Kayla King

Kayla King is a Professor in the Departments of Zoology and Microbiology & Immunology at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and holds a Professorial Fellowship at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on the contemporary ecology and evolution of host-pathogen/parasite interactions, integrating experimental evolution, comparative genomics, and field studies. Key research interests include climate change impacts on pathogen virulence, biodiversity loss effects on disease dynamics, and the evolutionary consequences of host jumps. She investigates microbial diversity, symbiosis, and the interplay between environmental stressors and host immunity.

Education Affiliations:

• University of British Columbia (UBC)
• University of Oxford (as Professorial Fellow)

Research Interests: Dr. King’s work spans microbial ecology, evolutionary theory, and environmental change. She explores how warming temperatures and habitat fragmentation influence pathogen transmission and host resistance. Her team uses experimental systems to study virulence evolution, microbiome functions, and the ecological basis of disease emergence. Recent projects examine symbiotic relationships, stress responses in hosts, and the role of biodiversity in disease regulation.

Lab & Collaborations: The King Lab operates across UBC and Oxford, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to infectious disease dynamics. They collaborate on topics like protective microbiota, pathogen surveillance in wild animals, and applying evolutionary principles to disease control strategies.

Awards: No specific awards listed in provided materials.

Advising & Grants: While specific student names aren’t listed, the lab focuses on training researchers in experimental evolution and disease ecology. Funding sources include UBC’s Biodiversity Research Centre and academic excellence initiatives.

Labs/Teams: King Lab (UBC Zoology & Microbiology & Immunology), part of the Biodiversity Research Centre’s collaborative network.