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Ryan Schott is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology and Centre for Vision Research at York University. His research is focused on understanding the mechanisms and drivers that have led to the vast diversity of vertebrate visual systems through innovative approaches. He employs techniques such as comparative genomics, transcriptomics, molecular evolutionary analyses, and targeted experiments to explore how vision shapes complex behaviors in resource acquisition, predator avoidance, and mate choice in varied visual environments. His current research areas include identifying major patterns in visual evolution and development in vertebrates, investigating convergent mechanisms of visual evolution for fossorial adaptation, and studying the evolution and development of new photoreceptor cell types across a range of vertebrate groups including amphibians, squamates, and turtles. Schott's work aims to provide insights into how visual systems evolve to adapt to environmental conditions, contributing to a deeper understanding of ecological transitions within evolutionary biology.
Department of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies graduate programs generally follow the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) B+ minimum requirement.