University of Michigan
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

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Joseph Coolon

Joseph Coolon

Contact information

  • University of Michigan
    1061 Kraus Natural Science Building
    830 North University
    Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048
  • Phone: (734) 647-5483
  • Fax: (734) 763-0544
  • Email: jcoolon@umich.edu

Mentor

Patricia Wittkopp

Fields of study

Evolutionary genetics and genomics, ecological genomics

Research interests

I am broadly interested in understanding the genetic mechanisms that underlie organismal responses to their environment, with specific interest in responses to global environmental change phenomena. In my research I have used an interdisciplinary approach to ask questions that lie at the interface of multiple disciplines and span multiple levels of biological organization, from genes to communities. I have considerable interest in how different genotypes interact with the environment in different ways and the connection between genotypes and phenotypes. Gene expression is a critical intermediate in these processes and my current project focuses on regulatory variation and evolution. In particular, I am investigating how cis- and trans-regulatory changes contribute to divergent gene expression in Drosophila species.

Academic background

Ph.D., Kansas State University, 2008

UM affiliation

  • Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  • College of Literature, Science, and the Arts