Jodie Wiggins

Jodie Wiggins is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at Oklahoma State University. She holds a PhD in Zoology (2018) and an MS in Biology (2010) from Oklahoma State University and Midwestern State University respectively. Her research focuses on evolutionary biology, genetics, and herpetology, particularly studying sexual selection mechanisms and sex determination in collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris). She has contributed to understanding reproductive behavior, genomics, and phylogenetic tool development. Wiggins teaches courses in General Genetics, Evolution, and Physiology, and has advised the Graduate Student Advisory Council (2017-2019). Her work bridges molecular genetics with ecological field studies, exploring how environmental factors interact with genetic determinants in reptile reproduction.

Research Highlights:

• Discovered precocial sexual selection in juvenile collared lizards with pre-brumation mating behaviors
• Identified evidence of sex microchromosomes in a temperature-influenced sex determination species
• Co-developed Phylotastic, an open-source phylogenetic knowledge delivery system

Teaching & Service:

• Teaches advanced biology courses including Genetics, Evolution, and Physiology
• Managed a multi-year field study on collared lizard populations in Oklahoma
• Contributed to educational initiatives like the History of Earth website project