Julia Halo

Julia V. Halo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Bowling Green State University (BGSU), where she leads the Halo Lab. Her research focuses on the genomic impact of transposable elements, particularly endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) and SINE/LINE pairs, in human and non-human systems. She received her Ph.D. in Molecular Microbiology from Tufts University's Sackler School of Biomedical Sciences.

Research Interests

• Genomic evolution driven by retrotransposon activity
• ERV-host interactions in disease and evolution
• Mechanisms of SINE/LINE retrotransposition
• Comparative genomics of mobile elements

Publications & Grants

• 15+ peer-reviewed articles in journals like PNAS, Retrovirology, and PLoS Genetics
• Three consecutive NIH R15 AREA grants (2017, 2020, 2025) for ERV studies in domestic dogs

Scientific Awards

• 2024 President’s Award for Collaborative & Creative Research
• 2021 Elliot L. Blinn Award for Faculty-Undergraduate Innovation
• 2020 Outstanding Early Career Award
• 2021 Sigma Phi Epsilon Faculty Fellow

Mentoring & Lab Members

• Mentored students: Abigail Jarosz-DiPietro (Ph.D.), Maddie Altieri (M.S., now Ph.D. student), and Savanna Spitnale (M.S.)
• Undergraduate researchers: Abby Grady, Molly Buffenbarger, Genesis Pyles, and others