Joana L. Rocha

I did my graduation in Biology at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto, having later obtained my MSc degree in Biodiversity, Genetics and Evolution at the same University. My thesis focused on using both ancient and modern DNA sequencing methods to study the past and present genetic diversity of critically endangered species.

Currently, I am interested in the mechanisms driving adaptation and evolution in natural populations. During my PhD at CIBIO-InBIO, in collaboration with the Nielsen Lab at UC-Berkeley, I have been applying an interdisciplinary approach to assess the relative roles of demography and natural selection in the evolution of North African desert-dwelling fox species. By integrating ecological and evolutionary aspects of these species we expect to: i) identify and characterize the functional roles of the most relevant genes involved in adaptation to extreme arid conditions, ii) provide insights into the historical events responsible for adaptation and evolution in deserts.