BSc University College London (1981) PhD University of Oxford (1985) Royal Society/JSPS Research Fellow, Nagoya University, Japan (1986-89) AFRC Research Associate, University College London (1989-90) Lecturer, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield (1990-2001) Senior Lecturer, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield (2001-2003) Reader, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield (2003-2006) Professor of Entomology, Department of Animal and Plant Science, University of Sheffield (2006-present) Head of Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield (2012-present)

My research focuses on understanding the causal mechanisms underpinning sexually selected and life history traits. There are currently two major strands to the research in my laboratory. First, the determination of patterns of life-history investment in immune function, and the coordination of immune effector systems to provide immune function. These studies have direct bearing on (a) the interaction between insect hosts and the disease organisms they vector, (b) understanding the evolution of insect life-history strategies, and (c) the evolution and maintenance of epigamic traits. Second, understanding the nature of sexual conflict in the bed bug Cimex lectularius. This organism provides a unique opportunity to study sexual conflict because of the relative ease in with which it can be observed and quantified in both males and females. Our work examining the nature of conflict in this organism is relevant to (a) fundamental questions in evoulutionary biology, (b) understanding the evolution of mating systems, and (c) developing novel methods for pest control.