Seminar Series
EEB hosts a weekly seminar series at 3:30 p.m. Thursdays in room 1420 BPS (Biomedical and Physical Sciences) across the atrium from the EEB Hub during the academic year. Throughout the year, the seminar committee solicits nominations of leading scholars whose research appeals to our diverse EEB community (link to nomination form). In the spring, the seminar committee then invites speakers from this nomination pool for the next academic year.
The seminar series contains four special lecture types (nominated by EEB members): the Spartan Eminent Lecture by a prominent EEB leader outside of MSU; the Distinguished Alumni Lecture by an EEB alum with a celebrated research career; up to two Notable Dissertation Lectures by graduating EEB students to share their outstanding dissertation research; and up to two Career Exploration Panels with speakers discussing their career paths outside of academia.
Questions can be directed to the committee chair: Elizabeth Heath-Heckman.
Spring 2025
February 6
NOTABLE DISSERTATION LECTURE
Evolutionary dynamics in asexual populations: The interplay of theory, experiment, and simulation
Devin Lake
Integrative Biology, Michigan State University
Mentor: Rich Lenski
February 20
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI LECTURE
Decoding biodiversity dynamics: A trait-based perspective
Ohio State University
Host: Peter Williams
February 27
The evolution, genetics, and development of the
baculum (penis bone)
University of Southern California – Dornsife
Host: Jason Gallant
March 13
Plovers and rabbits: The challenge of recovering early successional endangered species
State University of New York – ESF
Host: Wendy Leuenberger
March 20
Exploring the metabolite interface of host-microbiomes in a warming sea
University of California – Merced
Host: Elizabeth Heath-Heckman
March 27
What experimental evolution can teach us about the biology of host-microbe interactions
University of Pittsburgh
Host: Victor DiRita
April 3
Using chemical analysis to combat the illegal turtle trade
Center for Wildlife Studies
Host: James Moran
April 10
Post-fire regeneration and restoration across ecosystems: Hawaii to the Eastern Sierra
US Forest Service – Rocky Mountain Research Station
Host: Lars Brudvig
April 17
Environmental and anthropogenic drivers of food web networks
Michigan State University
Host: Phoebe Zarnetske
May 1
EEB core faculty meeting
Core faculty will recap the semester, discuss plans for the next academic year.
Fall 2024
September 12
EEB Town Hall
Join your fellow EEB members to learn about the many exciting activities to come during the new academic year!
September 19
Decoding the evolution and genomics of sleep across species
University of Toronto
Host: Jamily Ramos de Lima
September 26
October 3
NOTABLE DISSERTATION LECTURE
Implications of seed sourcing decisions on restoration outcomes
Riley Pizza
Plant Biology, Michigan State University
Mentor: Lars Brudvig
October 10
Co-evolution and conflict within the genome
University of Chicago
Host: Emily Josephs
October 17
The development basis of biological diversity: Patterning mechanisms in mammalian skin
Princeton University
Host: Julia Ganz
October 24
Infecting the deep earth: Illuminating how microbes disperse within the subsurface biosphere
Earth and Environmental Sciences, Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology, Michigan State University
Host: Nina Wale
October 31
SPARTAN EMINENT LECTURE
Breathing water: An introduction to the gill-oxygen limitation theory
University of British Columbia-Vancouver
Host: Ingo Braasch
November 7
The origins of evolution: From autocatalytic chemistry to genetic cells
University Wisconsin-Madison
Host: Emily Dolson
November 14
November 21
December 5
EEB Core Faculty Meeting
Faculty will recap the semester, discuss plans for the next semester, and learn about new initiatives.