Research & Teaching Fellow, The University of British Columbia
Parasitology, Ecology, Evolution
INTRO
Welcome to my academic profile! I am Jeff Doherty, an NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow and Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow at The University of British Columbia (UBC), working within the Matthews and Foster Labs in the Department of Zoology. My research focuses on the ecology and evolution of host-parasite interactions, particularly how parasites influence host behaviour and the broader ecological and evolutionary implications of these relationships. I utilise invertebrate models, such as hairworms and their insect hosts (see picture on the left, where a hairworm is egressing from a tree wētā), to explore these complex dynamics. This website provides an overview of my research, publications, and academic updates.
RESEARCH BIO
Originally from Ontario, Canada, I pursued my BSc and MSc in Biology at Université Laval and the University of Oslo. My master's research examined the effects of temperature on arthropod pests in commercial Christmas tree plantations, developing predictive models for their spring emergence. I then completed my PhD at the University of Otago in New Zealand, investigating the ecological interactions between parasitic hairworms and their aquatic and terrestrial invertebrate hosts. Currently, at UBC, I integrate experimental infections and behavioral assays with high-throughput sequencing methods—such as comparative genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics—to uncover the mechanisms driving parasite-induced behavioral changes in terrestrial insects.
GENERAL RESEARCH THEMES
These are the broad areas of research that I specialise in:
ADAPTIVE HOST MANIPULATION BY PARASITES
Investigating how parasites induce phenotypic changes in their hosts to enhance their own life cycle completion. I focus on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying these manipulations, currently studying hairworms and their terrestrial insect hosts.
PARASITE AND DISEASE TRANSMISSION DYNAMICS
Exploring how host interactions and defensive traits influence the transmission of parasites and diseases within ecosystems. This includes understanding host immune responses and behavioral avoidance strategies.
PARASITE ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
Exploring the often-overlooked roles parasites play in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem stability. My research aims to integrate parasite ecology into conservation practices, emphasising the need to preserve co-evolved host-parasite relationships and their critical functions within ecological networks.
ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACTS ON HOST-PARASITE DYNAMICS
Investigating how human-induced environmental changes, such as climate change, habitat fragmentation, and pollution, influence the co-evolutionary relationships between hosts and parasites. This includes studying how these factors drive adaptive responses in both hosts and parasites, shaping community resilience and ecosystem health.
INTEGRATIVE ETHOLOGY
Conducting multidisciplinary research on animal behavior, from molecular to ecosystem levels, to comprehend how behaviors are regulated and influenced by both internal and external factors. This approach leverages non-traditional model organisms to gain unique insights into behavioral ecology.