Welcome to the Jansa Lab Homepage!
My research is primarily concerned with the systematics and biogeography of localized mammalian radiations. I am currently focusing on three isolated groups of mammals: the native rodents of Madagascar, the indigenous rodents of the Philippines, and South American didelphid marsupials. Each of these groups contains species that have evolved to take advantage of a wide range of ecological conditions and exhibit a broad array of morphological adaptations. Reconstructing the evolutionary history of these groups is the first step towards understanding which forces -- biological and geological -- have prompted their diversification. I employ DNA sequence data to infer phylogenetic history, and I work with traditional systematists to combine morphological and molecular data to provide a better understanding of mammalian evolutionary history.
Information for Prospective Graduate Students
I am affiliated with the Bell Museum of Natural History and the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior; I can accept students through the graduate programs in either Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior or Conservation Biology. I am interested in advising Ph.D. students whose interests lie in the broadly defined fields of mammalian evolution and biogeography. Although I gladly collaborate with students on projects, I believe that graduate school is your chance to develop your own research program. I will work with you to find your academic niche, but it's your job to be independent and motivated. If that interests you, then please feel free to contact me via email (jansa003 at umn.edu). Let me know a little about your background and why you want to pursue graduate studies with me. Also be sure to familiarize yourself with the admissions criteria for the graduate programs listed above, which are quite competitive.
