The aim of my PhD project, conducted within the group of SciLifeLab Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS) Fellow José Cerca, is to test evolutionary hypotheses using both simulations and empirical sequence data. Initially, various population genetic models combined with simulated genomic data will be employed to assess key assumptions and infer expected evolutionary patterns. The second pillar of the project involves generating high-quality genome assemblies from novel whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data and using them to infer evolutionary processes based on insights gained from the simulations. Together, these results will challenge and refine current knowledge in evolutionary biology and speciation genomics.