University of Michigan
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

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Timothy James

Timothy James

  • Assistant Professor
    Assistant Curator of Fungi
  • Ph.D., Duke University, 2003
  • James Lab

Contact information

  • University of Michigan
    1147 Kraus Natural Science Building
    830 North University
    Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048
  • Phone: (734) 615-7753
  • Lab: (734) 763-8161
  • Email: tyjames@umich.edu

Research interests

Much of the obvious adaptive evolution in Fungi is observed in their diversification of mating systems and dispersal mechanisms. I study the evolution of sex and reproductive traits of Fungi and attempt to link these traits with phylogeny and population genetics. I am particularly interested in the intriguing phenomenon of heterokaryosis in Fungi. The heterokaryon is an alternative to diploidy in which multiple genetically different nuclei inhabit the same cell after mating occurs. I am studying genomic conflict in this system by measuring the degree to which the nuclei of a heterokaryon compete or cooperate with each other. Understanding this behavior includes investigating the role of pheromone signaling in the communication between nuclei.

In addition, our lab is interested in the evolution of the ancient aquatic fungi known as the chytrids. Our methodology includes molecular biology, phylogenetics, and fungal cultivation. Currently I am focusing on the following three projects:

1. Evolution of mating systems and nuclear behavior in mushroom fungi (Agaricomycetes)
2. Molecular systematics of ancient fungal lineages
3. Evolutionary genomics and population genetics of the chytrid fungal disease of amphibians