The Koop lab at Northern Illinois University is recruiting PhD graduate students for Fall 2023
interested in studying parasite evolution.
Research in the lab aims to understand the ecological and evolutionary drivers of successful parasite invasions. We use field and lab-based techniques to study two unique, but complimentary systems and our work crosses disciplines including evolutionary biology, invasion biology, population genetics, and conservation biology.
There are opportunities for PhD students to study an invasive parasitic fly affecting Darwin’s finches in the Galapagos Islands. While this opportunity is contingent on funding, we have several ongoing projects aimed at identifying the source of the invasion, understanding current population structure, and examining the selective forces acting on populations of flies across the archipelago. The Galapagos Islands are an incredible place to work and have a rich history of informing our understanding of evolution.
We also have opportunities for PhD students interested in studying an invasive freshwater snail in the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River that acts as a host to several species of trematodes. As part of their life cycle, the trematodes infect waterfowl, often causing high morbidity and mortality. Ongoing projects with this system include assessing the invasion pathway history of both the snail and trematode species, understanding the role of local adaptation in determining virulence across a large geographic landscape, and examining sublethal effects of trematode infections on waterfowl. This system is highly accessible and offers an incredible opportunity to explore diverse ecological and evolutionary questions related to epidemiology, behavior, genetics, and species interactions.
Students will have the choice to work on any number of ongoing projects in the lab, and are encouraged to develop their own projects and research interests as well. Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Jennifer Koop (jkoop@niu.edu) and should include your CV and a brief description of your research experience and interests.
Northern Illinois University is a public research university located in DeKalb, Illinois, an affordable and growing community that is a commutable distance from Chicago and Rockford metropolitan areas. Our 16,000+ student body is diverse, with many first-generation and racially and culturally diverse students. Recently, NIU was nationally recognized as a top college for diversity and LGBTQ+ students, and has been named one of the Great Colleges to Work For two years in a row. Biological Sciences is one of the largest majors on campus and our department has faculty and students pursuing dynamic research agendas including biomedical, microbial, pedagogical, developmental, evolutionary, and ecological questions. The proximity of DeKalb to Chicago provides easy access to Chicago’s research and technology corridor, the arts, and extensive nature preserves and parks. You can find out more about the department and the university at niu.edu/biology.
interested in studying parasite evolution.
Research in the lab aims to understand the ecological and evolutionary drivers of successful parasite invasions. We use field and lab-based techniques to study two unique, but complimentary systems and our work crosses disciplines including evolutionary biology, invasion biology, population genetics, and conservation biology.
There are opportunities for PhD students to study an invasive parasitic fly affecting Darwin’s finches in the Galapagos Islands. While this opportunity is contingent on funding, we have several ongoing projects aimed at identifying the source of the invasion, understanding current population structure, and examining the selective forces acting on populations of flies across the archipelago. The Galapagos Islands are an incredible place to work and have a rich history of informing our understanding of evolution.
We also have opportunities for PhD students interested in studying an invasive freshwater snail in the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River that acts as a host to several species of trematodes. As part of their life cycle, the trematodes infect waterfowl, often causing high morbidity and mortality. Ongoing projects with this system include assessing the invasion pathway history of both the snail and trematode species, understanding the role of local adaptation in determining virulence across a large geographic landscape, and examining sublethal effects of trematode infections on waterfowl. This system is highly accessible and offers an incredible opportunity to explore diverse ecological and evolutionary questions related to epidemiology, behavior, genetics, and species interactions.
Students will have the choice to work on any number of ongoing projects in the lab, and are encouraged to develop their own projects and research interests as well. Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Jennifer Koop (jkoop@niu.edu) and should include your CV and a brief description of your research experience and interests.
Northern Illinois University is a public research university located in DeKalb, Illinois, an affordable and growing community that is a commutable distance from Chicago and Rockford metropolitan areas. Our 16,000+ student body is diverse, with many first-generation and racially and culturally diverse students. Recently, NIU was nationally recognized as a top college for diversity and LGBTQ+ students, and has been named one of the Great Colleges to Work For two years in a row. Biological Sciences is one of the largest majors on campus and our department has faculty and students pursuing dynamic research agendas including biomedical, microbial, pedagogical, developmental, evolutionary, and ecological questions. The proximity of DeKalb to Chicago provides easy access to Chicago’s research and technology corridor, the arts, and extensive nature preserves and parks. You can find out more about the department and the university at niu.edu/biology.
Unofficial lab logo courtesy of Chiedu Okonmah
Welcome to the Koop Lab!
Species interactions play a pivotal role in driving and maintaining biodiversity. Parasites, one of the most diverse groups of organisms on Earth, dominate food web links in ecosystems, drive speciation of hosts through antagonistic interactions, and can even cause local extinction of hosts. Tradeoffs in virulence and transmission dynamics alter the impact of parasites on hosts. Complex interactions between hosts and parasites can affect the evolutionary trajectory of entire communities. The ability to predict how parasites will affect hosts across spatial and temporal scales is important from both scientific and conservation perspectives. My research group in the Department of Biological Sciences at Northern Illinois University studies the ecology and evolution of host-parasite interactions.
Interested in joining the Koop lab? If you are interested in learning more about the lab, please contact me at jkoop [@] niu [dot] edu. If you are an undergraduate interested in joining the lab, please send me a brief statement of your research interests and how they relate to my lab, your current GPA, and your undergraduate major. If you are a potential graduate student interested in joining the lab, please provide me with your CV including a list of relevant coursework, a writing sample, and a brief statement of your research interests. You can learn more about the graduate programs available at NIU by visiting the following website.
Interested in joining the Koop lab? If you are interested in learning more about the lab, please contact me at jkoop [@] niu [dot] edu. If you are an undergraduate interested in joining the lab, please send me a brief statement of your research interests and how they relate to my lab, your current GPA, and your undergraduate major. If you are a potential graduate student interested in joining the lab, please provide me with your CV including a list of relevant coursework, a writing sample, and a brief statement of your research interests. You can learn more about the graduate programs available at NIU by visiting the following website.
