Profiles
Dr Michael Thom
Associate Head of School (Teaching and Learning)
School of Biological & Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science & Engineering)
Role
Qualifications
Employment:
2014 - : Lecturer in Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth
2008 - 2013: Teaching Fellow in Evolutionary Biology, Department of Biology, University of York
2003 - 2008: BBSRC Postdoctoral Research Associate, Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution Group, University of Liverpool
1995 - 1996: Environmental Consultant, Western Australia
Qualifications
2011: Postgraduate Certificate of Academic Practice, University of York
2011: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
2002: PhD, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford: "The mating system and behavioural ecology of American mink (Mustela vison)"
1995: BSc (Hons), First Class, Department of Zoology, University of Western Australia
Professional membership
Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour
Society for the Study of Evolution
International Society for Behavioral Ecology
The Genetics Society
European Society for Evolutionary Biology
Research interests
This work ties in to the related theme of behavioural plasticity, particularly plastic reproductive traits: how flexible is male behaviour, and when and why does the level of flexibility vary between individuals?
In connection with much of this work, I am also interested in understanding the genetic basis of key reproductive traits, particularly behavioural traits including plasticity.
Finally, I have longstanding research interest in individual recognition, and how this ability evolves and is maintained.
My research uses both empirical research on animal models, and a theoretical approach through agent-based modelling.