Daniel Rankin

SNF Ambizione Researcher, Department of Biochemistry, University of Zürich

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I am a researcher at the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Zürich, Switzerland, where my research focuses on various aspects of evolutionary and ecological theory. Mathematical models are used to understand the world of evolution and ecology. The rules of evolution and ecology can be expressed using very simple mathematical formulae. Various techniques, such as game theory, non-linear dynamical systems, adaptive dynamics and individual-based modeling approaches can be applied. These models are designed and tested by using data, and working closely with empiricists.

| Research | Publications | Career | Awards |
| Presentations | Editing | Media | News |

Research Interests

I work mostly as a theoretical biologist. My research focuses on feedbacks between ecology and evolution. In particular, my research focuses on three main themes:

• Social evolution and the evolutionary tragedy of the commons
• Mobile DNA and the evolution of horizontal gene transfer
• The link between ecology and evolutionary systems
  

Selected Publications

• Rankin, D.J. & Arnqvist, G. (2008) Sexual dimorphism is associated with population fitness in the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus. Evolution. 62: 622-630.
• Kokko, H., Heubel, K. & Rankin, D.J. (2008) How populations persist when asexuality requires sex: the spatial dynamics of coping with sperm parasites. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London: Biological Sciences 275: 817-825.
• Rankin, D.J., Bargum, K. & Kokko, H. (2007) The tragedy of the commons in evolutionary biology. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 22: 643-651.
• Rankin, D.J., López-Sepulcre, A., Foster, K.R & Kokko, H. (2007) Species-level selection reduces intraspecific selfishness through competitive exclusion. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 20: 1459-1468.
• Rankin, D.J. & López-Sepulcre, A. (2005) Can adaptation lead to extinction? Oikos 111: 616-619.

Career History

• March 2009 - March 2012: Swiss National Science Foundation Ambizione Fellow, University of Zürich, CH
• September 2008 - February 2009: Post-doctoral Forschungskredit Fellow, University of Zürich, CH
• March 2008 - May 2008: Visiting Researcher, Harvard University, USA
• March 2007 - August 2008: Post-doctoral research fellow, University of Bern, CH
• November 2006 - February 2007: Research Assistant, University of Bern, CH
• October 2004 - December 2004: Visiting Researcher, Uppsala University, SE
• March 2004 - October 2006: Researcher, Helsinki University, FI
• November 2003 - February 2004: Research Assistant, University of Zürich, CH
• January 2002 - December 2003: Msc Biology, Leiden University, NL
• 1998-2001: BSc (Hons), University of York, UK

Funding and Awards

• Swiss National Science Foundation Project Grant - October 2009 - October 2012
• Swiss National Science Foundation Ambizione Fellowship - March 2009 - March 2012
• CUSO grant to organise workshop - June 2009
• University of Zürich Forschungskredit Fellowship September 2008 - March 2009
• Cogito foundation short term research grant - March-May 2008
• University of Bern Nachwuchsförderung - August 2007
• University of Helsinki Chancellor's travel grant - July 2006
• Leverhulme Trust Study-Abroad Studentship - 2002-2003

Media etc.

Please click here for information relating to attention our work has received

Editorial Work

• 2008 - present: Academic Editor, PLoS ONE
• 2006 - present: Associate Editor, JNR Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Talks and Presentations

See here for the list.