Stanley - CT scan of Zootoca vivipara; images of small wall lizard, zebrafish, ragworm: flickr. 

social media

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
    • Blog
    • CASSANDRA
    • Lab members >
      • Liam Connell
      • Megan Power
      • Sofia Vamos
      • Kaylee Beine
      • Ed Gilbert
      • Sarena Banu
      • Jiao Li
      • Alumni >
        • Adam Bates
        • Lauric Feugere
        • Luana Mincarelli
      • MSc and final year projects >
        • Kelly O'Regan
        • Angel Ekeaneke
        • Lydia Eccleston
        • Annika Wolberg
        • Eabha O'Donnell
        • Massimo Bonnello
        • Aideen McGinn