Micah Freedman

Micah Freedman is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. His research focuses on plant-insect interactions, particularly monarch butterflies and their milkweed host plants, exploring topics like host specialization, toxin sequestration, migration, and phenotypic plasticity. He previously held postdoctoral positions at the University of British Columbia and the University of Chicago, supported by grants from NSERC, NSF, and National Geographic.

• Ph.D., Population Biology, UC Davis (2020)
• B.S., Entomology & Plant Science, Cornell University (2013)

Freedman's research spans evolutionary genetics, chemical ecology, and conservation biology. His work on monarch butterflies addresses migration loss, toxin sequestration from host plants, and how environmental changes affect ecological interactions. He uses comparative approaches, community science data, and museum collections to study adaptation and conservation strategies.

His publications (2018–2025) highlight monarch genetics, plant defense adaptations, pollination dynamics, and wing morphology evolution. Key themes include migration ecology, genetic variation in island populations, and the role of host plants in insect evolution.

• NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship (2020–2022)
• National Geographic Society Exploration Grant (2017)
• Mildred E. Mathias Research Award (2016)
• NSF EAPSI Fellowship (2016)
• Rosemary Grant Award (2016)
• Davis Botanical Society Award (2015–2016)
• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2015–2019)
• Garden Club of America Scholarship (2011)

At the University of Toronto, Freedman teaches courses in plant-animal interactions and leads seminars in EEB. His lab investigates monarch butterfly ecology using chemical fingerprinting, functional genomics, and population genetics to address conservation challenges.