Rowan Schley
CURRICULUM VITAE

Employment
2021 - Present
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
(Researcher Co-I,
NERC standard grant)
Researcher Co-I responsible for the initial research question on NERC standard grant. This project examines whether hybridisation catalysed explosive radiation in tropical trees.
University of Exeter
+ University of Edinburgh
2020 - 2021
Postdoctoral Researcher
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
2019-2020
Postdoctoral Researcher
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Postdoctoral research post working on the evolution of genome size and repeat dynamics in the palm family (Arecaceae).
Postdoctoral research post working on the phylogenomics of economically important tropical plant groups, including rosewoods (Pterocarpus, Leguminosae) and rattans (Calamoideae, Arecaceae).
NERC standard grant:
Does hybridisation promote tree species diversification in the Amazon?
(June 2021)
Project assessing whether hybridisation triggered the rapid, recent diversification of Inga.
Principal Investigator: R. Toby Pennington
Co-Investigators: Alex Twyford, Kyle G. Dexter, Catherine Kidner
Researcher Co-I: Rowan Schley
Education
2015 - 2019
NERC SSCP DTP PhD
Imperial College London +
RBG Kew
Thesis:
‘Diversification and the patterns of introgression in a clade of
Neotropical trees’
Supervisors:
Dr Bente Klitgaard (RBG Kew)
Dr Felix Forest (RBG Kew)
Prof. Tim Barraclough (ICL)
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Invited, funded speaker at the 7th International Legume Conference 2018 in Sendai, Japan (¥150,000)
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Genetics Society Fieldwork grant (£1,000)
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First prize for my conference talk at Young Systematists Forum 2017
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First prize for my poster at the Imperial College London Life Sciences poster competition
Awards:
2013 - 2014
MSc Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
(Distinction)
Imperial College London
Thesis:
‘Molecular phylogenetic insights into the diversification and historical biogeography of the Sun orchids (Thelymitra, Orchidaceae)’
Grade: 84.5%
Supervisors:
Dr Katharina Schulte (ATH)
Prof. Tim Barraclough (ICL)
Awards:
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Sir Richard E. Southwood Prize for the highest MSc grade
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Studentship grant from the Australian Orchid Foundation to carry out my research at the Australian Tropical Herbarium (AU$1600)
2010 - 2013
BSc (Hons) Marine Biology
(First Class Honours)
University of Portsmouth
Thesis:
‘Ecomorphological diversification among rapidly radiating cichlid fishes in crater lakes’.
Grade: 85%
Supervisors:
Dr Martin Genner (UoB)
Dr Karen Thorpe (UoP)
Awards:
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Barber Bequest prize for best field-based BSc project in the department of biological sciences
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Studentship grant from the University of Bristol to carry out my thesis research independently (£1000)
Skills
Data analysis
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Developing bioinformatics pipelines
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Processing and analysis of High-Throughput genomic DNA sequence data in Unix (e.g. Stacks, HybPiper, Geneious)
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Phylogenetic techniques (e.g., MrBayes, RAxML, BEAST, ASTRAL, PhyloNetworks)
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Population genetic techniques (e.g., FastStructure, bgc, BayEnv)
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Repeat analysis from genomic data (e.g. RepeatExplorer)
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Statistics and modelling in R (e.g. Evolutionary rate modelling, GLM, PGLS)
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Biogeographical analyses (BioGeoBears, LaGrange)
Data collection and laboratory work
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DNA library preparation and sequencing (ddRADseq, HybSeq/Target enrichment, Sanger)
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Technical experience with High-Throughput Sequencing platforms (Illumina MiSeq)
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DNA quantification (Tapestation, Quantus, Bioanalyser, Nanodrop)
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Molecular lab techniques (DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis & PCR)
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Field techniques, including establishing forest plots and voucher specimen collection
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Morphometric techniques (including use of the programs tpsDig and tpsRelw)
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Identification of organisms using both field guides and dichotomous keys
Science dissemination
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Organising panel discussions and symposia
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Scientific publication, science communication and organisational skills
Presentations
Talks:
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Systematics Association at University of Bristol (2019)
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7th International Legume Conference in Sendai, Japan (2018)
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Young Systematists forum at the Natural History Museum, London (2017)
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Legume group meeting at University of Zurich, Switzerland (2017)
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DTP conference at Imperial College London (2017)
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DTP conference at Kings College London (2016)
Posters:
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Biodiversity Genomics online (2020)
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Evolution conference in Providence, RI, USA (2019)
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Plant Evolution Conference at RBG Kew (2019)
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Joint Evolution Congress in Montpellier, France (2018)
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Plant Evolution Conference at University of Cambridge (2016)
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Population Genetics meeting at University of Edinburgh (2015)
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Young Systematists forum at Natural History Museum, London (2015)
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Systematics Association at University of Oxford (2015)
Peer Review
Review Editor:
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Frontiers in Plant Science - Plant Systematics and Evolution
Reviewer:
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New Phytologist
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Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
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Systematics and Biodiversity
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Journal of Biogeography
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Botanical Journal of the Linnaean Society
Teaching experience
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Co-supervisor of Singapore Botanic Gardens PhD student
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Co-supervisor of Quantitative Genetics MSc student, University of Edinburgh
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Demonstrator (Phylogenetics practical module) - RBG Kew/QMUL MSc
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Molecular laboratory techniques
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DNA extraction and Sanger sequencing - Two Smith College interns and one RBG Kew MSc student
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ddRADseq - One member of RBG Kew staff
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Bioinformatics
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South China Botanical Garden MSc student (HybSeq pipeline)
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