معرفی
Jennifer Wernegreen is the Lee Hill Snowdon Associate Professor of Environmental & Evolutionary Genomics and Director of Graduate Studies for Duke University's Environment PhD program. She is affiliated with the Nicholas School of the Environment through the Environmental Natural Sciences division, located in Grainger Hall, Durham, NC. Wernegreen holds a Ph.D. from Yale University (1998).
Her research focuses on environmental and evolutionary genomics in bacteria, particularly exploring how ecological interactions like symbiosis shape microbial genomes. She integrates evolutionary, computational, and molecular approaches to study genomic changes over time, with a focus on mutualistic microbes in invertebrate hosts. Key themes include genomic erosion, horizontal gene transfer, and the interplay between genome structure and microbial function.
Recent grants include NIH Genetic and Genomics Training Grants and an NSF-funded project on Camponotine Ants and their bacterial endosymbionts. Awards include the prestigious Bass Fellow designation for excellence in research and teaching. Wernegreen's lab investigates microbial symbiosis dynamics, with notable work on Acetobacteraceae in ant guts and ancient insect endosymbionts. Her articles highlight genomic mechanisms driving microbial adaptation and evolutionary persistence in symbiotic relationships.
As a leader in graduate education, she mentors students in the Environment PhD program and oversees interdisciplinary training. Research outputs span BMC Genomics, Current Opinion in Genetics & Development, and Experimental Cell Research, emphasizing symbiosis biology and microbial evolution.
