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Ecological Genomics
27. March 2026 at 13:00-16:00
Symposium
All welcome to an open Symposium!
The Ecological Genomics Symposium will be held in English in the Ceremonial Hall at the University of Akureyri on Friday, 27 March.
The keynote speaker is Scott V. Edwards, Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology and Curator of Ornithology at Harvard University. He is among the world’s leading experts in avian evolution and uses genetics, biodiversity, and comparative genomics to study the origin and evolution of traits such as feathers and flightlessness.
- You can participate on site or through zoom link
Programme
Introduction & Keynote Speaker
Introduction: Kristinn Pétur Magnússon, Professor (University of Akureyri & Natural Science Institute of Iceland)
Keynote Speaker: Diversity of pangenomes from passerine birds: insights into structural variation and genome evolution
Scott V. Edwards (Harward University)
Before coffee break
Changes in Rock Ptarmigan Population Dynamics in Northeast Iceland, 1981 to 2025
Ólafur Karl Nielsen, PhD (Natural Science Institute of Iceland)
Implications for a support-release program Eurppopean green toad
Jacob Höglund, Professor (Uppsala University)
From genes to species, through museums and cells: Integrating approaches to understand convergent seasonal adaptation
Mafalda S. Ferreira, Assistant Professor (Stockholm University, & SciLife Lab)
Genomic Erosion by Structural Variation Across a Pan-Holarctic Superspecies: from short-reads to comparative pangenomics
Gabriel David, PhD (Uppsala University)
Coffee Break
After coffee break
Prey selection in boreal Odonata revealed by DNA metabarcoding
Hana Merchant, PhD (Uppsala University)
Linkage and the effects of deleterious mutations on genomic variation in White tailed eagles
Snæbjörn Pálsson, Professor (University of Iceland)
Genomic consequences of admixture in a Swedish sand lizard population
Seraina Emilia Bracamonte, PhD (Uppsala University)
Mutational Biases and Selection in Mitochondrial Genomes: Insights from a Comparative Analysis of Natural and Laboratory Populations of Caenorhabditis elegans
Alexandre Schifano, Doctoral student (Uppsala University)
Genetics of sympatric and allopatric divergence in Arctic charr
Arnar Pálsson, Professor (University of Iceland)
Discussion
Keynote Speaker
Scott V. Edwards is the Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology and Curator of Ornithology at Harvard University. He is a leading expert on the evolution of birds, using genetics, biodiversity research, and comparative genomics to study major innovations such as the origin of feathers and the evolution of flightlessness. His work has shaped current understanding of avian evolutionary history, disease ecology, population genetics, and genome structure. He was among the first to apply DNA sequencing to phylogeography and has conducted extensive research on the avian immune system, especially the MHC gene complex.
Edwards has held major leadership roles, including Division Director at the US National Science Foundation, overseeing a $120M annual research portfolio. He has served as president of three major scientific societies and advised organizations such as National Geographic, the Smithsonian, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. He also leads initiatives to broaden participation in evolutionary and biodiversity science. Scott Edwards is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the US National Academy of Sciences.
all welcome!