RB Smith

My research at the Highlander Lab focuses on the population genomics of black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens), a species increasingly bred for feed protein.

Goals:

• Assemble an H. illucens pan-genome using whole genome sequences from wild and captive populations;

• Identify patterns of genetic variation across H. illucens populations to inform future breeding programmes;

• Use genomics to answer additional questions pertinent to breeding, such as detecting multiple paternity.

My background is in ecology and evolution, and I’m interested in research related to conservation and sustainable land use. I studied biology as an undergraduate at Williams College in the US, and I am currently studying for an MSc in Evolutionary Genetics at the University of Edinburgh. 

I am specifically interested in:

Programming language and software:

I love hiking, camping and anything outside, and I am always up for a board game.