Current and recent research group (for photos, please see main research page!)

 

Researchers (core funded RBGE staff not listed)

Current:

Dr Rafaela Trad (Postdoctoral fellow at Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, funded by the Botanics Foundation): Phylogenomics of the pea-flowered legumes (Papilionoideae)

Dr Julia Ferm (Swedish Research Council international postdoc programme): Phylogenetics, taxonomy, and biogeography of the legume Zygia.

Dr Rowan Schley (NERC funded Research Fellow): Does hybridisation promote tree species diversification in the Amazon?


Recent:

Dr Moabe Ferreira Fernandes (Royal Society Newton Fellow): Large scale macro-ecological patterns and conservation priority in the Americas: a view from the legume family. (2021-2023)

Dr Carolyn Petersen (University of Exeter GCRF Facilitation Fund): Investigating the contributions of women’s agroforestry activities to renegotiating gender equality and food security in Brazil. (2022-2023)

Dr Julieth Serrano (NERC-AHRC Newton Fund ColombiaBio Postdoctoral Research Associate): BioResilience: Biodiversity resilience and ecosystem services in post-conflict socio-ecological systems in Colombia (2019-2022)

Dr Saulo Souza (BBSRC-GCRF funded Postdoctoral Research Associate): Improving agroforestry and silvopastoral systems in Latin America by maximising species and genetic diversity of the multipurpose legume Inga (2018-2021)

Dr Rosalía Piñeiro (BBSRC-GCRF funded Postdoctoral Research Associate): Improving agroforestry and silvopastoral systems in Latin America by maximising species and genetic diversity of the multipurpose legume Inga (2018-2021)

Dr Graeme Oatley (NERC-funded technician): Nordeste - new science for a neglected biome (2018-2021)

Peter Moonlight (NERC-funded Postdoctoral Research Assistant): Nordeste - new science for a neglected biome (2017-2021)

Dr Danilo Neves (NERC-funded Postdoctoral Research Assistant): Niche evolution of South American trees and its consequences (2012-2015)

Dr James Nicholls (US-NSF funded Postdoctoral Research Assistant): NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity: “Dimensions: Coexistence, herbivore host choice, and plant-herbivore evolution in the recently radiated and speciose Neotropical tree genus, Inga” (2013-2017)

Ms Julia Weintritt (Leverhulme Trust): Floristic inventory and conservation of neotropical dry forests (network facilitator for Leverhulme-funded DRYFLOR International Network) (2012-2016)

Ms Alexandra Clark (NERC-funded technician): Niche evolution of South American trees and its consequences (2012-2015)

 

Recent sabbatical visitors

Prof Mário Marcos do Espirito Santo, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros (2020 -2021)

Prof Anne Bruneau, University of Montreal (Director of Science Montreal Botanical Garden; 2015 – 2016)

Dr Colin Hughes, University of Zurich (2015)

Prof Ary Oliveira-Filho, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (2016)

 

PhD students

Raissa Leite Jardim, University of Exeter (2023-2027)
Understanding the role of native plants in restoring pastures in Brazil’s tropical savannas
Supervisors: Lucy Rowland, Fernanda Barros, Toby Pennington

Leonardo Medeiros, University of Exeter (2023-2027)
The role of legume trees in agroforests and silvopastures in Amazonia
Supervisors: Toby Pennington, Lucy Rowland, Fernanda Barros

Le Min Choo, University of Exeter (2023-2027)
Phylogeny, biogeography, and the role of past and present hybridisation in understanding future evolutionary trends of a tropical tree genus, Sindora (Fabaceae, Detarioideae)
Supervisors: Toby Pennington, Felix Forest, Manuel Estrella

Lucy Wells, University of Edinburgh (NERC SENSE CDT - Centre for Satellite Data in Environmental Science) (2020-2023)
Using remote sensing to understand global change in the dry tropics
Supervisors: Casey Ryan, Kyle Dexter, Toby Pennington, Oliver Phillips, Tim Baker

Mateus Cardoso, University of Exeter (University of Exeter Alumni and WWF funded)
Restoration of the Brazilian cerrado savannas
Supervisors: Toby Pennington, Lucy Rowland

Rosemary Clegg, University of Exeter (NERC GW4 DTP)
Biodiversity, biogeography, conservation and restoration of isolated inselberg vegetation in the dry biomes of Latin America.
Supervisors: Toby Pennington, Lucy Rowland.

