Adin Ross-Gillespie

I am interested in the evolutionary ecology of (a) cooperative behaviour and (b) host-pathogen (or parasite) relationships. At the intersection of these broad themes are those situations where cooperative activities undertaken by either pathogens or their hosts impact on the fitness of the other, and thus influence the outcome of an infection. My work aims to broaden our understanding these situations.
Previously, I studied the evolutionary causes and ecological consequences of cooperative breeding in vertebrates (meerkats, mole-rats, hornbills), and have also investigated cooperative behaviour among humans in experimental economic situations. For my PhD, I shifted focus to study forms of cooperation that occur within populations of bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa). This opportunistic pathogen engages in various social activities, many of which are important in the context of infections.
At present, I am working with other members of the Wedekind group to develop a bacteria / fish-egg infection model in which to test ideas about how cooperation and cheating among pathogens can influence the evolution of virulence. At the same time, we will investigate how host factors (genetic, maternal) and environmental factors (e.g. temperature, wild vs. captive) can also affect the severity of an infection.

Sep 2009 – present
Post doc (premier assistant), Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

2009
Teaching assistant, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, UK

2005 – 2008
PhD, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, UK
(“Evolution and ecology of cooperation in the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa”)

2002 – 2005
Technician / research assistant, Kalahari Meerkat Project, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, UK

1999 – 2002
BSc Hons (Zoology), University of Cape Town, South Africa