UNIFR
Dept Biology
Ecology & Evolution
  


The Lexer Lab

Molecular ecology
&
evolutionary genetics group

Maria Joao Amaral

Ph.D. Student

E-mail
mariajoao.palermodefariaamaral[at]unifr.ch

Address
University of Fribourg
Department of Biology
Unit of Ecology & Evolution
Chemin du Musée 10
CH-1700 Fribourg
Switzerland

Phone
+41 (0)26 300 8867

Fax
+41 (0)26 300 96 98




.

Current research



How the genome of diversifying lineages evolves is a fundamental problem in evolutionary biology and conservation science. My PhD project addresses the evolution of phenotypic and ecological diversity in tropical stone oaks (Lithocarpus; Fagaceae) using the tools of phylogenomics and population genomics. The genus Lithocarpus, for which more than 300 species have been described, can be found exclusively in Southeast Asia where it often dominates the canopy of tropical and subtropical forests. Despite being so diverse and ecologically important, most aspects concerning its biology and evolution are still poorly understood, particularly when compared to its temperate counterparts oak, beech, and chestnut. The first steps of my work include the development of novel phylogenetic markers from plant comparative genomics databases and from available Lithocarpus short-read (illumina) sequence data, and laboratory tests for the usefulness of novel genotyping-by-resequencing approaches in these species. My project is based at Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, China (supervisor: Prof. Charles Cannon), and University of Fribourg, Switzerland (supervisor: Prof. Christian Lexer). Financial support comes from the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Curriculum vitae


2010- PhD student, University of Fribourg, Switzerland, and Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, China.
2009-2010 Collaborator at Biocant, Biotechnology Innovation Center, Cantanhede, Portugal.
2008 Master in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, Imperial College, London, UK. Thesis: Phylogenetic relations based on two high copy nuclear genes and four chloroplast DNA regions and patterns of flavonoid production in the genus Lessertia/Sutherlandia (Leguminosae).
1998-2006 Lab technician, EGI-Ambiente - Environment Assessment, Canelas, Gaia, Portugal.

Research Technician, Dr. Augusto Nobre Marine Zoological Station at the University of Porto.

Research Assistant, National Institute of Amazonic Research (INPA), Manaus, Brazil, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Amazónicas (INPA), Manaus, Brazil.

1998 Bachelor of Science in Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Porto.
1996-1997 Research Assistant, University of Amazonas (UA), Manaus, Brazil/Universidade do Porto (UP), Portugal.