CV

Education

PhD in Biology, Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, UK 2019 – 2023

Thesis: Phylogenetic Diversity, Morphological Disparity & Niche Adaptation in Seabirds
Supervisors: Professor Matt Wills & Dr Nick Priest (Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath) and Dr Jane Younger (University of Tasmania)
Key Techniques: Advanced Analysis in R, Linear & Geometric Morphometrics, Phylogenetic Comparative Methods, Discrete Character Evolution, Species Delimitation Techniques.

Master of Earth Sciences, Exeter College, University of Oxford, UK 2011 – 2015

Degree & Classification: MEarthSci – 2.i
Masters Thesis: “The battle for the Mesozoic skies: Studying competition as a driver of macroevolution in pterosaurs” (Supervisor: Prof R Benson, First Class)
Fieldwork Locations: Pembrokeshire, Arran, Dorset, Assynt, Corsica, Almeria/Carboneras (SE Spain), Bermuda.

Research Associate in Probabilistic Programming at the Turing Institute September 2024-Present

Project: A UK Spatial, Climate & Health Probabilistic Programming Language Community – SPHERE-PPL (sphere-ppl.org)
Research focused around applied statistical methods in ecology and evolution, with an emphasis on predictive modelling. Current research areas include:
- Building Bayesian Hierarchical models to predict animal and plant biodiversity hotspots
- Refining Phylogenetic Generalised Linear Mixed Models (PGLMMs) to incorporate environmental filtering of species and traits
Main Responsibilities:
- Create and manage open-source forecasting contests including all training materials, contest repos and all back-end tools
- Build and maintain an international community of interested researchers alongside organising in-person and virtual workshops and meetings
- Lead organiser for the Health Modelling and Forecasting event in Jan 2025, where 50 leaders & stakeholders in the health sector met to share analytical problems and identify joint solutions, forming the basis of the forecasting contests.

Senior Consultant, Strategic Analytics, AtkinsRèalis, Bristol March 2023 - September 2024

Focus on developing and delivering innovative and novel data-driven solutions to client problems.
Capability lead for Data-Driven Decision-Making and creating analytical resources in R.

Simulation Modelling Specialist: Modelling & Analytics, NHS, Bristol January 2019 - September 2019 & November 2020 – June 2021

Project: Developing a versatile tool for modelling pathway capacity in NHS organisations
Project Overview: The Health Foundation-funded project involved building an analytical tool and UI in R that could model several interconnected health services along a given patient pathway using techniques from queueing theory and operational research.
Tool Link: https://github.com/nhs-bnssg-analytics/PathSimR

Research Assistant: Museum fur Naturkunde, Berlin August 2016 - December 2018

Project: Herbivore Niche Differentiation and the Intensification of Competition in African Savannahs
Project Overview: The DFG-funded project sought to trace the evolution of niche partitioning and competitive interaction across Bovidae (Antelope & their relatives) on the African Savannah from their origins through to the Recent.

Health Modelling & Forecasting Workshop Organiser. Alan Turing Institute, London, Jan 2025
Forecast Contest Lead Designer. SPHERE-PPL. Online.
Capability Lead for Simulation & Analytics. Aerospace, Defence, Security & Technology Division, AtkinsRèalis

Research Grant (£20,000 Consumable Grant) - Royal Society London (2021)
Visiting Research Scholarship ($3900 Travel Grant) - Chicago Field Museum (2020)
Future Research Leaders Grant (£2509 Travel Grant) - University of Bath (2019)
Evolution Education Trust PhD Studentship (Stipend, Fees & Research Costs) - University of Bath (2019)

Janis C, Franklin G, Baird CN & Tyler J. The radiation of Miocene Anchitheres: the forgotten large browsing Horses. SVPCA; Online. Poster 2021
Tyler J & Younger J. Morphometric and genetic evidence for four species of gentoo penguin. Evolution; Online. Talk, 2021
Tyler J & Younger J. Hidden biodiversity in gentoo penguins. Biology & Biochemistry Research Symposium; University of Bath. Poster, 2020
Tyler J & Bibi F. Investigating niche evolution using skull morphology in modern antelope (Bovidae) communities. Evolution; Montpellier, France. Poster, 2018
Tyler J & Bibi F. Investigating the role of competition and biotic interaction on the evolution of African bovids: A geometric morphometric & phylogenetic approach. IPC; Paris, France. Talk, 2018

Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania – August 2022 - Diversity, Disparity & Dead-Ends? Macroevolutionary patterns in Waterbirds.
Bristol Naturalists’ Society – March 2021 - Spot the difference! Understanding morphological variation in birds and the implications for cryptic species.
Milner Centre for Evolution – March 2021 – Hidden biodiversity in Gentoo penguins and other avian morphometric mysteries.

Hidden biodiversity in gentoos – Naked Scientists Podcast Interview, Ecology & Evolution Blog, BBC News, Conversation Article. Estimated reach: 531 million.
Albatross Bill Shape – Conversation Article
Penguin Research – Midnight Meets with Colin Murray (Radio 5 Live)

BSc Biotechnology Project Co-Supervisor (PI: Dr. Will Pearse). Imperial, UK.
- Understanding and forecasting NHS A&E patient load.
  - Students: Gabriela Lemos Vargas (24/25)
BA Biology Project Co-Supervisor (PI: Dr. Jane Younger). University of Bath, Bath, UK.
- Morphological Variation in Spheniscidae Skeletal Elements
  - Students: Jack Hardy (21/22), Sam Jones (21/22), Harley Mitchell (21/22)
- Phylogeography & Cryptic Species in Malagasy Birds
  - Students: Georgina Russell (19/20), Louis Martin (20/21), Nefeli Karonis (20/21)
MSc Bioinformatics Project Co-Supervisor (PI: Dr. Nick Priest). University of Bath, Bath, UK.
- Understanding Global Patterns of Biodiversity and Diversification in Fungi
  - Students: Gabriel Crabb (21/22), Enea Jorgji (21/22)
MSci Palaeobiology Thesis Co-Supervisor (PI: Prof Christine Janis). University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
- Locomotor evolution in horses: divergence between anchitheres and equines
  - Students: Gwen Franklin (20/21)

Evolution Conference Undergraduate Mentor. Online. 2021
Global Science Show & Futures 2020. Online. 2020
Morphometrics & Macroevolution Journal Club. University of Bath, Bath, UK. 2019-2023
Gold Scholarship Programme Mentor. University of Bath, Bath, UK. 2019-2022

Statistical Rethinking. Course on Bayesian Data Analysis and Causal Inference. Online 2023
SVPCA Workshop 1: 3D data, FAIR principles and Morphosource. University of Oxford, UK. 2021
Public Engagement with Science Workshop. Royal Society, UK. 2020
Phylogenetics in Evolution and Ecology Course. Natural History Museum, Berlin, Germany. 2018