Paul Brakefield

Paul is the team leader, and started the research group through an ERC grant. Having been based previously at Leiden University, he is now the Director of the University Museum of Zoology. His main research is on evolutionary genetics of butterflies.

Oskar Brattström

Oskar is one of the two postdocs, and the big brother of the team. He has been collecting (butterflies, what else?) extensively in Africa and knows the mycalesines in this part rather intimately. His current research interests include evolution of secondary sexual characters, hostplant ecology, migration, systematics and taxonomy of butterflies.

David Lees

David is the second post-doc, and joined us in March 2013. One of the foremost experts on Madagascan lepidoptera, he will be working on the region's mycalesines in addition to playing an important part in the comparative work. Other research interests include ecology of invasive species, lepidopteran systematics, biogeography and conservation.

Kwaku Aduse-Poku

Kwaku joined the team in early 2011 as our first PhD. Lends an African flavour to the team, apart from his knowledge of West African butteflies. His research includes community ecology, phylogenetics, wing pattern evolution and comparative evo-devo.

Erik van Bergen

Erik joined the project in the autumn of 2011 as the second PhD to complete our team. He has been working on B. anynana for quite some now and will be in charge of experimental work on mycalesine-hostplant interactions.

Dave Osbaldeston

Dave is our research technician and a vital cog in the team. We rely on him for rearing butterflies, molecular work, general administration, maintaining good spirits on camp, etc.

Ullasa Kodandaramaiah

Ullasa was part of the group in 2011 and 2012 and has now joined the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, India (IISER-TVM), as Assistant Professor. We continue to work together with him on mycalesines.