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Bridgett vonHoldt specializes in evolutionary genomics and epigenetics, particularly in domesticated species as genetic model systems to study phenotypic diversity and evolution. Her research focuses on the interplay between genomic changes and phenotypic variations, especially in domestic dogs, which exhibit a wide range of diversity compared to their gray wolf ancestors. Through gene mapping studies, she has identified genes that play significant roles in phenotypic traits and disease-related variants. Yet, critical aspects of the evolutionary history of these traits remain to be understood. She employs a comprehensive approach by utilizing various genomic technologies alongside traditional ecological and evolutionary biology queries to study how natural history affects phenotypes such as social status, pigmentation, and mating strategies. Her work aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms, including chromatin modifications and epigenetic variations, that influence gene expression and contribute to the evolution of species both naturally and through artificial processes.
GRE scores are not accepted. Ph.D. is the primary degree; students are not required to hold an M.S.E. prior to admission.