Jennifer Jost

Jennifer Jost is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Bradley University, where she also serves as Director of the Honors Program. Her research focuses on the physiological ecology of marine and aquatic invertebrates, particularly examining cellular responses to environmental stressors in invasive species like the zebra mussel (Dreissena) within the Illinois River ecosystem.

• Education: Ph.D. in Biology from the University of South Carolina, B.A. in Biology from Colby College

Research Interests:

• Investigating thermal tolerance mechanisms in marine bivalves and crustaceans
• Cellular stress responses to environmental changes
• Physiological adaptations in invasive aquatic species
• Ecological determinants of body temperature in intertidal organisms

Recent Research Trends: Analysis of her publications reveals consistent focus on stress physiology in aquatic invertebrates, combining biochemical markers (e.g., AMPK activation) with ecological modeling to understand survival thresholds under climate stressors and invasive species dynamics.

Teaching Contributions:

• Courses for biology majors: Comparative Animal Physiology (BIO381), Environmental Physiology (BIO417), Marine Biology (BIO475)
• Non-major courses: Biotechnology and Society (BIO301), Human Histology (BIO351)
• Collaborative teaching with College of Education and Health Sciences

Service Roles:

• Faculty Advisor, Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society (Omega Epsilon Chapter)
• Councilor at Large, Illinois State Academy of Sciences
• Board Member, Friends of the Illinois River