Jeanine Refsnider

Jeanine Refsnider is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences within the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Toledo. She holds a Ph.D. from Iowa State University (2012) and Master's/Bachelor's degrees from the University of Minnesota system. Her research program integrates field and laboratory approaches to investigate species' responses to rapid environmental change.

Dr. Refsnider's research focuses on vertebrate zoology, evolutionary ecology, and conservation biology with particular emphasis on phenotypic plasticity, adaptive genetic change, and geographic range shifts. Her work combines observational and experimental studies examining how organisms respond to novel environmental conditions, particularly climate change impacts on ectothermic vertebrates. Key research areas include thermal biology of reptiles, nest-site selection behavior, and physiological responses to environmental stressors such as oil spills and algal blooms.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals strong thematic continuity in her research program, with consistent focus on herpetological responses to environmental change. Approximately 70% of recent work centers on turtle ecology and conservation, while 30% examines lizard thermal biology. Her methodology increasingly incorporates advanced tracking technologies and genomic approaches to understand organismal responses at multiple biological levels.

Dr. Refsnider maintains an active research laboratory investigating effects of algal blooms on aquatic turtles, community responses to climate change in montane lizards, and thermoregulatory behavior recording methods. Her work demonstrates significant translational impact for conservation planning, particularly regarding climate change adaptation strategies for vulnerable ectothermic species.