Professional summary

Richard has a broad interest in disease ecology and population ecology. His research currently focuses on the ecology of zoonotic pathogens and non-native invasive species, using statistical and mechanistic models to investigate the ecological and environmental drivers that increase the risk of outbreaks of zoonotic diseases. A secondary focus of the work is to seek a better understanding of the distribution and dynamics of populations of non-native invasive species.

In previous research, he has used both statistical and molecular techniques to better understand how pathogen and host interactions across multiple spatial scales can influence the distribution, dynamics and evolution of zoonotic pathogens in fragmented host populations.  

Richard has a PhD in Biological Sciences and an MSc in Ecology and Environmental Sustainability from the University of Aberdeen and a BSc in Animal Biology.