Genomics Division

The Genomics Division focuses on the study of the molecular building blocks of life (DNA, RNA and proteins), their role in biological functions, and the ecological and evolutionary processes through which they shape biodiversity.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​About 

The Genomics Division covers four main research areas: molecular ecology, molecular biology, aquaculture genomics and developmental biology. 

We apply molecular analyses to study biological functions (e.g. reproduction, development, growth, the immune system, gene regulation, and epigenetics), as well as the natural environment (e.g. biodiversity, the distribution of genetic variation in natural populations, natural and sexual selection, local adaptation, and the consequences of environmental change).

Our research has applications in biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, and aquaculture. 

The Genomics Division manages the faculty's DeepSeq facility, a platform for high-throughput DNA sequencing, available to all divisions. 

Sequencing

DeepSeq is the high throughput sequencing facility at Nord University for the exploration of genomes and transcriptomes.

Selected Research Projects

EPIfish

EPIFISH is a scientifically innovative and timely project that will address fish domestication and selection from a new perspective using a multidisciplinary approach. The rapid pace of substantial phenotypic changes during adaptation to new environmental conditions in fish undergoing domestication raises the original hypothesis that epigenetic mechanisms are involved in this process. Thus, the overarching aim of EPIFISH is to ascertain the importance of epigenetics in fish domestication using the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) as model species.

The project has an overall budget of NOK 25 million over five years, of which the European Research Council (ERC) will fund NOK 20 million. 




PROJECT MANAGER

InnControl - Innate Control of Early Embryonic Development

This cutting-edge project investigates regulatory mechanisms governing the transfer, modifications, and execution of parental developmental instruction at the onset of embryonic development. Zebrafish and medaka are vertebrate animal models. ​



PROJECT MANAGER

Snail-X - The genomic basis of temperature adaptation across space

Periwinkles are coastal snails that can tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. With the warming climate, they can give us knowledge about how species can adapt to extreme environments.

In this project, we study populations of Littorina saxatilis, the rough periwinkle, from warm seawater in Spain and Italy, to colder waters along the coasts of Great Britain, Iceland and Norway and to the Arctic part of Russia.

This FRIPRO project has received 11 million Norwegian kroner from the Research Council of Norway (RCN).


PROJECT MANAGER

GEANS - Genetic tools for ecosystem health assessment in the North Sea region

The quality of the seafloor habitat is an important barometer for marine ecosystem health. In order to accurately measure the quality, GEANS will mainstream the implementation of fast, accurate and cost-effective DNA-based assessments.

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PROJECT MANAGER

Blog

The landscape genomics group has its own blog:



 Head of Genomics Division


Team

Academic staff

​Name
​Position / area
​Jarle T. Nordeide
​Professor - Behavioural ecology
​Monica F. Brinchmann
Professor - Molecular cell biology, proteomics 
​Truls Moum
​Professor - Molecular ecology
​Jorge M.O. Fernandes
​Professor - Immunology, epigenetics
​Joost Raeymaekers
Professor​ - landscape genomics and evolutionary ecology
​Igor S. Babiak
​Professor - Development and reproduction
​Steinar D. Johansen
​Professor - Genomics, RNA biology

Technical staff

​Name
​Position
Martina Kopp
Senior engineer
Irina Smolina
Senior engineer
​Joanna Babiak
​Senior engineer
​​Amalia Mailli
​Head engineer

Researchers / postdoctors

​Name
​Position
​Tor-Erik Jørgensen
Postdoctor​
Jorge Galindo-Villegas
​Researcher
​Lars-Martin Jakt
​Researcher
Artem Nedoluzhko
​Postdoctor
Konstantinos Sagonas
​Postdoctor
Terhi Hannele Kärpänen
​Postdoctor
​Robin Mjelle
​Adjunct Professor
Anja Westram
Adjunct Professor
​​​Henrik Nielsen
Adjunct Professor​​​
​​​Ioannis Konstantinidis
Researcher
​​Purushothaman Kathiresan
​Researcher​​​