Laura Kubatko

Dr. Laura Kubatko is Professor of Statistics and Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology at The Ohio State University, with joint appointments in both departments. She holds affiliate positions at the Battelle Center for Mathematical Medicine and Translational Data Analytics Institute. Awarded AAAS Fellowship in 2019, she served as President of the Society of Systematic Biologists (2020-2022) and co-directed the Mathematical Biosciences Institute.

Her research integrates statistical genetics and phylogenetics, focusing on coalescent theory methods for phylogenetic tree inference, hybridization detection, and algebraic statistics applications. She develops computational tools for analyzing genome-scale evolutionary data.

Dr. Kubatko's work spans conservation biology applications, viral evolution analysis (including SARS-CoV-2), and cancer progression modeling. Publications demonstrate consistent focus on methodological innovation in phylogenetic inference under complex evolutionary scenarios.

Leadership & Recognition:

• AAAS Fellow (2019)
• President, Society of Systematic Biologists (2020-2022)
• Associate Editor: Systematic Biology (2007-2020), Evolution (2008-2010)
• Section Editor: BMC Ecology and Evolution (2016-2022)