About LERN
LERN, the London Evolutionary Research Network, is a pan-institutional society that showcases the calibre and breadth of evolutionary research carried out by postgraduates at London institutions.
How we began
Established in 2002 as a forum for London’s early career Evolutionary researchers to meet and discuss their work, LERN is growing an impressive reputation within the academic community. In addition to the annual conference, LERN run a monthly seminar series, debates, workshops, field trips, postgraduate talk sessions and social events including drinks or dinner following every seminar. LERN is a non-profit society run by postgraduate students who volunteer their time and dedication.
What we do
We aim to provide an informal forum outside the normal lab or research group environment where students and postdocs can meet, promote and ultimately improve their research. If you would like to become involved in LERN, would like to present a talk, or have any suggestions for future events that you would like to see, please get in touch! We are currently looking for University Representatives to help us promote and expand our society, and we frequently have other positions vacant.
Our partners
LERN events have been generously funded by the UCL Graduate School, Queen Mary, the Centre for Ecology and Evolution (CEE), the AHRC Centre for the Evolution of Cultural Diversity (CECD), UCL Anthropology, UCL Archaeology, the UCL Biosciences, and the UCL Genetics Evolution and Environment Department. Norton Publishers, Robert and Company Publishers, and Sinauer Publishers provided conference prizes in past years.
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The Committee
Carina Kern
President
Gino Brignoli
Events Officer
Miranda Dyson
Vice President
Sam Morris
Publicity Officer
Neina Motoki
Secretary
Join the LERN committee
LERN is a volunteer run organisation and if you would like to get involved, please get in touch. We are always looking for more committee members to join the team.
Get in touch via email or our social channels
Past Committee Members
Carina Kern
Carina is currently a Post Doc at the Institute of Healthy Ageing, UCL and is working on understanding ageing disease mechanisms through genetics and evolutionary biology.
Gino Brignoli
Gino is studying for a London NERC DTP funded PhD in the department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment at UCL and ZSL Institute of Zoology.
Miranda Dyson
Miranda is studying for a PhD at the VIB in Leuven, Belgium developing novel ways to detect programmed cell death in neurodegenerative diseases in the fruit fly.
Sam Morris
Sam is a BBSRC funded PhD student at the UCL Genetics Institute. Hie is developing and applying new methods to analyse ancient DNA from humans and other species.
Neina Motoki
Neina is studying for a Master’s in the department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, UCL. She is currently working on lateral sclerosis and dementia.