International Information

The AVRU is collaborating with the University of Wales, Bangor through the work of Dr Wolfgang Wüster. Wolfgang, recently appointed as an AVRU Fellow, is a lecturer and researcher in zoology in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Wales. His major research interests include the systematics of venomous snakes, origin and evolution of snake venoms and snake venom composition, and tropical biogeography. His methodological specialites include the use of multidisciplinary molecular and morphological approaches to problem of species delimitation in, as well as the application of modern phylogeographic approaches to, the biogeography of snake species complexes. His research has resulted in over 80 research publications, including a seminal Nature paper on the causes of evolution of venom composition.

Wolfgang undertakes regular visits to PNG to undertake fieldwork with PhD student David Williams. He contributed to the 2005 AVRU book "Venomous Bites and Sting in Papua New Guinea" and is a member of the teaching faculty of the PNG Venomous Snakebite Teaching Course.