About
Jason R. Rohr serves as the Ludmilla F., Stephen J., and Robert T. Galla College Professor and Department Chair of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame. Appointed as a Kellogg Faculty Fellow in 2024, he leads internationally recognized research at the intersection of disease ecology and global sustainability challenges.
Rohr's research focuses on infectious disease dynamics within the context of global change, food systems, energy access, water security, and sustainability challenges—particularly in low- and middle-income countries. His laboratory investigates how these interconnected challenges perpetuate poverty and health disparities, with active field research in Senegal. Current projects include innovative approaches to reduce human schistosomiasis while simultaneously addressing invasive plant management and enhancing food, energy, and water access.
His publication record includes over 200 peer-reviewed articles in premier journals including Science, Nature, and Nature Sustainability. Recent work demonstrates how integrated ecological interventions can simultaneously address disease control and poverty alleviation, with particular emphasis on climate-disease relationships and ecosystem-based solutions. Rohr serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Ecology and founded the Disease Ecology Section of the Ecological Society of America.
- 2024 Frontiers Planet Prize for innovative public health and sustainability research
- Kellogg Faculty Fellowship (2024)
Rohr's laboratory collaborates extensively with international partners including Chris Barrett of Cornell University, focusing on real-world applications of ecological research to improve human welfare in resource-limited settings. His work bridges fundamental ecological theory with practical interventions for sustainable development.
