Dr. Meghan Duffy

Biography

Meghan Duffy is a Susan S. Kilham Collegiate Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan. She earned her Ph.D. in Zoology from Michigan State University in 2006 after completing her B.S. in Biological Sciences at Cornell University in 2000. Duffy's research focuses on the dynamics of symbiotic relationships in freshwater plankton, employing observational and experimental approaches alongside molecular analyses and mathematical modeling. Her specific research areas include multi-host-multi-symbiont interactions, shifts along the mutualism-parasitism gradient, and the factors influencing the spatiotemporal distribution of free-living symbiont stages. Moreover, she has a profound interest in the interaction between food web members and symbionts, as well as rapid evolutionary changes in host-parasite dynamics during disease outbreaks. Duffy has been a prominent voice in addressing issues related to mental health among graduate students and is involved in mentorship, guiding several graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in her lab. Over her academic career, she has contributed significantly to understanding the ecological and evolutionary implications of symbiosis, receiving grants to advance her research initiatives.

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