Sylvain Antoniazza

I am fond of all fields related to Evolutionary Biology in a broad sense, especially in population genetics and phylogeographic approaches.
For my PhD, I am investigating adaptive genetic variation in the Barn Owl (Tyto alba). This species is interesting as it displays pronounced variation in three heritable melanin-based color traits. By comparing neutral genetic markers (microsatellites) with color variation (Q_ST-F_ST approach), I showed during my master thesis that cline variation in those traits on the European continent is maintained by selection, suggesting that color traits are locally adapted.
In the continuation of this project I will identify, by different population genomic approaches, loci related to coloration that are under selection and compare their characteristics to the distribution of neutral and phenotypic variation over large spatial scale. I hope to get insights into selective forces in natural populations and local adaptations during this project.

Born August 4th 1983 in Payerne, Switzerland

2008-
PhD on barn owl (Tyto alba) adaptive genetic variation under the supervision of Jérôme Goudet and Alexandre Roulin.

2006-2008
Master of Science in Biology (Ecology and Evolution) at the University of Lausanne under supervision of Reto Burri, Alexandre Roulin and Luca Fumagalli

Master in Behavior, Evolution and Conservation (MSc BEC)

2006
Civilian Service for the Nature and Landscape Conservation Office of the Canton of Fribourg (6 months).

2005-2006
Civilian Service for the Swiss Ornithological Institute (7 months).

2002-2005
Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Lausanne.

2002-
Member of the comity of "Nos Oiseaux", an association for the study and the conservation of birds in the French part of Switzerland.

2002-2006
President of the "Groupe des Jeunes de Nos Oiseaux", an association of young birdwatcher in the French part of Switzerland.

2000-2008
Member of the comity of the "Groupe des Jeunes de Nos Oiseaux", an association of young birdwatcher in the French part of Switzerland.

1999-
Voluntary collaborator of the Swiss Ornithological Institute.

Birdwatching and naturalism
Watching movies and cultural activities in general
Travelling