Sofía Casasa

Dr. Sofía Casasa is an Assistant Professor of Biology Education at Boston University. She leads the Casasa Lab which investigates the evolution of developmental mechanisms and their role in phenotypic diversity using integrative approaches combining genetics, genomics, developmental biology, ecology and behavior.

Her research focuses on eco-evo-devo principles, examining how organismal development responds to environmental factors. Primary model systems include horned beetles (Onthophagus) to study plastic horn development and behavioral adaptations, and nematodes (Pristionchus) to investigate mouth polyphenism and sexual dimorphism.

Research objectives include understanding genetic/genomic regulation of plastic development, integration of morphological and behavioral plasticity, and evolutionary mechanisms underlying novel traits. Her work combines transcriptomics, functional genetics, and comparative approaches across species with diverse reproductive strategies.