My research objective is to explore and attempt to understand both natural and simulated evolution, a field I call "evolutionary studies." I develop and analyze algorithms, such as multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic inferencing algorithms. I also explore the practical and theoretical limits of algorithms modeling evolution, such as genetic programming and genetic algorithms. I also investigate specific biological problems, such as the emergence and structure of microbial ecosystems, adaptation of phage to environmental change, and the distribution of mobile DNA in different genomes. I work in close collaboration with several colleagues, world wide. I am the director of the IBEST/INBRE bioinformatics core facilities, and director of the UI graduate program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. I am a member of the Initiative for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary STudies (IBEST) at the University of Idaho.