Jacob Heiling

Jacob Heiling is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Western Carolina University's College of Arts and Sciences. He joined the faculty in 2023 after postdoctoral work at Florida State University and Clemson University (2019-2023). His academic journey includes a B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin (2013) and a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University (2019).

Education:

• B.S., University of Texas at Austin
• Ph.D., North Carolina State University

Dr. Heiling's research focuses on the evolutionary ecology of floral traits and plant reproductive strategies. His work integrates field studies in southwest Colorado (San Juan and West Elk ranges, Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory) and southern Appalachian Mountains with laboratory analysis to examine how floral chemistry and morphology mediate interactions with pollinators, herbivores, and the abiotic environment. Key areas include:

• Plant chemical ecology and defense-attraction trade-offs
• Species interactions across multiple trophic levels
• Floral strategy evolution and ecological context
• Thermal biology of flowers
• Signal detection in pollinator communities

His research combines empirical work with theoretical frameworks like optimal defense theory and mutualism theory, employing techniques such as gas chromatographic mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to analyze floral chemistry.

Teaching focuses on ecology and evolution, including courses like:

• General Ecology (BIOL 304)
• Methods in Ecology and Evolution (BIOL 375/675)
• Species Interactions (BIOL 493)