Jonathan Velotta

Jonathan Velotta is an Assistant Professor in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Denver, specializing in evolutionary biology. His research integrates evolutionary theory with physiology and genomics to explore environmental adaptation in animals.

• Education: Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Connecticut (2014)
• Professional Background: NIH Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Montana

Velotta's work focuses on understanding adaptive mechanisms in extreme environments, including high-elevation cold and hypoxia in deer mice, and salinity transitions in fish. His recent publications highlight genetic and transcriptomic responses to environmental stressors, with emphasis on gene regulation, paralog switching, and physiological trade-offs.

His lab (Velotta Lab) investigates parallel evolution in osmoregulation, adaptive shifts in cardiovascular function, and climate change impacts on ecological transitions. Current research spans evolutionary physiology, comparative genomics, and environmental stress responses, particularly in diadromous fish and high-altitude rodents.