معرفی
Marjorie Matocq is a Professor of Population & Evolutionary Genetics and Director of the Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology (EECB) Graduate Program at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). She is affiliated with the Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Science within the College of Agriculture. Her research focuses on understanding patterns of genetic diversity and the ecological, demographic, and historical processes that shape them, with a particular emphasis on small mammals like woodrats (Neotoma spp.).
Matocq completed her B.S. at California Polytechnic State University (1992), M.S. at San Francisco State University (1996), and Ph.D. at UC Berkeley (2000). Her work integrates molecular genetics, morphological analysis, and field studies to address questions at the interface of ecology and evolution. Current projects include studying hybridization dynamics, climate impacts on species distributions, and conservation genetics of endangered species like the pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis).
Her research emphasizes field-based data collection and genomic approaches, often involving collaborations with natural resource agencies. She mentors students in Conservation Biology and Molecular Ecology courses, emphasizing outreach and applied conservation. Her lab’s work has implications for managing threatened species and understanding evolutionary processes in fragmented landscapes.
Matocq’s research spans from molecular-level adaptations to large-scale ecological interactions, with recent studies focusing on toxin tolerance, hybrid zone dynamics, and habitat connectivity. She advocates for bridging traditional ecological knowledge with modern genomic tools to address conservation challenges.
