Robert Unckless

Dr. Robert Unckless is a Courtesy Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Kansas. His research focuses on evolutionary genetics, particularly the interactions between Drosophila species and their symbionts (nematodes, bacteria, viruses) as well as meiotic drive elements. He investigates immunity gene evolution, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and the Drosophila innubila Nudivirus (DiNV). His work combines empirical studies with theoretical modeling to understand evolutionary processes such as genetic conflict and host-pathogen coevolution.

Research Interests: His lab explores the evolutionary dynamics of AMPs, which challenge existing theories about their functional redundancy. Recent studies reveal polymorphisms in Diptericin that significantly impact bacterial load in Drosophila melanogaster. He also studies DiNV, the first DNA virus in Drosophila, focusing on its virulence, host range, and evolution. Additionally, he examines sex-ratio meiotic drive in Drosophila affinis, analyzing genomic and population-level effects of drive suppression and Y chromosome evolution.

Recent Articles: His 2025 work highlights selective pressures maintaining immune peptide alleles and the role of conflicting kinesins in meiotic drive. 2024 studies include modeling Schizosaccharomyces pombe populations and the impact of autosomal suppression on sex chromosome dynamics. Earlier work (2023–2020) addresses Wolbachia male-killers, AMP evolution, and viral pathogenicity.

Grants & Advising: Unckless has advised PhD students like Jessie (now at University of Virginia), Kent (graduated 2025), and Maggie Schedl (Master’s 2024). His lab engages in outreach through programs like KPOP and collaborates on grants such as NSF PRFB and NIH K99.

Labs & Teams: The Unckless Lab hosts interdisciplinary projects combining molecular genetics, bioinformatics, and ecological experiments. Key collaborations involve the KU Center for Genomics and international researchers at conferences like the Meiotic Drive Symposium in Switzerland.