Dr John Bryden
Research Interests
I am interested in group behaviour in biological systems. This spans a broad range of animals from slime mould, bees, aphids and humans. Currently, I am studying how bee colonies are affected by stress from pesticides and other diseases. I have also recently published some work studying how humans cluster into groups on social networks and share language features.A key interest of mine is in the evolution of social behaviour. It is worthwhile for an actor to have an altruistic trait if the recipient is more likely than an average member of the population to have the same trait. Population structure can play an important role because individuals will tend to interact with only a subset of the population. I use a mathematical biology approach, falling mainly into looking at models of inclusive fitness.
Recent work with aphids has shown that social behaviour in aphids can be due to the relative isolation (generating population structure) of the aphid colonies. As migration is increased between colonies, the level of social behaviour will decrease. However, our model shows that social colonies still persist even with quite a high level of migration (such as 25% immigrants per colony).
More generally, I am also interested in the modelling of complex systems: i.e., the sort of system where an interesting macroscopic effect is produced from the combination of many different interacting microscopic components. I am also interested in the methodological issues raised by modelling of complex systems and complex systems theory in general.
I am interested in group behaviour in biological systems. This spans a broad range of animals from slime mould, bees, aphids and humans. Currently, I am studying how bee colonies are affected by stress from pesticides and other diseases. I have also recently published some work studying how humans cluster into groups on social networks and share language features.A key interest of mine is in the evolution of social behaviour. It is worthwhile for an actor to have an altruistic trait if the recipient is more likely than an average member of the population to have the same trait. Population structure can play an important role because individuals will tend to interact with only a subset of the population. I use a mathematical biology approach, falling mainly into looking at models of inclusive fitness.
Recent work with aphids has shown that social behaviour in aphids can be due to the relative isolation (generating population structure) of the aphid colonies. As migration is increased between colonies, the level of social behaviour will decrease. However, our model shows that social colonies still persist even with quite a high level of migration (such as 25% immigrants per colony).
More generally, I am also interested in the modelling of complex systems: i.e., the sort of system where an interesting macroscopic effect is produced from the combination of many different interacting microscopic components. I am also interested in the methodological issues raised by modelling of complex systems and complex systems theory in general.
Short Biography
I received a BA in Philosophy and Mathematics from Bristol University in 1994. Following this I worked for 3 years in the computer games industry at Rebellion Developments, working as the lead tools developer for the number one selling game Aliens vs Predator. Moving to Oxford Computer Consultants, I worked on information systems contracts for Canon Systems Management Europe and for the European Multimedia Archive of the Holocaust.
I completed a MSc in Multidisciplinary Informatics at Leeds University in 2003 (with distinction) - this included a 6 month project on the neural control of C. elegans forward locomotion. I did my PhD at the University of Leeds in the Evolution of Social Organisms. This primarily involves the modelling of collective reproduction in the Major Transitions of Evolution. While at Leeds I also worked on the Spidercrab project (part of Emergent Objects) which involved developing a robotic postmodern improvisation dance partner.
I am now working at Royal Holloway doing a postdoc studying insect and human societies.
I received a BA in Philosophy and Mathematics from Bristol University in 1994. Following this I worked for 3 years in the computer games industry at Rebellion Developments, working as the lead tools developer for the number one selling game Aliens vs Predator. Moving to Oxford Computer Consultants, I worked on information systems contracts for Canon Systems Management Europe and for the European Multimedia Archive of the Holocaust.
I completed a MSc in Multidisciplinary Informatics at Leeds University in 2003 (with distinction) - this included a 6 month project on the neural control of C. elegans forward locomotion. I did my PhD at the University of Leeds in the Evolution of Social Organisms. This primarily involves the modelling of collective reproduction in the Major Transitions of Evolution. While at Leeds I also worked on the Spidercrab project (part of Emergent Objects) which involved developing a robotic postmodern improvisation dance partner.
I am now working at Royal Holloway doing a postdoc studying insect and human societies.