معرفی
Kevin Matson is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University, where he leads the Wildlife Ecology and Conservation group. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis (2006), an M.S. in Avian Sciences from the University of California, Davis (1999), and a B.S.P.H. in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (1996). He has held roles at Bard College (2014-2016) and the University of Groningen (2006-2014), including a prestigious Veni Postdoctoral Fellowship (2008-2012).
His research focuses on the intersection of immunology, ecology, and evolutionary biology, exploring how immunological variation influences animal ecology and life history evolution. A key interest is understanding how predator cues and disease dynamics shape wildlife populations. Notable projects include studies on rodent reproduction under predation risk and the role of microbiome interactions in disease ecology.
Matson’s fieldwork includes innovative studies on light pollution’s impact on songbirds and collaborations with MSc students on disease ecology. He also engages in outreach, such as teaching in prisons through the Bard Prison Initiative. His work bridges lab-based immunological studies with field observations, contributing to disease ecology, conservation, and urban wildlife adaptation.
Grants and recognition include the NWO Veni Fellowship, highlighting his impactful research on ecological immunology. Current projects address climate change effects on disease vectors and urbanization impacts on wildlife health.
