Rodrigo Vega

Dr Rodrigo Vega

I joined CCCU in 2013 and am a Senior Lecturer in Biology.

I joined CCCU in 2013 after having worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Cornell University (USA) and the Institute of Ecology, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). I obtained my PhD from the University of York in 2010, my MSc and a BSc (Hons) in Biology from UNAM, and my Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCLT) from CCCU.

As a member of staff of the Section of Natural and Applied Sciences, I am module lead and teach in several undergraduate modules, supervise undergraduate, MSc and PhD students, and I carry out scientific research within the areas of molecular ecology and evolutionary biology, mostly focusing on aspects of biodiversity and conservation. Within the Section, I am also a member of the Ecology Research Group (ERG). Other responsibilities include module and programme administration, external examinations, one-to-one tutorials, doing outreach events, and carrying out knowledge exchange activities.

I teach in several modules across all levels (from Foundation year to Level 6 and postgraduate level), sharing my expertise in animal and plant diversity, molecular biology, genetics and phylogenetics, and ecology and evolution with students in all programmes in the Life Sciences. Some of these modules are Diversity of Life, Genetics and Evolution, Molecular Ecology, Biological Concepts, field-based modules and Masters modules.

As a member of staff, I also supervise postgraduate students (MSc and PhD levels) and act as an external examiner. Within the Section, I am a member of the Ecology Research Group (ERG) and the Biomolecular Research Group (BMRG). I am also a member of the British Ecological Society.

Although most of my work has focused on vertebrate animals, I am generally interested in using molecular techniques and bioinformatics for population and landscape genetics and genomics, conservation biology, biogeography, and phylogenetics and phylogeography to understand the patterns and processes that shaped the spatial distribution of organisms and their evolution.

Whenever possible, I intend to use the scientific information for the management of biodiversity with conservation purposes. I am also interested in using and developing research in DNA barcoding, eDNA metabarcoding and metagenomics for assessing biological diversity and community structure in freshwater ecosystems.

These techniques can be used in ecological studies for species identification, detecting invasive species, identifying cryptic species, and for water (and soil) quality analysis and biomonitoring. The same techniques can also be applied in biomedical research for diet analysis and assessing gut microbiota in humans, and identifying viral, bacterial and parasitic zoonotic species in non-human animals. Because these research topics and molecular tools are applicable to a broad range of scientific questions, my research is directly relevant to different undergraduate programmes, including Biology, Animal Science, Plant Science, and Ecology.

Research Projects

  • An Investigation into a Suitable Reintroduction Location for the Red-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) Using Habitat Analysis and Population Modelling.. Researcher(s): Miss Jodie May. Supervisor(s): Dr Phil Buckley, Dr Rodrigo Vega. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Automatic non-biting midge (Chironomidae) identification through the application of object detection and deep learning techniques. Researcher(s): Mr Jack Hollister. Supervisor(s): Dr Rodrigo Vega, Dr Joseph Burman, Dr Hannan Azhar. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Benefits, effects, and mitigation of a returning wetland ecosystem engineer in Southeast England. Researcher(s): Mr Ben Morris. Supervisor(s): Dr Phil Buckley, Caroline Sanders, Dr Rodrigo Vega. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Changes in apple orchard microbial communities, and soil quality, in response to climate change. Researcher(s): Ms Maya Sollen-Norrlin. Supervisor(s): Dr Naomi Rintoul-Hynes, Dr Alec Forsyth, Dr Rodrigo Vega. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • DNA-Barcoding of non-biting midge larvae (Chironomidae) from the River Stour in Canterbury. Researcher(s): Miss Vikki Mcconkey. Supervisor(s): Dr Rodrigo Vega, Dr Phil Buckley. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Doctoral Research Project. Researcher(s): Miss Valeria Manfredi. Supervisor(s): Dr Gregg McIntosh, Dr Joseph Burman, Dr Rodrigo Vega. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • Doctoral Research Project. Researcher(s): Dr Jaimie Morris. Supervisor(s): Dr Rodrigo Vega, Professor Simon Harvey. [Postgraduate Research Project (past)]
  • In vitro embryo production in agricultural animals: morphokinetic profiling as a tool to investigate embryo viability. Researcher(s): Mrs Lucy Hillyear. Supervisor(s): Dr Rodrigo Vega, Dr Asma Ahmed. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Investigating Novel Non-Invasive Methods to Extract Cnidarian Toxins and Their Potential Use in Drug Discovery. Researcher(s): Mr Phillip Robinson. Supervisor(s): Dr Carol Trim, Dr Rodrigo Vega. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Measuring ecosystem services (ES) provided by urban green space (UGS). Researcher(s): Miss Daisy Hall. Supervisor(s): Dr Naomi Rintoul-Hynes, Dr Adriana Consorte-McCrea, Dr Rodrigo Vega. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • The epidemiology and molecular ecology of chytridiomycosis in a Mesoamerican biodiversity hotspot. Researcher(s): Mr Christopher Phipps. Supervisor(s): Dr Phil Buckley, Dr Rodrigo Vega. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • The suitability of habitat in Kent for Reintroduction of Pine Marten (Martes martes). Researcher(s): Miss Nicola Sheppard. Supervisor(s): Dr Phil Buckley, Dr Rodrigo Vega. [Postgraduate Research Project]
  • Using population modelling to understand the dynamics of the Sussex peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) population.. Researcher(s): Mr Ashley Walker. Supervisor(s): Dr Rodrigo Vega, Dr Phil Buckley. [Postgraduate Research Project]

If I am not teaching or in the labs, in the field or at the office carrying out my research, I might be at a conference presenting my work or giving an invited talk, meeting with collaborators, or acting as an external examiner (for PhD vivas and/or programme examinations).

People search

Contact me

rodrigo.vega@canterbury.ac.uk
01227922275

Based in

Faculty of Science, Engineering and Social Sciences
School of Psychology and Life Sciences