Researcher Spotlight - Joris Philip
Published: 7 May 2025
Next under the spotlight is PhD student Joris Philip. In his words, Joris shares his time between his research in evolutionary ecology and his mystic journey into mountain faces and summits of Scotland, the Alps and beyond.
Can you tell us about your background?
In the back of my mind, I have always aspired to become a biologist and mountaineer. I come from a small valley in the heart of the French Alps where we have a native population of brown trout and some of the most stunning freshwater and mountain habitats. At the end of his career, Bernard Assen, my maternal grandfather was running a small brown trout, brook trout and Arctic charr nursery in the local fisheries trust. So as far as my memories go, I have always been keen in becoming an Arctic charr biologist. Later, at the first opportunity I went to Iceland to pursue my masters research project on the behavioural ecology of one of the most iconic Arctic charr populations inhabiting Lake Þingvallavatn. There I met my partner, who is from Edinburgh, leading a research project on the small cave Arctic charr population system of Lake Mývatn. Finally, I settled in Scotland and got a research assistant position at the University of St Andrews where I received the once in a lifetime opportunity to go and study the rut behaviour of the Soay sheep on the archipelago of St Kilda. But deep in my heart, I wanted to have a closer look at one of the most elusive and fragile Arctic charr populations. In fact, I was inspired by a quote from Prof. Colin Adams on the hidden diversity of Scottish freshwater - “what you see is not what you get!” and I thought “that what I want to do for my PhD!”.
What can you tell us about your PhD?
Getting funding and the right project for a PhD was a long journey, but it was worth it because now it feels right. I found the right supervisory team in Kathryn Elmer and Arne Jacobs. They were very supportive in the process of the scholarship application, helping with the interview practice and draft review, frequently outside of their working hours. Finally, in 2024 I successfully received the Fisheries Society of the British Isles PhD scholarship which I am very grateful.
What is the focus of your research?
My PhD research focuses on the molecular mechanisms and genetic bases of parallel evolution in the Arctic charr. I use replicated Arctic charr ecotypes as a model system to unravel the contribution of different gene regulatory processes to phenotypic evolution and investigate their underlying genetic bases. I am also interested in incorporating a multi taxa model (European whitefish, Atlantic salmon and brown trout) in order to determine the regulatory mechanisms underlying parallel phenotypic plasticity responses across salmonid species. Overall, I am interested in addressing the overarching question in ecological speciation and I am trying to connect evolutionary genomics, behavioural ecology and quantitative genetics to do so.
Why did you decide to do your PhD at SBOHVM?
First, I was already familiar with the department as I was a research technician at SCENE (Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment) for a year and I knew that the SBOHVM has excellent facilities and relevant equipment that are essential for the state-of-the-art molecular tools used in my project. I was also very aware that the intellectual hub lying within my interest was in the department. There is such an excellent research community in evolutionary biology that provide a stimulating and supportive environment, and I love it.
What do you find most interesting about your work? What has been the most positive aspect so far?
Firstly, the fact that I can lead full time research in the field that I love and on a species that I care for is the most rewarding experience ever. Secondly, to be an early career research scientist can be quite frustrating sometimes. We often are scared that we are too slow and not efficient enough. Nevertheless, one of the best feelings for me is that after a period of struggle on an analysis or writing, I found that the knowledges and skills acquired during that struggle just come through to create something so clear, fluid and neat. For instance, having no solid background in genomics and bioinformatics previously, so it has been so positive to be able to run such analysis and acquire those skills.
What advice would you give to anyone doing or considering PhD?
I am in no position of giving any practical advice – I would just say, as far as I am concerned, following what is tickling the creative part of the brain has always proved to be beneficial.
Tell us about your future plans.
For now, I have about 3.5 years to come, so that will keep me going. But I do hope that it will give me the opportunity to come up with some creative research ideas in the future.
First published: 7 May 2025