Dr. Michael Hart, Associate Professor, Marine Population Biology

I like to have a relatively small research group of a few graduate and undergraduate students who I can get to know well and work with closely. New students must be interested in whole organisms and their evolution. Most of my recent experience has involved echinoderms, but I’m not a taxon snob and the occasional mollusk and cnidarian has crossed my path. I’m not opposed to work on model organisms with well-characterized genomes, development, and behaviour, but am more interested in obscure species with interesting natural history.

Much of my earlier work used simple lab methods for analysis of embryos and larvae of marine invertebrates, but almost all of the recent work has used molecular tools of some kind to answer questions about phylogeny, population structure, or reproductive behaviour. A prospective student would have to twist my arm to work on embryology rather than some aspect of molecular phylogenetics or population genetics.

Prospective students (grads or undergrads) should have well-developed curiosity about organisms, a strong work ethic, independence, creativity, and a sense of humour. Grad students should have practical skills and experience with either reproductive ecology of marine invertebrates or molecular methods for population genetics and phylogenetics. Grad students who require financial support would probably be asked to work on some aspect of asterinid sea star reproductive evolution, but those with independent support (e.g., NSERC PGS) would be free to choose just about any topic that’s similar enough to my own work that I could give useful advice and supervision.

All lab members would also become members of FAB*, the evolutionary biology group in the Department of Biological Sciences.

Please look at the outline of my current research interests by following the link at the top or at the bottom of this page. If you’re interested in joining the lab, contact me to discuss possibilities. I’m especially interested in having a new grad student join the lab in 2005 to study fertilization biology or the evolution of genes encoding fertilization proteins in bat stars. For inside information, follow the People links and contact one of my current or former students.