Members of the research group





   Erik, Oskar, David L, Kwaku, Paul and Ullasa.

  • 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.


  • Ullasa Kodandaramaiah
    •  Ullasa is the junior postdoc in the group. Has worked on Asian mycalesines for quite some time, and will be co-ordinating work on butterflies from this part. His current research interests are phylogenetics, biogeography, wing pattern evolution, hostplant ecology and Wolbachia-butterfly interactions.


  • 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.


  • David Lees
    •  David will soon be joining the group as a postdoc in 2013, but is already part of our research efforts. 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.