Laura Covill

Research Assistant

I started working for the Newbury Group in September 2013, researching the genetic roots underlying Specific Language Impairments (SLI). My role includes analysis of large data sets as well as laboratory work.

I have previously been involved in a project at Oxford Brookes University in evolutionary and developmental biology, studying the transcriptome of the spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum. My specific role involved using bioinformatics techniques to search the transcriptome for evidence that the spider had duplicated Hox genes or clusters.

My interest in neurogenetics stems from the complex interactions of genes which cause disorders in speech and language development, and how this allows environmental influences on such conditions.

E-mail: laura.covill@well.ox.ac.uk