معرفی
Mark Margres is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of South Florida, part of the College of Arts and Sciences. He holds roles in the USF Genomics and Precision Medicine Programs. His research focuses on evolutionary genomics, coevolutionary dynamics between Tasmanian devils and their transmissible cancer, and venom evolution in snakes. Margres earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University and has held postdoctoral positions at institutions including Harvard University and Washington State University.
Education: Ph.D., Biology (Florida State University, 2016); B.A., Biology (Bethany College, 2011).
Research Interests:
- Evolutionary and ecological genomics of adaptation
- Coevolution between hosts and pathogens (e.g., Tasmanian devils and DFTD)
- Venom evolution in snakes and predator-prey interactions
- Genomic mechanisms underlying tumor regression and cancer dynamics
Recent Article Trends: Recent work explores genomic signatures of coevolution in Tasmanian devils, venom complexity in rattlesnakes, and microbiome impacts on conservation. Margres integrates '-omics' approaches with ecological and morphological data to study genotype-phenotype-fitness linkages.
Awards:
- Sarah and Daniel Hrdy Visiting Fellowship in Conservation Biology (2019–2020)
- Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Grant (2019)
- J. Larry Landers Student Research Award (2013)
Advising & Grants: Supervises graduate and undergraduate researchers, including Ph.D. students Ella Guedouar and Dylan Gallinson. Secured grants from NSF, National Geographic, and internal initiatives, totaling over $2 million in funding. Active in lab-based and collaborative projects on cancer genomics and venom biology.
Labs & Teams: Directs the Margres Lab at USF, focusing on evolutionary genomics, transmissible cancers, and venom research. Collaborates with institutions like Harvard University and the University of Tasmania.
