The Biodiversity and Environment research group at Durham University brings together researchers working at the forefront of genetics, evolution, ecology, behaviour and environmental science to address some of the most pressing challenges facing the world. Our research seeks to understand how organisms respond to, and are shaped by their environment, across scales ranging from genes to landscapes. By integrating discovery and applied science, the group delivers research that drives conservation, management, environmental resilience, food security, and evidence‑based policy in a changing world.
The group encompasses a broad portfolio of biological research across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine systems. Research strengths include gene x environment interactions, ecological and evolutionary genomics, development, behavioural and species interactions, macroecology, conservation and global change biology. This work is underpinned by diverse methodological approaches including field‑ and laboratory‑based work, analysis of temporal datasets, and predictive modelling. Together, this breadth enables cross‑system synthesis and interdisciplinary collaboration, supporting world-leading research with far-reaching impacts.
Meet the group
Genomics Facility
Vicky Kelly Technical Manager
Bioimaging Facility
Joanne Robson Senior Experimental Officer
Plant Growth Facility
Helen Martin - Facility Manager
