معرفی
Zachariah Gompert is a Professor and Associate Department Head in the Department of Biology at Utah State University, focusing on evolutionary genetics, population genomics, and speciation. His research explores genetic architecture of ecologically important traits, species boundaries, and impacts of climate change on insect populations. He develops computational tools like bgc and introgress for hybrid zone analysis.
- Education: PhD in Ecology (University of Wyoming, 2012), MS in Population and Conservation Biology (Texas State University, 2006), BS in Biology (Texas State University, 2004)
Research Interests: Gompert's work spans hybridization, gene flow, and speciation in natural populations, particularly through genomic time-series data and hierarchical Bayesian models. Key themes include:
- Genomic clines and introgression patterns
- Adaptive trade-offs in host shifts
- Climate change effects on montane insects
- Epigenetic mechanisms in ecotype divergence
- Experimental evolution in seed beetles
- Conservation implications of genetic diversity
His recent publications analyze butterfly hybrid zones, Timema stick insect color morphs, and climate-driven insect declines. Articles emphasize complex structural variation, ecological forecasting, and species boundary dynamics.
Scientific Awards:
- NSF LTREB Award for long-term butterfly population studies
Teaching & Advising: Courses include Bayesian Analysis of Biological Data, Evolutionary Biology, and Computational Approaches to Biology. He has mentored graduates such as Alia Donley, Anthony Reis, and Bhagya Amarasinghe.
Laboratory: The Gompert Lab investigates evolutionary responses to climate stressors, using NSF-funded LTREB projects on Sierra Nevada butterflies and experimental evolution in Callosobruchus seed beetles.
