My PhD research focused on using mathematical and computational models of evolutionary genetics with the aim of understanding factors influencing variation in natural populations, especially how natural selection affects patterns of diversity.  I examined models in which natural selection acts to eliminate variation as well as to maintain variation, and studied systems as diverse as the evolution of polygyny in birds to the distribution of indels in Drosophila.

In my postdoctoral studies, my focus shifted to human population genetics. I used statistics to analyze the patterns of diversity to understand the forces that shape evolution. For example, I studied patterns of linkage disequilibrium to gain insight into rates of recombination, as well as the patterns of divergence to examine the relationship between recombination and mutation.

Currently, most of my research is centered on the analysis of primate genomes to better understand primate evolution.

Specific projects and publications