Kelly Bocanegra Gonzalez, University of Edinburgh and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (2020-2024)
A phylogenetic and transcriptomic study of Inga in Colombia
Supervisors: Catherine Kidner, Toby Pennington, Kyle Dexter

Lizzie Telford, University of Edinburgh and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (2019-2023)
Understanding the Role of Legumes within the African Savanna
Supervisors: Caroline Lehmann, Toby Pennington, Lorna Street, Nicola Stevens

Gustavo Ramos, University of Edinburgh and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (2019-2023)
Biogeography and evolution of floral form in Aldina (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae)
Supervisors: Toby Pennington, Catherine Kidner
 

Alumni

PhD students

Natalia Contreras, University of Edinburgh and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (2018-2022)
Population genetics and phylogenomics of the genus Guazuma
Supervisors: Catherine Kidner, James Richardson, Toby Pennington

Jack Oughton, University of Exeter NERC GW4 DTP (2019-2022)
Supervisors: Dunia Urrego, Rich Pancost (Bristol), Toby Pennington

Jessica Rickenback. University of Edinburgh (2017-2022)
Savannas at the forest boundary: an understudied and at risk biome
Supervisors: Caroline Lehmann, Toby Pennington

Hannah Atkins, University of Edinburgh (2015-2020)
Systematics and biogeography of Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae)
Supervisors: Mark Hughes, Toby Pennington

Flávia Pezzini. University of Edinburgh (2015-2019)
Systematics and biogeography of Ceiba (Malvaceae-Bombacoideae)
Supervisors: Toby Pennington, Catherine Kidner

Pedro Miranda. University of Edinburgh (2015-2019)
Biogeography of South American forest biomes
Supervisors: Kyle Dexter, Toby Pennington, Caroline Lehmann

Natashi Pilon, UNICAMP, Brazil (2017)
The evolution of fire-related plant traits in cerrado ground-layer and the phylogenetic structure in burnt and non-burnt plant communities
Six months sandwich student funded by Brazilian Government (CAPES)

Julieth Serrano, University of Edinburgh (2014-2017)
Distribution patterns of tree species in neotropical lowland rain forest: Sapotaceae as a case study
Supervisors: James Richardson, Toby Pennington

Vanessa Rezende. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (2015).
Phytogeography and phylogeography of southern South America
Six months sandwich student funded by Brazilian Government (CAPES)

Maria Kaye. University Aberdeen (2013-2015).
Investigating the role of functional traits in tropical tree assembly determined by phylogenetic reconstruction using DNA bar-coding
Supervisors: David Burslem (Aberdeen), Toby Pennington, Pete Hollingsworth

Karina Banda, University of Edinburgh (2013-2016)
Phytogeography and conservation of the Colombian dry forest
Supervisors: Toby Pnnington, Kyle Dexter (University Of Edinburgh [UoE])

Roosevelt García, University of Edinburgh (2011-2014).
Biogeography of the white sand forests of the Amazon
Supervisors: Toby Pennington, James Richardson, Kyle Dexter (UoE)

María-Camila Gómez, University of Edinburgh (2010-2014)
Evolution of the Páramo flora
Supervisors: James Richardson, Richard Milne (UoE), Toby Pennington

Renata Francoso, Universidade de Brasilia (2013)
Phytogeography of the Brazilian cerrados (2013)
Six month sandwich visit funded by Brazilian government (CAPES)
 
