Dr. Sebastian Shimeld

Professor

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Biography

Sebastian Shimeld is an evolutionary developmental biologist whose research focuses on the evolutionary changes in genes and genomes that drive alterations in developmental mechanisms, shaping the evolution of new animal forms. He has particular expertise in the evolution of the nervous system, emphasizing the origins of increased cell numbers, novel cell types, and enhanced patterning mechanisms in vertebrates. A long-standing interest in the asymmetrical distribution of internal organs across the left and right sides of animal embryos has informed much of his research. His work spans a wide range of organisms, including sponges, mollusks, annelids, and vertebrate model systems. Currently, he is investigating sea squirts and amphioxus, relatively simple invertebrates that share significant genomic and developmental characteristics with vertebrates, offering insights into the biology of the earliest-diverging vertebrate lineages.

Research Interests

Requirements for University of Oxford

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.7
IELTS
Listening
Required:7
Reading
Required:7
Writing
Required:7
Speaking
Required:7
Overall
Required:7.5
TOEFL
Listening
Required:22
Reading
Required:24
Writing
Required:24
Speaking
Required:25
Total
Required:110
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Politics, International Relations, Economics, History, Law, Philosophy or Sociology
Application Checklist
  • Three academic references
  • Official transcripts
  • CV/Resume
  • Statement of Purpose (1,000 words)
  • Two academic essays (2,000 words each)
Specialization Notes

Department of Politics and International Relations - Higher Level English requirement.