Research Background : Jeffrey is an evolutionary biologist interested in understanding the evolution of small RNA pathways in animals; evolution of de novo genes and their contributions to intragenomic conflict; and the use of Big Data analytics to understand the evolution of genome structure in flies and mammals.
Current research and its importance/ impact: Jeffrey’s current research focuses on understanding the roles of endogenous RNAi in controlling selfish meiotic drive systems (SMDs) using Drosophila simulans as a model. Furthermore, using a combination of genetics, molecular, and computational approaches, Jeffrey’s work is now leading to a mechanistic understanding of how de novo SMDs compromise critical cellular mechanisms in the germline. In addition to addressing fundamental evolutionary questions, Jeffrey’s work on the Big Data analytics front involves the analysis of the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering-IMPACT profiling of tumor samples to examine the effects of recurrent mutations in the miRNA processing enzyme DICER1 and their contributions to tumorigenesis.