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Joseph Parker is a Professor in the Department of Biology and Biological Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. He completed his B.S. at Imperial College London in 2001 and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge in 2005. His research focuses on the genetic and genomic neurobiological basis of symbiotic interactions among animals, particularly through the study of rove beetles (Staphylinidae). The Parker lab investigates how various organisms interact across species boundaries and how these interactions have evolved, shaping ecological systems. Rove beetles, a diverse clade with over 64,000 species, serve as models for understanding the dynamic between free-living predation and complex social behaviors seen in symbiosis with ants. His work aims to elucidate the mechanisms behind these interactions, including brain-behavior relationships and the evolution of biosynthetic pathways facilitating communication with host colonies. The ultimate goal is to develop an integrated understanding of the evolutionary conditions that foster these intimate species interactions.
California Institute of Technology • Pasadena, CA
Serves as a Professor in the Department of Biology and Biological Engineering.
California Institute of Technology • Pasadena, CA
Conducted research as a Visiting Associate.
California Institute of Technology • Pasadena, CA
Engaged in teaching and research as an Assistant Professor.
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