charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
June 6, 2025
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
April 10, 2025
 |
This paper is about the remarkable intertwined lives of a green algae and a giant virus. Read more here and here. |
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
April 9, 2025
 |
Tamim successfully passed his MSc on mutlicellularity and symbiosis. |
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
January 7, 2025
We are very pleased to welcome Jan, who joins the group on an EMBO fellowship to study Multicellularity. Read more about Jan here.
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
November 6, 2024

Read more here
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
November 6, 2024
Mart successfully defended his MSc thesis on sex and multicellularity in green algae and passed with distinction!

charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
November 6, 2024

Read more here
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
November 6, 2024

Read more here
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
February 29, 2024

Read here
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
August 7, 2023

Read here
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
August 7, 2023

Read here
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
August 1, 2023

Read here
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
June 21, 2023
Here’s a mini-doc on the opportunity of a lifetime…
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
June 13, 2023
New Scientist piece on insect-microbes symbioses
P1 Radio report on insect-microbes symbioses
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
June 13, 2023
Symbiotic partnerships with bacteria have provided insects with key nutrients missing in their diets. This has enabled them to exploit novel food resources, which in some cases has fuelled exceptional species diversification such as in weevils, whereas in others it has suppressed diversification.

Photo by Gleb Lucky
Read here
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
June 13, 2023

Ever wondered why offspring feed on their parents poo (in ostriches)? We did and here is what we found out.
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
May 1, 2023
A few years ago we started a new project to try and understand why some lineages evolve to be multicellular while others are unicellular using green algae. This is the first paper from the project that lays some important foundations for future work. This was a team effort, but in particular, Maria was instrumental in bringing this to fruition.

Read here
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
April 24, 2023
We are organising a 1-day symposium on how evolutionary biology can help address applied issues. Please come and join us – open to everyone!

charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
April 20, 2023
Congratulations to Qinyang for reaching the halfway point in his PhD and defending his midterm thesis. Many thanks to Emma Hammarlund for a great discussion, which will be very valuable in guiding future progress.
![]()
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
April 17, 2023
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
March 17, 2023
We are pleased to announce that, together with Tobias Uller, we have launched a new MSc program in Evolutionary Biology at Lund University. If you’re interested please see https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/lubas/i-uoh-lu-NABIO-EVBI for more details.
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
February 17, 2023
Mads was awarded an ERC starting grant to study the evolution of thermal tolerance in ostriches. We wish him the best of luck with starting his own group at Aarhus University.
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
September 22, 2022
![]()
Very please to have Jana join our group who will do a postdoc on evolvability of green algae
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
May 24, 2022
Congratulations Mads and the rest of team. A wonderful and really interesting experience putting this all together.

Read here
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
April 22, 2022
Great work Emily on putting this piece together that discusses how immunity may hold some of the secrets to long-life.

Read here
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
April 8, 2022
After a bit of a break the Biology Lund Annual Meeting (BLAM) took place in real life. Flash talks (3 minutes) are a great way to get discussions going and it was great to see Qinyang presenting his work.
![]()
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
March 22, 2022
We are very sad to see Philip leave after being a crucial member of the group for 4 years, but are very glad that he moves on to an exciting new position in Oulu. Congratulations!
![]()
![]()
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
February 1, 2022
We are very pleased to have Homa Papoli Yazdi join the group who will work on the comparative genomics of multicellularity
![]()
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
August 10, 2021
Here’s the full paper
![]()
Photo by Doug Greenberg
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
July 29, 2021
Read a popular summary here and the paper here

Honey bee larvae being attacked by a veroa mite. Picture by Giles San Martin
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
June 15, 2021
We are very grateful to the Crafoord Foundation for generous funding to support our work on the molecular basis of multicellularity in green algae.

charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
April 29, 2021
Qinyang gave a talk on the ecological niches occupied by unicellular and multicellular green algae across Swedish lakes and won first prize at iBLAM.

charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
April 8, 2021
So pleased and proud to see Julian climb this mountain and reach the top in style. Many many congratulations!!!!!
Nailing the oak to the book!
![]()
Modern style defence
![]()
Thanks to co-supervisor Mads for all the support along the way
![]()
Cheers!
![]()
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
April 8, 2021
Read the paper here, which was reported in the Times:
![]()
Well done Philip, and very nice to be part of this Phil Trans issue on aging and sociality!
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
February 2, 2021
Congratulation Mads, fantastic effort in bringing this very nice piece of work to fruition! Read all about it here and how it was made

charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
October 20, 2020
It’s great to have a new addition to the group, Qinyang Li, who starts a PhD on the evolution of multicellularity
![]()
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
October 20, 2020
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
March 4, 2020
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
January 29, 2020
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
December 18, 2019
We have a fully funded PhD position available to study multicellularity using a range of experimental, comparative and genomic techniques. Apply here

charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
December 18, 2019
Congratulations to Mads for getting a project grant from the Carl Tryggers Foundations to study thermal tolerance and social complexity in ostriches
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
August 22, 2019
We are extremely grateful to the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation for a further 5 years funding!

charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
August 22, 2019
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
August 27, 2018
Welldone Philip!
http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/lookup/doi/10.1098/rspb.2018.1164
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
August 27, 2018
Markus presented work on multicellularity in green algae.
![]()
Philip presented work on group formation and division of labour in cooperative breeding birds.
Maria presented work on transitions to multi- and uni-cellularity across the eukaryote tree.
Julian presented work on thermal tolerance and cooperative incubation behaviour in ostriches.
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
May 8, 2018
Welldone Emily!
https://natureecoevocommunity.nature.com/channels/521-behind-the-paper/posts/32792-the-great-escape-from-disease-a-case-of-migration-and-colonization-in-birds
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
April 8, 2018
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
February 19, 2018
https://beergrouputas.wordpress.com/2018/02/08/two-phd-scholarships-available-on-the-evolutionary-origins-of-family-living/
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
February 19, 2018
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2018/02/12/1722395115.short
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
November 24, 2017
We are very pleased that Mads has joined us on a Carlsberg fellowship to work on sex, sweat and cooperation in ostriches: https://charliecornwallis.github.io/Group?page_id=542
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
November 24, 2017
Direct PCR methods work as well as traditional DNA extraction techniques for characterising microbiomes in ostrich guts
http://msystems.asm.org/content/2/6/e00132-17
Are cloacal swabs a good way to measure gut microbiota?
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1755-0998.12744/abstract
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
November 2, 2017
We are very grateful to everyone at the Oudtshoorn research station for their help and support and making this another productive year
![]()
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
November 2, 2017
https://www.vr.se/forskningsfinansiering/bidragsbeslut/naturvetenskapochteknikvetenskap.4.557786f115f1aee2670ee157.html
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
July 5, 2017
New paper out on the evolution of host dependence on bacterial symbionts
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms15973
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
March 15, 2017
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
March 8, 2017
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
March 8, 2017
A very big welcome to Maria Svensson-Coelho who has just started a new researcher position to work on multicellularity in algae amongst other things.
![]()
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
March 8, 2017
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
March 8, 2017
A very big welcome to Markus Lindh who has just started a new post-doc to work on multicellularity in algae.
![]()
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
November 25, 2016
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
November 25, 2016
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bies.201600136/epdf
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
June 29, 2016
We are looking for a highly skilled and motivated research technician who is interested in working in different projects addressing research questions at the interface of ecology, evolution and molecular biology. Our research involves collecting data from wild, captive and laboratory organisms using a range of approaches including experimental evolution, molecular genetics and bioinformatics, field experiments, and literature searching. Our primary study organisms are algae, damselflies, moths, lizards and birds. Tasks involve data collection in the field and the laboratory, support for sample curation/organisation, data organisation and processing including statistical analyses, and coordination and management of the research group’s daily routines, including organism husbandry and administrative support. It is expected that the person assigned to this post will pursue opportunities to acquire further skills through national and international courses. The position is aimed at a junior level and it is therefore expected that any postdoctoral employment in research is limited to two years.
Description of the qualifications that are required of the candidate
It is essential that the applicant has:
- An MSc or PhD in Ecology, Evolution or Molecular Biology or a closely related field with strong emphasis on either or both of these subjects.
- Experience of working with microorganisms, particularly experimentation and maintaining laboratory populations
- Experience of molecular genetics including DNA extractions, PCR, next-generation sequencing
It is desirable that the applicant has:
- Experience of experimental evolution
- Experience of working with algae particularly identification and culturing of clones
- Experience of organizing databases and analyzing sequence data
- Experience with statistical analysis of data from field studies or experimental settings as well as experimental design
- A good command of the software R for programming, statistical analyses or graphical visualization of data
- Motivation to work in a team and desire to take responsibility
- Fluent in English. A good understanding of Swedish is advantageous but not required
- A full drivers license.
Basis of Assessment
Applicants are evaluated based on how well they fulfill the requirements detailed above. Such evidence may include documentation of completed coursework, scientific publications, technical and analytical know-how, evidence of organizational skills and enthusiasm for ecology and evolution. Where possible, statements to these effects should be accompanied by objective or independent assessment of the candidate’s track record and potential. These may include links to access published or unpublished (e.g., thesis) research material or letters of support from supervisors or previous employers.
Salary will be set according to the general regulations for research technicians at Lund University in relation to the number of years research experience and achievements. Applicants should send a cover letter explaining their background and a CV that includes publications and the contact information for two referees.
Additional Information
For more information and informal discussion about the position candidates can contact Charlie Cornwallis, Erik Svensson, or Tobias Uller. For more information see:
http://www.biology.lu.se/research/research-groups/
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
October 7, 2015
New paper out in PRSB
http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/282/1816/20151663
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
October 7, 2015
Well done to Elin, Julian and Philip for giving talks at EMPSEB and being awarded poster and peotry prizes!
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
March 24, 2015
Check out our new paper on retrovirus evolution in PNAS: http://www.pnas.org/content/112/2/464.abstract
charlie.cornwallis@biol.lu.se
March 21, 2015
Our new paper on host gene expression responses to experimental infection with malaria is out in MBE: http://mbe.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/01/29/molbev.msv016.abstract