Dr Andrea Waeschenbach
Principal Researcher, Molecular Systematics
ORCID: 0000-0001-8571-9345
Department: Research
Division: Research
Specialisms: Phylogenetics, Bryozoa, Platyhelminthes, mitogenomics, invasive species, molecular systematics, bird strike identification
Summary
Originally trained as a marine biologist, my research as Principal Researcher at the Natural History Museum, focusses on molecular systematics and phylogenomics, with a particular emphasis on colonial aquatic animals (bryozoans). I am driven by a passion for understanding the evolutionary relationships and macroevolutionary history of neglected invertebrate groups and how we can use phylogenies to study biogeographical patterns, diversification and their underlying triggers.
Qualifications
Degrees
- PhD, Swansea University, United Kingdom, 1999 - 2003
- BSc Marine Biology, Swansea University, United Kingdom, 1996 - 1999
Highlighted publications
- Waeschenbach A, Zhou Z, Schwaha T, Okamura B, Gordon DP, Wood TS, Ostrovsky AN, Todd JA, Decker SH, Johnson M, Mohammed Al-Ghanem M, De Blauwe H, Florence WK, Graham R, Hall A, Hartikainen H, Jenkins HL, Kukliński P, Porter JS, Smith AM, Spencer Jones ME (2025) A genome-skimming phylogeny of ctenostome bryozoans. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 204, doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf060
- Grant HE, Ostrovsky AN, Jenkins HL, Vieira LM, Gordon DP, Foster PG, Kotenko ON, Smith AM, Berning B, Porter JS, Souto J, Florence WK, Tilbrook KJ, Waeschenbach A (2023) Multiple evolutionary transitions of reproductive strategies in a phylum of aquatic colonial invertebrates. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 290, doi: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1458
- Jenkins HL, Graham R, Porter JS, Vieira LM, De Almeida ACS, Hall A, O’Dea A, Coppard SE, Waeschenbach A (2022) Unprecedented frequency of mitochondrial introns in colonial bilaterians. Scientific Reports 12, doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-14477-3
Highlighted publications
- Waeschenbach A, Zhou Z, Schwaha T, Okamura B, Gordon DP, Wood TS, Ostrovsky AN, Todd JA, Decker SH, Johnson M, Mohammed Al-Ghanem M, De Blauwe H, Florence WK, Graham R, Hall A, Hartikainen H, Jenkins HL, Kukliński P, Porter JS, Smith AM, Spencer Jones ME (2025) A genome-skimming phylogeny of ctenostome bryozoans. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 204, doi: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf060
- Grant HE, Ostrovsky AN, Jenkins HL, Vieira LM, Gordon DP, Foster PG, Kotenko ON, Smith AM, Berning B, Porter JS, Souto J, Florence WK, Tilbrook KJ, Waeschenbach A (2023) Multiple evolutionary transitions of reproductive strategies in a phylum of aquatic colonial invertebrates. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 290, doi: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1458
- Jenkins HL, Graham R, Porter JS, Vieira LM, De Almeida ACS, Hall A, O’Dea A, Coppard SE, Waeschenbach A (2022) Unprecedented frequency of mitochondrial introns in colonial bilaterians. Scientific Reports 12, doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-14477-3