TRÊS develops theory in evolutionary ecology, the behavioural sciences and evolutionary systems biology. Current research projects focus on adaptive variation (animal personalities, phenotypic plasticity, genetic diversification), the causes and consequences of sexual reproduction (sex determination, sex allocation, sexual selection), evolutionary game theory (conflict and cooperation), cultural versus genetic evolution, the interaction of evolution and self-organization, the relationship between (molecular) mechanisms, adaptation and constraints, non-equilibrium processes in ecology and evolution, and dynamic community assembly theory.

Most of these projects are based on a general theoretical question but also closely related to a specific empirical problem in the 'real world'. We try to develop mechanistic models whose predictions can be tested in the lab or in the field. To this end, we closely collaborate with empirical biologists from various departments.