Prof. Joanna Masel
Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, USA; Adjunct Professor, Simon A. Levin Mathematical, Computational and Modeling Sciences Center, Arizona State University, USA
Profile
ACADEMIC HOST
Prof. Lilach Hadany
Life Sciences - Plant Sciences
IAS Distinguished Scholar
1.12.26-18.12.26
Education
- B.Sc. (Honours) in Genetics, University of Melbourne, Australia (1996)
- D.Phil. in Zoology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom (2001)
Professional Experience
- Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, USA (2016–present)
- Head of Science (Consulting), WeHealth Solutions (2020–2022)
- Visiting Professor of Biology, Stanford University, USA (2019–2020)
- Associate Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, USA (2010–2016)
- Assistant Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, USA (2004–2010)
- Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, USA (2000–2003)
Fellowships and Honors
- Fellow, Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Germany (2012–2013)
- Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences (2007)
- Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow in Computational and Evolutionary Molecular Biology (2007)
- Merton College Prize Scholarship, University of Oxford, United Kingdom (1999)
- Rhodes Scholarship (1997)
- International Mathematical Olympiad Bronze Medal (1991)
Awards
- HHMI Professorship Runner-up (2017)
- Outstanding Faculty Mentor, Honorable Mention, University of Arizona Undergraduate Biology Research Program (2011)
- Editorial and Academic Service
- Senior Editor, Genetics (present)
- Board Member, Society for Mathematical and Theoretical Population Biology (present)
Research Interests
- Evolutionary theory and population genetics
- Mathematical and computational models of evolution
- Robustness, evolvability, and adaptation of biological systems
- Evolution under high mutation rates
- Fitness landscapes in density- and frequency-dependent environments
- Molecular evolution, protein evolution, and the origins of genetic systems
- De novo gene birth and the evolution of biological complexity
Faculty
Life Sciences
Framework of visit
IAS Distinguished ScholarsPeriod of visit
Next YearSelected Publications
- Wehbi, S., Wheeler, A., Morel, B., Manepalli, N., Minh, B. Q., Lauretta, D. S., Masel, J. “Order of amino acid recruitment into the genetic code resolved by Last Universal Common Ancestor’s protein domains.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024)
- Matheson, J. D., Masel, J. “Background selection from unlinked sites causes non-independent evolution of deleterious mutations.” Genome Biology and Evolution (2024)
- Nelson, P. G., Masel, J. “Intercellular competition and the inevitability of multicellular aging.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2017)
- Rajon, E., Masel, J. “Evolution of molecular error rates and the consequences for evolvability.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2011)
- Masel, J. and colleagues. Research on evolutionary dynamics, mutation, adaptation, and the mathematical foundations of biological systems (2000s–present)
