Nicole Foley

Education

2013 – 2017     PhD in Comparative Genetics of Ageing: University College Dublin, Dissertation project: The role of telomeres in the evolution of exceptional longevity in bats Supervisor: Prof. Emma Teeling.

2010 – 2011     MSc in Evolutionary Biology: University College Dublin, Dissertation project: Systematic and phylogenetic resolution of the Old World Leaf-Nosed bats, Hipposideridae Supervisor: Prof. Emma Teeling.

2005 –2009      BSc. Science (Honors), Zoology: University College Dublin; Dissertation project: Can claw morphology reveal the evolutionary origin of flight in birds? Supervisor: Dr. Gareth Dyke.

Professional Organizations

Member of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution and The American Genetics Association.Associate Editor

Associate Editor

Journal of Mammalian Evolution (2021-present)

Short Bio

Dr. Nicole Foley joins VIBS as an assistant professor, transitioning from her role as a research assistant professor. Foley uses bats as a model to study the comparative genetics of aging in mammals. She has used bats as a biomedical model since her time at University College Dublin, where she completed her bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. Her research focuses on understanding bat genomics and evolutionary biology to discover new possibilities to improve human medicine.

Foley completed her postdoctoral work here in VIBS and will continue her research through the Center for Comparative Genomics in collaboration with Dr. William Murphy, the center’s director. Looking ahead, she remarked that she is excited to do more field work in Texas and to build on the collaborative, team-oriented environment the Center for Comparative Genomics offers.