People

Martyna Molak

I am a PhD student in the Molecular Ecology, Evolution, and Phylogenetics research group under the supervision of Dr Simon Ho.

My research involves a theoretical approach to post-mortem DNA damage and other issues associated with analyses of ancient DNA.

I graduated from both my Bachelor's and Master’s degrees at the University of Warsaw (Poland). My research involved analyses of pre-Hispanic South American populations based on genetic data recovered from human remains.

My areas of interest are include ancient DNA, population genetics, forensic genetics, molecular evolution, primate and hominid evolution, natural selection, and sexual selection.

Academic record

Awards

• Faculty of Science Postgraduate Research Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement, 2013
• Winton Foundation Postgraduate Top-up Scholarship in Mathematical Biology, 2013
• University of Sydney International Scholarship, 2011-2013

Publications

Ho SYW, Endicott P, & Molak M. In press. Molecular timescale of human evolution. Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology, ed. Smith C. Springer, New York.

Ho SYW, Endicott P, & Molak M. In press. DNA interpretation constraints in archaeology. Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology, ed. Smith C. Springer, New York.

Molak M, Lorenzen ED, Shapiro B, & Ho SYW. 2013. Phylogenetic estimation of timescales using ancient DNA: The effects of temporal sampling scheme and uncertainty in sample ages. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 30: 253-262.

Molak M, & Ho SYW. 2011. Evaluating the impact of post-mortem damage in ancient DNA: A theoretical approach. Journal of Molecular Evolution, 73: 244-255.

Nguyen JMT, Molak M, Black KH, Fitzgerald EMG, Travouillon KJ, & Ho SYW. 2011. Vertebrate palaeontology of Australasia into the twenty-first century. Biology Letters, 7: 804-806.

Baca M, & Molak M. 2008. Research on ancient DNA in the Near East. Bioarchaeology of the Near East, 2: 39-61.

Presentations

Estimating evolutionary timescales using ancient DNA
Biodiversity Genomics Conference. Canberra, Australia. Apr 2013.

Time-dependent evolutionary rates in higher vertebrates: A guide to molecular-clock calibration
Phylomania Conference. Hobart, Australia. Nov 2012.

Estimating evolutionary timescales using ancient DNA: Accounting for uncertainty in sample ages (poster)
Phylomania Conference. Hobart, Australia. Nov 2012.

A biologist’s issues with dating: A study of time-dependent evolutionary rates and a guide to molecular clock calibration
Genetics Society of Australasia Conference. Melbourne, Australia. Jul 2012.

Estimating evolutionary timescales using ancient DNA: Accounting for uncertainty in sample ages (poster)
Genetics Society of Australasia Conference. Melbourne, Australia. Jul 2012.

Using ancient DNA in estimation of timeframes for evolutionary and demographic events
University of Warsaw. Warsaw, Poland. Dec 2011.

Using ancient DNA in estimation of timeframes for evolutionary and demographic events
University of Copenhagen. Copenhagen, Denmark. Dec 2011.

Using ancient DNA in estimation of timeframes for evolutionary and demographic events
"Comparing Ancient and Modern DNA Variability in Human Populations" International Conference. Porto, Portugal. Nov 2011.

Evaluating the impact of post-mortem damage in ancient DNA: A theoretical approach (poster)
Conference on Australasian Vertebrate Evolution Palaeontology & Systematics. Perth, Australia. Apr 2011.