Berta Verd

Dr Berta Verd is an Associate Professor in Computational and Theoretical Biology at the University of Oxford, affiliated with the Department of Biology. Her research focuses on the mechanisms underlying the emergence and evolution of phenotypes, particularly through the study of pattern formation in early embryos. She employs a multi-scale integrative approach, combining mathematical models, experimental embryology, and microscopy to investigate how phenotypic diversity arises. Her work compares posterior development in zebrafish and two species of Lake Malawi cichlids, Astatotilapia calliptera and Rhamphochromis chilingali, which exhibit significant morphological diversity despite having nearly identical genomes.

Berta Verd is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Oxford, specializing in Evolution, Developmental Biology, and Dynamical Systems. Her research explores how developmental processes and genetic regulatory networks generate morphological diversity and developmental robustness. She investigates the role of dynamical systems in developmental patterning, including the interplay between gene regulatory networks, morphogen gradients, and cell movements. Her work also examines the evolutionary implications of developmental modularity and criticality, as well as the use of computational models to understand developmental mechanisms. Verd’s research bridges theoretical and experimental approaches to uncover the principles underlying developmental and evolutionary processes.