Fredrik Ronquist is a distinguished systematic biologist whose pioneering work has fundamentally transformed phylogenetic methodology and evolutionary analysis. He currently serves as Professor at the Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics at the Swedish Museum of Natural History (Naturhistoriska riksmuseet) and holds an affiliate professorship at the Department of Zoology, Stockholm University. With over two decades of research excellence, Ronquist has established himself as a global leader in computational phylogenetics and insect biodiversity studies. His academic journey has been characterized by innovative interdisciplinary work that bridges statistical theory, computer science, and biological systematics, creating methodological foundations that have reshaped evolutionary biology.
Ronquist's most significant contribution is the development of MrBayes and RevBayes, computational frameworks that have become the worldwide standard for Bayesian phylogenetic inference, cited in thousands of scientific publications across diverse biological disciplines. His seminal 2004 paper on Southern hemisphere biogeography established new event-based modeling approaches that fundamentally changed how evolutionary biologists analyze historical biogeographic patterns, accumulating over 1,051 citations. His research on insect systematics, particularly focusing on the taxonomy and evolution of wasps, has provided critical insights into evolutionary processes while his total-evidence dating methods have revolutionized understanding of early Hymenoptera radiation, with his 2012 Systematic Biology paper becoming a cornerstone reference in the field.
As principal investigator of the ambitious Insect Biome Atlas project, Ronquist leads large-scale collaborative efforts to document and understand insect biodiversity across Sweden through cutting-edge genomic and ecological approaches. He currently chairs the Evolution and Biodiversity research expert group for the SciLifeLab and Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science, working to position Swedish evolutionary research at the forefront of data-intensive methodologies. His laboratory fosters an interactive, interdisciplinary environment that trains the next generation of computational biologists while advancing research at the intersection of statistics, computer science, and evolutionary biology. Looking forward, Ronquist continues to pioneer integrative approaches combining environmental DNA sampling with traditional biodiversity monitoring to address pressing challenges in conservation biology and climate change impacts.
