Computational Research
The bioinformatics team use computational approaches to study gene and genome duplication, de novo genes, animal phylogeny, and dosage sensitivity.
Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin
The bioinformatics team use computational approaches to study gene and genome duplication, de novo genes, animal phylogeny, and dosage sensitivity.
The C. elegans research team use synthetic tetraploid C. elegans to study the consequences of polyploidy.
Laetitia is a Research Ireland Pathway Fellow (previously SFI-IRC Pathway). In the lab, she is developing a project where genome duplication is artificially induced in the microscopic nematode organism Caenorhabditis elegans, to investigate the immediate consequences of genome doubling on physiology, stress responses and gene expression in animals.
Understanding how organisms adapt to challenging and stressful environments has always fascinated Laetitia. She studied biology (BSc and MSc) at the University Pierre and Marie Curie and Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris. During Laetitia's Masters, she discovered the power of the model organism C. elegans. Research during Laetitia's PhD and first postdoc centred on exploring unknown aspects of the highly conserved heat stress response to uncover its profound importance, even in the absence of stress using C. elegans. During Laetitia's PhD in the Morimoto lab (Northwestern University, Chicago, USA), she investigated the role the highly conserved Heat Shock Factor 1 (HSF-1), the master regulator of the heat stress response during C. elegans development. Work during Laetitia's postdoc in the Casanueva lab (Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK) revealed that C. elegans use the heat shock response in neurons as a thermostat to adjust fat metabolism and membrane fluidity across tissues according to temperature.
Outside of the lab, Laetitia enjoys playing the bass recorder and low whistle in a Folk music ensemble.
Lukasz is a PhD student interested in all things whole genome duplication. His current research focuses on unravelling the mysteries of delayed rediploidisation at the base of the vertebrate lineage. He currently maintains ohnologs.com, as well as other open-source projects (some of which are lab-related). Before joining the McLysaght group, he completed his undergraduate degree in genetics at Trinity College Dublin. Outside of work, Lukasz has an ever-growing list of interests, such as gardening, piano, and beer-making (the latest addition).
Clément is a molecular biology researcher with a special interest in genome duplication and resilience in C. elegans. With a strong curiosity about the diversity of life, he aims to work with as many model organisms as possible to draw connections across species. He holds an MSc in Medical Biotechnologies from Napier University in Edinburgh, where he graduated as a class medal winner.
Outside the lab, Clément has a wide range of hobbies. He’s passionate about photography, especially capturing the energy of live performances. He also has a growing plant collection and enjoys experimenting with different ways to care for and display his plants. When he's not behind the camera or tending to his green space, Clément plays basketball on a unicycle—an activity that combines his love for sports and a bit of a challenge. He’s also a food enthusiast, always experimenting with new flavors and cooking techniques.
Emma is an evolutionary biologist by training with a special interest in the biology of microscopic animals (who doesn’t love a rotifer?!). She is currently a PhD student in the McLysaght lab, having started a Research Ireland Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship in September 2024, one year after first joining the group as a research assistant. Emma's PhD research focuses on investigating regulation in tetraploid C. elegans.
Prior to joining the McLysaght lab, Emma completed a BSc degree in Biology, including a research project on invertebrate comparative immunology, and an MSc in Evolutionary Biology at Università degli Studi di Padova, for which she visited University of Turku for her research project on the production of biohydrogen using cyanobacteria. After Emma's studies, she took up a research fellowship at Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn for one and a half years where she studied the physiological and molecular responses of microalgae to environmental stressors, such as high salinity.
When Emma is not counting endless worms, she likes to collect soil, moss, stagnant water, and rotten fruit to search for and video (her phone camera roll is full!) tiny animals and unicellular eukaryotes under the microscope.
Róisín is a PhD student in the computational lab. Her research focuses on rediploidisation following whole genome duplication in vertebrates, and she is part of the WGDip consortium investigating rediploidisation across the eukaryotic tree. She completed her undergraduate degree in Human Genetics at Trinity College Dublin, graduating with a gold medal. Along with genetics, Róisín loves art. She enjoys painting in acrylics and visiting galleries. She is also a big foodie, which appears to be a common theme amongst lab members.
23 August 2025
24 July 2025
27 June 2025
I am always interested in hearing from prospective PhD students and postdocs. Please reach out to me at aoife.mclysaght@tcd.ie.
It is possible to apply for Postdoc and PhD fellowships from the Irish Government, with annual deadlines (see www.researchireland.ie/funding).
If you are interested in joining the team, please email aoife.mclysaght@tcd.ie with a cover letter stating your research interests, a full Curriculum Vitae, and the names and contact details of two academic referees.