Daniel Berner

Group Leader, Zoological Institute, University of Basel.

Current research

 

I am an evolutionary ecologist fascinated by the mechanisms underlying biological diversification (adaptation, speciation). To shed light on these mechanisms, my group’s research typically focuses on how distinct ecological conditions can lead to diversifying selection, how populations respond to this selection at the phenotypic level, and on the genetic underpinnings of this divergence. We aim for an integration of diverse analytical approaches, including manipulative field and laboratory experiments, phenotypic investigations, marker-based analyses using high-throughput sequence data, and computer simulations. My classical empirical research system is threespine stickleback fish inhabiting ecologically contrasting habitats, but we currently also study the responses of butterfly species to anthropogenic ecological changes, and I am happy to expand focus to other research systems.

For Master project opportunities see here

Team

• Jonas Hüsler, MSc
• Nadine Furrer, MSc
• Patrick Brüderlin, MSc
• Olivia Bäbler, MSc: Genomic introgression across a steep ecological transition in stickleback fish
• Junyi Yang, MSc: Evolutionary genomics of a range-expansive butterfly
• Carlos Herrera, PhD: Developmental genetic basis of armor reduction in acidic-adapted threespine stickleback fish
• Nathalie Matthey-de-l'Endroit, PhD: Evolutionary and conservation genomics in butterflies

Former members

• Lucas Blattner, Postdoc: Genomic analysis of range expansion in the butterfly Pieris mannii
• Simona Ruffener, MSc: The range-expanding butterfly Pieris mannii: habitat use and reference genome assembly
• Quiterie Haenel, PhD: Adaptation genomics in stickleback
• Telma Laurentino, PhD: Adaptation genomics in stickleback
• Tanja Brechbühl, MSc: Genetic basis of stickleback adaptation to acidic environments
• Alicia Welti, MSc: Genetic basis of morphological diversity in stickeback
• Mirjam Bissegger, MSc: Sexually antagonistic selection across the stickleback genome
• Matthias Ammann, MSc: Adaptation and selection coefficients; sexual reproductive isolation in stickleback
• Dario Moser, MSc, PhD: Phenotypic plasticity and components of reproductive isolation in lake-stream stickleback
• Anja Frey, MSc: Development of an amplicon sequencing approach enabling targeted genomic analysis
• Marius Roesti, MSc, PhD: Population genomics of adaptive divergence in stickleback
• Benjamin Kueng, MSc: The genomics of lake-stream stickleback divergence in the Lake Constance basin

 

 

 

Curriculum vitae

Present	Permanent group leader, University of Basel, Switzerland
2013-2020	Research assistant, University of Basel, Switzerland
2008 - 2012	Postdoctoral fellow with Walter Salzburger, University of Basel, Switzerland
2006 - 2008	Postdoctoral fellow with Andrew Hendry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
2001 - 2005	PhD in Ecology with Christian Körner and Wolf Blanckenhorn, University of Basel, Switzerland
1995 - 2000	Studies in Geography, University of Zürich, Switzerland

Research grants

2021 - 2025	Swiss National Science Foundation, Project funding (grant 31003A_200374)
2016 - 2019	Swiss National Science Foundation, Project funding (grant 31003A_165826)
2014	Freiwillige Akademische Gesellschaft Basel (project funding)
2014	Swiss National Science Foundation, International Short Visit for a population genomics project with Katie Peichel (grant IZK0Z3_154188)
2013 - 2016	Swiss National Science Foundation, Project funding (grant 31003A_146208)
2011	Freiwillige Akademische Gesellschaft Basel (project funding)
2009 - 2012	Swiss National Science Foundation, Ambizione fellowship (grant PZ00P3_126391)
2008 - 2009	Research Fund, University of Basel
2007 - 2008	Roche Research Foundation
2007 - 2008	Stiefel-Zangger Foundation, University of Zürich
2006 - 2007	Swiss National Science Foundation, prospective researcher fellowship (grant PBBS33-111216)
2006 - 2007	Janggen-Pöhn Foundation