Jennifer L. Neuwald
  Postdoctoral Research Associate

  Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis
  M.S., San Diego State University
  B.S., Michigan State University

  Contact Information
  Department of Ecology, Evolution, and
  Organismal Biology
  Iowa State University
  253 Bessey Hall
  Ames, IA 50011, USA

phone: 1-515-294-7499
fax: 1-515-294-1337
email: first initial last name @ iastate.edu

My research focuses on characterizing the evolutionary forces that are responsible for shaping patterns of genetic and genomic diversity in natural populations. A critical component of this process is studying the resulting patterns in an ecological context, as this can provide a more comprehensive and biologically relevant interpretation of the impact these forces can have on the evolutionary trajectory and persistence of a species. The core of my research addresses how extrinsic variation in the environment interacts with evolutionary forces, such as genetic drift and gene flow, to influence intrinsic patterns of genetic variation in natural populations. I am interested in addressing questions such as:

• How does variation in the environment interact with genomic diversity to shape an organism's traits?
• How does natural habitat fragmentation influence the population genetic dynamics of species (especially those of conservation concern)?
• What can population genetic patterns of "species" in a hybrid zone tell us about the evolutionary trajectory of that "species"?