معرفی
Dr. Patricia C. Lopes is an Associate Professor at Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University. Her research focuses on animal social behavior, disease transmission, and neuroendocrinology, integrating molecular, physiological, and social dynamics. She employs RFID tracking and behavioral sensors in field and lab experiments to study sickness behaviors and their evolutionary implications.
- Education: Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley.
- Labs: Runs the Lopes Lab, investigating social decision-making networks and infection responses in wild house mice (Mus musculus domesticus).
Research Highlights:Challenges the kin protection hypothesis for sickness behaviors through experiments on wild and lab mice. Demonstrates that social isolation alters neural transcriptomes and affects disease spread dynamics. Explores maternal physiological responses to infection risks and integrates ecoimmunology with disease ecology frameworks.
Key Collaborations:Works with institutions like ETH Zurich, University of Bern, and University of Zurich. Collaborates with experts in behavioral ecology (Barbara König), neurogenomics (Suzy C. P. Renn), and disease dynamics (Greg Albery).
