← Back to Directory List

Jeff Leips

Jeff Leips

Professor

Biological Sciences

Biological Sciences Bldg 459

Education

Ph D Florida State University 1997

BS Florida State University 1983

leips@umbc.edu

+1 410 455 2238

About

B.S., Ph.D. Florida State University (Ph.D. Advisor: Dr. Joseph Travis), NRSA Post Doctoral Fellow North Carolina State University (Post doctoral mentor: Dr. Trudy Mackay)

Research Interests

Our research is focused on understanding the genetic basis of natural variation in life history traits using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, as a model organism. We are particularly interested in identifying genes that control age-specific changes in traits that contribute to senescence and ultimately limit life span. These traits include age-specific reproduction, immune response and energy storage. We are also actively studying the ecology of natural populations of Drosophila to identify the agents of selection acting on genes controlling these traits. Our goal is to combine knowledge of the natural history of this species with an understanding of the genetic architecture of these traits to help explain the maintenance of genetic variation in age-related changes in fitness in natural populations.

Teaching Interests

Biology 142:Ecology and Evolution, Biology 483/683: Evolution: From Genes to Genomes, Biology 487: Medical Case Studies, Biology 712: Mentoring in the Sciences

Selected Classes
  • Fall 2019 BIOL 499 – Undergrad. Lab/Field Rsch
  • BIOL 399 – Tutorial Projects In Bio
  • BIOL 898 – Pre Candidacy Doc Rsch
  • BIOL 700 – Intro To Grad Experience
  • Spring 2019 BIOL 499 – Undergrad. Lab/Field Rsch
  • BIOL 396 – Ugrad Tchng Assistantshp
  • BIOL 142 – Foundations of Biology: Ecolog
  • BIOL 142 – Foundations of Biology: Ecolog
  • BIOL 142 – Foundations of Biology: Ecolog
  • BIOL 142 – Foundations of Biology: Ecolog
  • BIOL 142 – Foundations of Biology: Ecolog
  • Fall 2016 BIOL 487 – Medical Case Studies
  • BIOL 483 – Evol: From Genes To Genomes
  • Spring 2016 BIOL 142 – Foundations of Biology: Ecolog

Intellectual Contributions

Campbell, Shonda M., Starz-Gaiano, Michelle, Leips, Jeffery. (2020). . JoVE.

Gabrawy, Mariann M., Campbell, Sarah, Carbone, Mary Anna., Arya, Gunjan H., Turlapati, Lavanya B., Walston, Jeremy D., Starz-Gaiano, Michelle, Everett, Logan, Leips, Jeffery W., Abadir, Peter M. (2019). Lisinopril Preserves Physical Resilience and Extends Life Span in a Genotype-Specific Manner in Drosophila melanogaster. 12. 74 1844-1852 JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES.

Lue, Chia-Hua, Bowory, Dorothy, Buffington, Matthew L., Leips, Jeffery W. (2018). . 5. 47 1096-1106 Environmental Entomology.

Hughes, Kimberly A., Leips, Jeffery W. (2017). . 1. 1389 76-91 Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

Eveland, M, Brokamp, G A., Lue, C H., Harbison, S T., Leips, Jeffery W., De Luca, M. (2016). Knockdown expression of Syndecan in the fat body impacts nutrient metabolism and the organismal response to environmental stresses in Drosophila melanogaster.. 1. 477 103-8 Biochemical and biophysical research communications.

Lue, Chia Hua, Driskell, Amy, Leips, Jeffery W., Buffington, Matthew. (2016). Review of the genus Leptopilina (Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea, Figitidae, Eucoilinae) from the Eastern United States, including three newly described species. 53 35-76 JOURNAL OF HYMENOPTERA RESEARCH.

Hoffman, Kathleen, Leupen, Sarah M., Dowell, K., Kephart, K., Leips, Jeffery W. (2016). . 2. 15 ar14-ar14 Cell Biology Education.

Dalton, B E., Lu, J, Leips, Jeffery W., Cronin, Thomas W., Carleton, K L. (2015). Variable light environments induce plastic spectral tuning by regional opsin coexpression in the African cichlid fish, Metriaclima zebra.. 16. 24 4193-204 Molecular ecology.

Horn, Lucas, Leips, Jeffery W., Starz-Gaiano, Michelle. (2014). Phagocytic ability declines with age in adult Drosophila hemocytes. 13 719-728 Aging Cell.

Leips, Jeffery W., Rodd, Helen H., Travis, Joseph. (2013). The adaptive significance of population differentiation in offspring size of the least killifish, Heterandria formosa. 3 948-960 Ecology and Evolution.

Leips, Jeffery W. (2013). Evolution in population parameters: density-dependence as a case study of reciprocity. American Naturalist. 181 s9-s20 American Naturalist.

Leips, Jeffery W. (2013). Defense traits of larval Drosophila melanogaster exhibit genetically based tradeoffs against different species of parasitoids. Evolution. 67 749-760 Evolution.

Leips, Jeffery W. (2012). Genomic basis of extended lifespan and late-age fertility in Drosophila melanogaster.. 66 3390-3403 Evolution.

Leips, Jeffery W. (2012). Age-specific variation in immune response in Drosophila melanogaster has a genetic basis. 191 989-1002 Genetics.

Leips, Jeffery W. (2011). Road salt stress induces novel food web structure and interactions. Wetlands. 31 843-851

Durham, Mary K., Magwire, Michael M., Stone, Eric A., Leips, Jeffery W. The genetic basis of variation in age-specific fecundity and lifespan in <I>Drosophila melanogaster is diet specific. PLoS One.

Leips, Jeffery W. Using Insects as Models of Immunosenescence. Handbook of Immunosenescence: Basic Understanding and Clinical Applications