2019 Topic: The Coral Holobiont: Investigating Reef Genetics and Microbes for Coral Reef Resilience
Biography:
Jeremy Ward attended Cornell University, majoring in cell biology and genetics and earned his Ph.D. at Weill Cornell Graduate School in Medical Sciences in cancer biology. He conducted his research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Institute studying the molecular cause of acute promyelocytic leukemia. His post-doctoral work at The Jackson Laboratory focused on the genetic basis for accurate production of gametes during mammalian meiosis and reproduction.
Ward’s current research interests include reproductive genetics in mammals and genetics in general in diverse systems, inclusive STEM education strategies, and the intersection of biotechnology and society. In the area of reproductive genetics, they have shown that the gene Hei10 is essential for reproduction and plays a key role in determining the frequency of the meiotic DNA exchange known as crossing-over. Similarly, they have also shown that the gene Akap9 is necessary for male meiosis and most likely functions during meiosis and sperm maturation in the testes. In collaboration with colleagues in Psychology and Neuroscience, they have also identified regions of the mouse genome responsible for testicular size variation. Ward’s laboratory is also involved in research identifying the prevalence of the Lyme disease causative agent, Borrelia burgdorferi, in ticks in Vermont, developing biosensors for B. burgdorferi, and studying the role of altitude in B. burgdorferi infection rates.