Dr. David Jacobs

Biography

David Jacobs is a Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, focusing on the intersection of ecology and evolutionary biology. He leads the Jacobs Lab, where innovative research is conducted to reconstruct evolutionary history through synthetic approaches. His studies leverage a combination of fossil records and large-scale physical processes, alongside molecular approaches to tackle significant questions in evolutionary biology. Recent research from his lab evaluates molecular rates that assess fossil data, revealing conflicts in the timing of evolutionary events such as the Cambrian radiation. Research projects have included the examination of the evolutionary origins of skeletons and understanding the development of sense organs in basal animal forms like jellyfish and sponges. Jacobs' lab also analyzes global-scale changes in physical processes that govern biodiversity evolution. A notable recent project involved the analysis of molecular phylogenies and fossil data to document the diverse marine fauna along the California coast. His work has implications for understanding the evolution of marine ecosystems, alongside ongoing studies into the genetic effects of environmental changes on coastal marine life.

Research Interests