A variety of age classes of two different species of Daphnia, infected with a fungal parasite.
About the Duffy Lab:
Our research lies at the interface of ecology and evolutionary biology, and uses a combination of field, lab, and theoretical studies. Much of the research in the lab focuses on the causes and consequences of parasitism in natural populations, especially in lake populations of Daphnia.
Sullivan Lake, Pinckney State Recreation Area, MI in late September 2013.
About Meghan:
Meghan received her B.S. in Biological Sciences from Cornell University in 2000. After a brief stint working as a field technician in Antarctica, she moved to the Kellogg Biological Station and Michigan State University for graduate school. She received her Ph.D. in zoology and ecology, evolutionary biology and behavior from MSU in 2006. From there, she moved to the University of Wisconsin for her postdoctoral research, which was supported by an NSF postdoctoral fellowship in biological informatics. From 2008-2012, she was an assistant professor in the School of Biology at Georgia Tech. She joined the EEB faculty at the University of Michigan in August 2012. Her research focuses on the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases, especially in aquatic systems. In addition to her research activities, Meghan writes for a popular ecology blog, Dynamic Ecology.
Meghan has received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers from President Obama, the Mercer Award from the Ecological Society of America, and the Yentsch-Schindler Early Career Award from the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography.
Meghan is very interested in engaging with the public and is happy to talk to journalists and policy makers. She is currently a public engagement fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Her outreach activities include teaching classes to middle and high school students from Southeast Michigan. She also writes for and speaks to general audiences, and is happy to speak with reporters about issues related to ecology, the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases, basic science (a.k.a. blue skies research), diversity in science, women in science, public engagement, and outreach. Examples of some of Meghan’s public engagement activities can be found on our Media & Outreach page.
The Duffy Lab 