Lidiany Carvalho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Monodominant forests of Amazonia
Four month sandwich visit funded by Brazilian government (CAPES)
 
Liliane Dantas, Universidade Federal do Pernambuco (2013)
Phylogeography of the Brazilian cerrados
Four month sandwich visit funded by Brazilian government (CAPES)
 
Danilo Neves, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil (2011-2012)
Phenology, structure, dynamics and floristic patterns of the vegetation of the southern Pantanal
One year sandwich visit funded by Brazilian government (CAPES)
 
Marcelo Bueno, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil (2011-2012)
Phytogeographic patterns of the central Brazilian tree flora
One year sandwich visit funded by Brazilian government (CAPES)
 
Vanessa Pontara, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil (2011-2012)
Dynamics, growth and recruitment of Dalbergia nigra (Vellozo) Freire Allemão ex Bentham.
One year sandwich visit funded by Brazilian government (CAPES)
 
Oswaldo Cruz Neto, Universidade Federal do Pernambuco (2012)
Reproductive success of Inga vera Willd. (Fabaceae) in the Brazilian northeastern Atlantic forest
Six month sandwich visit funded by Brazilian government (CAPES)
 
Joao Iganci, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (2009-2010)
Systematics and biogeography of Adesmia
Six month sandwich visit funded by Brazilian government (CAPES)
 
Euridice Honorio, University of Leeds (2009-2012)
Integrating ecological and molecular information of widespread species in western Amazonia
Supervisors: Toby Pennington, Oliver Phillips, Simon Lewis (University of Leeds)

Faten Filimban, University of Edinburgh (2009-2012)
Systematics and biogeography of Senna (Leguminosae) in Arabia.
Supervisors: Toby Pennington, Barbara MacKinder, Sabina Knees

Paulina Hechenleitner, University of Aberdeen (2009-2014).
Systematics and biogeography of neotropical Vicia (Leguminosae)
Supervisors: Toby Pennington, David Burslem (University of Aberdeen), Gwilym Lewis (RBG Kew)
 
Macarena Cardenas, Dept. Earth and Environmental Sciences, Open University (2007-2010)
Climate change impacts on hyper-diverse Amazonian ecosystems
Supervisors: William Gosling, Sarah Sherlock, Vincent Gauci (Open University), Imogen Poole (University of Utrecht), Toby Pennington

Katherine Fitzpatrick, Dept. Geography, University of Edinburgh (2007-2010). 
Multi-proxy based Late Quaternary environmental reconstruction in lowland tropical South America.
Supervisors: Francis Mayle (UoE), Toby Pennington.
 
Tiina Sarkinen, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford (2006-2009).
Systematics of Amicia (Leguminosae) and plant diversification in the Andes.
Supervisors: Colin Hughes, John Pannell (University of Oxford), Toby Pennington
 
Bhaskar Adhikari, University of Edinburgh (2006-2009).
Investigating the evolution of large genera: how did Berberis speciate in Nepal?
Supervisors: Richard Milne (UoE), Colin Pendry, Toby Pennington
 
Bronwen Whitney, Dept. Geography, University of Edinburgh (2006-2009).
Palaeoecology of the Pantanal: Late Quaternary vegetation and climate change in Eastern Bolivia.
Supervisors: Francis Mayle (UoE), Toby Pennington
 
Huw Jones Dept. Geography, University of Edinburgh (2006-2009).
Characterisation of neotropical savanna ecosystems by their modern pollen rain.
Supervisors: Francis Mayle (UoE), Jim Ratter, Toby Pennington

Sofia Caetano, University of Geneva (2003-2007).
South American seasonally dry tropical forests: are they current refugia or the result of long distance dispersal?
Supervisors: Yamama Naciri, Rodolphe Spichiger (Geneva), Toby Pennington

Greg Kenicer, ICMB, University of Edinburgh (2002-2005).
Systematics and biogeography of Lathyrus section Orobus (Leguminosae).
Supervisors: Toby Pennington, Quentin Cronk, Mark Watson
 
