Tom Oosting

Background

About Tom Oosting

I am passionate about the application of genomics to study and protect wild populations. My research focuses on marine species and their interaction with the environment at the molecular level. I use genomics to study how marine species are structured, assess population connectivity, and identify regions in the genome that are under selection. Combined with ecological and environmental data, I aim to unravel how the environment facilitates local adaptation and assess the resilience of populations to environmental change (i.e. climate change). With my research, I aim to provide fundamental insights into the molecular mechanisms associated with adaptation, while increasing our understanding of how species respond to their environment and helping inform effective management actions that protect all levels of biodiversity. My research requires a multidisciplinary approach, so I look forward to making new connections and engaging in exciting collaborative research projects. I grew up in Groningen, where I did my undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Groningen. For my PhD and postdoc, I have moved to Wellington, New Zealand, and primarily worked on Australasian snapper (Chrysophrys auratus), using whole-genome-sequencing to study population structure, demographic history and adaptive response to environmental change. I am involved in research projects on marine fish, seabirds, marine invertebrates and the application of novel sequencing approaches for generating de novo genome assemblies. As Assistant Professor at the University of Groningen, I’m focusing my research efforts on the Wadden Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.