Research in the Light lab 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 Museum specimens, and we use molecular and morphological data from recently collected and ancient 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 Light lab.

Link to list of popular press articles documenting the importance of collections (as published in the Journal of Mammalogy). Reference: Cook, J.A. and J.E. Light. 2019. The emerging role of mammal collections in 21st century mammalogy. Journal of Mammalogy 100: 733-750. Link

News!
News Archive

September 2019

• Mammalogy small mammal trapping has been super successful so far! 4 species and good numbers
• Manuscript accepted, yay!
• Fall 2019 Semester is in full swing! Check out the People page to see all the new Light lab members (and keep an eye out for updates).

August 2019

• Proposal submitted!
• Grants proposals due and classes are about to start.
• Another manuscript accepted! Congratulations Whitney!
• Whoo-hoo! Congratulations to Adrian for successfully defending his dissertation! Great job, Adrian!
• Adrian's defense has been announced: Wednesday August 14th 9:30 (WFES 411):
  "Using museums and mammals to unravel Central American biodiversity and biogeography"
• Another PhD student is getting ready to graduate, while we welcome several new lab members. Check out the People page to learn more.

Contact the Light Lab
Texas A&M University
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences
Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
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

This website was last updated 16 September 2019