About
Dr. Joseph Colgan is an Assistant Professor and Group Leader at the Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution at Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Germany. His research group focuses on ecological and evolutionary genomics of social insects, particularly bumblebees and mason bees, using integrative approaches combining behavioral, molecular, genomic, immunological, and computational techniques.
Dr. Colgan's educational background includes:
- PhD in Zoology from University of Dublin, Trinity College (2008-2014)
- MSc in Immunology and Global Health from Maynooth University (2007-2008)
- BSc in Zoology from University College Dublin (2003-2007)
- Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching & Learning in Higher Education from University College Cork (2018-2019)
His research program centers on three interconnected themes. His work on phenotypic plasticity examines how single genotypes produce multiple phenotypes in social insects, particularly focusing on the genomic architecture underlying caste differentiation. In ecological and evolutionary genomics, he investigates how pollinators respond to environmental challenges including habitat loss, pesticide exposure, and climate change, with recent work applying population genomics to assess genetic diversity in wild bee populations. His immunogenomics research explores host-parasite interactions, examining molecular mechanisms of immune responses to pathogens and environmental stressors, with particular focus on how mating, diapause, and nematode infections alter immune gene expression in bumblebees.
Analysis of Dr. Colgan's publication record reveals a consistent focus on insect genomics with increasing specialization in social insect systems. His early work included salmonid genomics, but his research has increasingly concentrated on bumblebees and other pollinators, with a growing emphasis on pesticide impacts, immune system evolution, and evolutionary adaptations. His recent publications demonstrate sophisticated integration of genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic approaches to address fundamental questions in evolutionary biology and pressing concerns in pollinator conservation.
Dr. Colgan supervises a diverse research team including six PhD students (Jannik Möllmann, Max Bolder, Hongfei Xu, Safira Moog, Dean Hodapp, and Eva Baumgarten), four Master's students, and multiple Bachelor's students. His group actively pursues projects in population and comparative genomics of wild bees, evolution of dormant phenotypes, signatures of sexual antagonism, queen specialization in social insects, insect immune system evolution, and genomic approaches to bee conservation. The research group maintains strong international collaborations, particularly with institutions in Ireland and the UK where Dr. Colgan previously conducted postdoctoral research.
