My scientific career has centered on evolutionary biology, particularly how organisms respond to environmental variation and what this tells us about evolution, development, and adaptation. Much of this work has focused on phenotypic plasticity—the ability of a single genotype to produce different phenotypes in different environments—which I’ve studied through both empirical research and theoretical modeling.
I spent years conducting field and laboratory experiments on plant systems, especially Arabidopsis thaliana and invasive species like Japanese knotweed, examining how genetic variation, developmental processes, and environmental conditions interact to produce the organisms we see. This work on reaction norms—the patterns of phenotypic response across environmental gradients—revealed that evolution operates not just on fixed traits but on the rules governing how organisms develop and respond to their surroundings. These studies contributed to our understanding of phenotypic integration, local adaptation, and the mechanisms underlying biological invasions.
A significant part of my research has addressed conceptual and theoretical questions in evolutionary biology. I’ve been particularly interested in the explanatory structure of evolutionary theory and whether the Modern Synthesis needs updating or extending. This led to my co-editing Evolution: the Extended Synthesis with Gerd Müller, which explored how phenomena like phenotypic plasticity, epigenetic inheritance, and developmental bias might require us to expand our evolutionary framework. I’ve argued that while the basic Darwinian principles remain sound, we need a more pluralistic approach to evolutionary explanation that recognizes multiple levels of organization and diverse causal processes.
More recently, my work has examined epigenetic mechanisms in evolution, the persistent but misleading nature-versus-nurture dichotomy, and how genomic and environmental factors jointly shape phenotypic variation. Collaborations with Christina Richards and others have shown how epigenetic differentiation can facilitate invasion success in plants with limited genetic diversity, raising important questions about inheritance and adaptation.
Throughout this scientific work, I’ve maintained that biology benefits from philosophical clarity about its concepts and methods. Questions about what counts as a valid evolutionary explanation, how to understand concepts like “gene for” a trait, or whether we can meaningfully separate genetic from environmental contributions aren’t just philosophical puzzles—they shape how we design experiments, interpret data, and build theories. My scientific training has convinced me that evolutionary biology and philosophy of biology need each other.
Philosophy, Science, Stoicism 