COVID-19 update: All of New Zealand is now at Orange. More information.

Contact details +6492136664
Dr Elizabeth Ostrowski
Senior Lecturer in Zoology and Ecology
School of Natural SciencesMy research is focused on ecology and evolutionary biology, with emphasis on the dynamics of adaptation in microbial populations. I am interested in understanding how organisms adapt to their environment, limitations on this process (i.e., why organisms are not perfectly adapted), the genetic basis of adaptation, and the role of genetic architecture in promoting or constraining evolution. Recently my research has focused on cooperation and conflict – how do microbes build societies to mutual benefit of their members, while safeguarding themselves against cheats?
I approach these questions by integrating laboratory evolution experiments with behavioural and genomic studies of natural populations. Experimental approaches give me insight into how evolution might solve selective dilemmas and the genetic basis of traits of interest, whereas studies of natural populations allow me to understand how evolution has proceeded and to identify traits that are selectively important to an organism.
My research is focused on ecology and evolutionary biology, with emphasis on the dynamics of adaptation in microbial populations. Recently my research has focused on cooperation and conflict – how do microbes build societies to mutual benefit of their members, while safeguarding themselves against cheats?
Research Expertise
Research Interests
Microbial evolution, molecular evolution, evolutionary genomics, cooperation and conflict
Research Opportunities
- PhD Position Available (05/01/2021) PhD scholarship available to work on Marsden Fund Grant, "Can Arms Races Occur with Species?".
Area of Expertise
Field of research codes
Biological Sciences (060000):
Evolutionary Biology (060300):
Genetics (060400):
Genomics (060408):
Microbiology (060500):
Molecular Evolution (060409):
Population, Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics (060411)
Keywords
Microbial evolution, molecular evolution, genomics, cooperation and conflict
Research Projects
Summary of Research Projects
Position | Current | Completed |
---|---|---|
Project Leader | 1 | 2 |
Current Projects
Project Title: Can Arms Races Occur Within a Species
Date Range: 2020 - 2024
Funding Body: Royal Society of New Zealand
Project Team:
- Dr Elizabeth Ostrowski - Project Leader
Research Outputs
Journal
[Journal article]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Journal article]Authored by: Cooper, T., Ostrowski, E.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Journal article]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
Book
[Chapter]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Chapter]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.

Thesis
[Doctoral Thesis]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
Conference
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Conference Poster]Authored by: Cooper, T., Ostrowski, E.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.

[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.

[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
Other
[Internet publication]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Ostrowski, E.
Teaching and Supervision
Teaching Statement
Biology of Cells (162.101)
Evolutionary Biology (196.217)
Molecular Ecology (196.318)
Phage Hunt (246.202)
Summary of Doctoral Supervision
Position | Current | Completed |
---|---|---|
Main Supervisor | 1 | 0 |
Current Doctoral Supervision
Main Supervisor of:
-
Cathleen Broersma
-
Doctor of Philosophy
Cooperation and conflict in Dictyostelium discoideum.