Questions about the Center for Comparative Genomics (CCG)? Visit our webpage to learn more, or contact CCG Director Athena Lam, PhD, at alam@calacademy.org.
Dr. Anna Holmquist is a postdoctoral researcher in the Center for Comparative Genomics (CCG) working on a multi-institutional project to generate a comprehensive DNA barcode reference library for all Californian insects by utilizing museum collections. Holmquist received her PhD from the University of California, Berkeley in May 2023. She is broadly interested in understanding the processes behind biodiversity formation and promoting resilience.
The Simison lab investigates the processes that generate, maintain, and reduce biodiversity. In particular, we are interested in the process of speciation. We use comparative genomics techniques such as RADseq, Ultra Conserved Elements, transcriptomics, and whole genomes to study the role of admixture and introgression in speciation. We are currently focusing on the globally invasive red eared slider turtle system (Trachemys scripta elegans) native to North America.