Research in the mammal and parasite lab group is focused broadly in evolutionary biology with a focus on systematics, population genetics, and coevolutionary associations between distantly related organisms, particularly mammals and their parasites. In general, our research relies on field work and specimens from natural history collections. We use molecular and morphological data from recently collected and historical specimens to help elucidate broad evolutionary processes operating in distantly related taxa. Please see the Projects and Publications page for more examples of ongoing research in the lab group.

​***BLACK LIVES MATTER*** I pledge to oppose racism & hate through active allyship and continual unlearning, learning, and listening and I expect the same of my colleagues. I pledge to use my tenured position for anti-racist purposes. Please see the Anti-Discrimination Resources page for useful reading and resources. 
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News!
News Archive

September 2023

• Happy Labor Day Weekend! Looking forward to more small mammal trapping later this week.

August 2023

• First week of classes in the books! We're off to a great start with training in the lab, CT segmentation training, and small mammal trapping!
• Ongoing projects for Fall 2023 include Peromyscus morphology and genomics, bat fly phylogenetics, sucking louse morphology and phylogenetic analysis at the genus level, pocket gopher NUMTs, pocket gopher chewing lice, and filarial worms of ticks. A lot going on!
• Fall semester starts soon! Jessica is teaching mammalogy again.
• Summer is coming to end. Natalie is nearly off to her Postdoctoral Researcher position at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.

Contact Information
Texas A&M University
Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology
Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections
Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
​Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics
Mailing address: 534 John Kimbrough Blvd., TAMU 2258; College Station, TX 77843
JEL Office: 268 Wildlife, Fisheries and Ecological Sciences (Building 1537). 979-458-4357
​Follow Jessica on Twitter @je_light and BlueSky @jeclight

This website was last updated 3 September 2023