Hope Hollocher

Research Interests

The Hollocher laboratory uses population genetics and genomics to investigate a wide variety of mechanisms underlying evolutionary change, such as the genetics of speciation, evolution and development, and adaptation. Our most recent research combines approaches in landscape genetics and disease ecology to investigate how the genetic structuring of host populations influences the transmission and differentiation of parasites in non-human primates of Southeast Asia. We approach this problem using GIS tools to delineate the impact of different landscape features (i.e. physical, social and anthropogenic) on the transmission dynamics of individual parasite species as well as the genetic and ecological drivers that influence parasite community structure overall. We are also evaluating important interactions between the prokaryotic and eukaryotic gut microbiomes that serve to inhibit or facilitate the invasion of the gut by harmful microbes.