Nazre Saleh, ICMB, University of Edinburgh (2002-2005).
Systematics of Garcinia section Garcinia (Guttiferae).
Supervisors: Toby Pennington, Mark Newman
 
Gemma Bramley, ICMB, University of Edinburgh (2001-2003).
Local, regional and monographic approaches to Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae).
Supervisors: Quentin Cronk, Mary Mendum, Toby Pennington
 
Barbara MacKinder, ICMB, University of Edinburgh (2001-2006).
Systematics and biogeography of Berlinia (Leguminosae – Caesalpinioideae)
Supervisors: Toby Pennington, David Harris

Helene Citerne, ICMB, University of Edinburgh (2001-2004).
Examination of cyc-like genes in the Leguminosae.
Supervisors: Toby Pennington, Quentin Cronk, Enrico Coen (John Innes Institute)
 
Peter Wilkie, University of Aberdeen (2000-2005).
Systematics of Asian Sterculiaceae.
Supervisors: Toby Pennington, Chris Wilcock (University of Aberdeen)

Elizabeth Moylan, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford (1998-2001).
Systematics of Hemigraphis (Acanthaceae).
Supervisors: Toby Pennington, Robert Scotland (University of Oxford), Paula Rudall (RBG Kew)
 
Helen Ireland, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Reading (1997-2000).
Systematics of Ateleia and Cyathostegia (Leguminosae-Swartzieae).
Supervisors: Toby Pennington, Brian Schrire (RBG Kew), Frank Bisby (University of Reading)

 

MSc students

Tom Bailey, University of Exeter, MSc by Research (with J. Serrano and T. Feldpausch: 2021)

Rob Howard, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with T. Sarkinen and P.  Moonlight: 2017)

Jessica Rickenback, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with T. Sarkinen and P.  Moonlight: 2017)

Victoria Cabrera, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with K. Dexter: 2015)

Vanezza Morales, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with C. Lehmann: 2014)
 
Bryony Smart, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with K. Dexter: 2013)
 
Loic Cecilio, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with J. Richardson and K. Dexter: 2011)
 
Cathy King, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with T. Sarkinen: 2009)
 
Sarah Cody, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with J. Richardson: 2008)
 
Euridice Honorio, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with S. Bridgewater: 2006)
 
Tiina Sarkinen, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with M. Newman: 2005)
 
Rhonda Ridley, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with G. Kenicer: 2004)
 
James Tosh, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with D. Harris: 2004)
 
Anton Russell, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with M. Hollingsworth: 2004)
 
Joshua Clayton, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with V. Plana: 2003)
 
Cynthia Skema, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (2003)
 
Reynaldo Linares Palomino, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with S. Bridgewater: 2002)
 
Simon Queenborough, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with S. Bridgewater and P. Wilkie: 2001)
 
Michael Pirie, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with B. Klitgaard, RBG Kew and C. Pendry: 2000)
 
Helen Cortes Burns, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with B. Schrire, RBG Kew and A. Miller: 2000)
 
Shirin Rezai, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with C. Pendry: 2000)
 
Richard Howarth, University of Edinburgh MSc (by research), Department of Geography, University of Edinburgh (with Colin Pendry and Peter Furley, University of Edinburgh,1998-1999)
 
Barbara MacKinder, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with G. Lewis, RBG Kew; 1999)
 
Freya Cooper, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with S. Bridgewater: 1998)
 
Josephine Welsh, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with R. Bateman and Q. Cronk: 1997)
 
Andrew Bell, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with C. Alexander and S. Spongberg, Arnold Arboretum: 1996)

Helen Ireland, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (with B.D. Schrire, RBG Kew: 1996)
 
Carlota Quilambo, University of Reading MSc student (with D. Cutler and C.H. Stirton, RBG Kew: 1996)
 
Birgit Gemeinholzer, University of Edinburgh and RBGE MSc student (1995)