David M Rand

David M. Rand is the Stephen T. Olney Professor of Natural History and Vice Chair of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology at Brown University. He holds a Ph.D. in Biology from Yale University (1987) and a B.A. in Biology from Harvard University (1980). His research focuses on mitochondrial genetics, evolutionary genomics, and the interplay between mitochondrial and nuclear genomes in Drosophila. Rand has led major initiatives, including directing the Center for Computational Molecular Biology and the NSF-funded Reverse Ecology IGERT program. His work spans evolutionary genetics, population biology, and the molecular basis of aging, with over 100 peer-reviewed publications. Awards include the Stephen T. Olney Chair and Dean's Award for Teaching.

Research interests include mitochondrial-nuclear coevolution, thermal stress adaptation, and the genetic architecture of complex traits. He has pioneered studies on mitonuclear interactions, demonstrating their roles in fitness, aging, and disease. Collaborations involve computational biology, microbial ecology, and systems biology. Rand's lab also investigates environmental impacts on genetic variation, such as in barnacles and killifish populations.

Grants include NIH funding for mitochondrial genetics of aging and nuclear-mitochondrial fitness interactions. His lab trains graduate students in interdisciplinary approaches, with notable advisees like Joaquin Nunez and Adam Spierer. He serves on editorial boards of Genetics and Biological Sciences, and has reviewed for multiple journals including Science and Nature.