Cameron Westland

Background

About Cameron Westland

I am a graduate biologist passionate and knowledgeable in supporting and conducting biological research, particularly within the fields of cell and molecular biology, evolutionary biology, genetics, and genomics. I first obtained my BSc in Biological Sciences (Zoology) where I completed my dissertation on a project regarding whether genetic variation of dopamine and serotonin receptors affects behaviour in birds (a systematic review). I obtained my MSc in Evolutionary Genetics at the University of Edinburgh, where I developed a thorough understanding of bioinformatics and computational genomics, evolutionary and population genetics, quantitative genetics and genomic analysis, and statistics. I completed my thesis on a project investigating the correlates of recombination rate in Lepidoptera, where I used whole-genome sequence data from a variety of species to infer chromosome-level estimates of recombination rate and correlate these to genomic elements, such as genetic diversity and chromosome length. Most recently, I researched the protein-protein interactions necessary for the successful formation of the Arabidopsis thaliana synaptonemal complex in an academic structural biology and biochemistry research group. I now hope to apply and improve on the knowledge and skills I have accumulated and begin to pursue a career as a scientific researcher.