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

Intellectual Contributions

Campbell, Shonda M. Starz-Gaiano, Michelle Leips, Jeffery (2020) The age-specific phagocytic ability of adult Drosophila melanogaster hemocytes using an In vivo phagocytosis assay 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 vol. 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) Geographic and Seasonal Variation in Species Diversity and Community Composition of Frugivorous Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and their Leptopilina (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) Parasitoids 5 vol. 47 1096-1106 Environmental Entomology

Hughes, Kimberly A. Leips, Jeffery W. (2017) Pleiotropy, constraint, and modularity in the evolution of life histories: insights from genomic analyses 1 vol. 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 vol. 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 vol. 53 35-76 JOURNAL OF HYMENOPTERA RESEARCH

Hoffman, Kathleen Leupen, Sarah M. Dowell, K. Kephart, K. Leips, Jeffery W. (2016) Development and Assessment of Modules to Integrate Quantitative Skills in Introductory Biology Courses 2 vol. 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 vol. 24 4193-204 Molecular ecology

Horn, Lucas Leips, Jeffery W. Starz-Gaiano, Michelle (2014) Phagocytic ability declines with age in adult Drosophila hemocytes vol. 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 vol. 3 948-960 Ecology and Evolution

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

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

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

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

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

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

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