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Howdy! My name is Jamie Alfieri, and I am currently a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Biology at Texas A&M University. I am advised by Heath Blackmon.

Research

I am an evolutionary biologist who integrates fieldwork, laboratory methods, computational analyses, and literature syntheses to explore fundamental questions about biological diversity across scales. My research program addresses three overarching questions. First, how does speciation proceed: is it a random process across lineages, or do intrinsic traits make some lineages more or less prone to speciation? Second, how do anthropogenic activities alter biodiversity at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels? Third, what evolutionary forces shape genome architecture across the tree of life? While my research emphasizes broad, question-driven inquiries, my expertise in natural history–particularly of birds and insects–has provided robust empirical systems for my work.

Education

PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Texas A&M University, 2018-2023

MS in Biology, Georgia Southern University, 2014-2016

BS in Biology, University of Dayton, 2009-2013

Publications

Google Scholar



2024


Copeland M, Landa S, Owoyemi A, Jonika MM, Alfieri JM, Sylvester T, Hoover Z, Hjelman CE, Johnston JS, Kyre BR, Rieske LK, Blackmon H, Casola C (2024) Genome assembly of the southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmerman) reveals the origins of gene content reduction in Dendroctonus. Royal Society Open Science In press



Blackmon H, Jonika MM, Alfieri JM, Fardoun L, Demuth JP (2024) Drift drives the evolution of chromosome number I: The impact of trait transitions on genome evolution in Coleoptera. Journal of Heredity esae001 https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esae001



Alfieri JM, Hingoranee R, Athrey G, Blackmon H (2024) Domestication is associated with increased interspecific hybrid compatibility in landfowl (order: Galliformes). Journal of Heredity esad059 https://doi.org/10.1093/jhered/esad059



Sylvester T, Hoover Z, Hjelmen CE, Jonika MM, Blackmon LT, Alfieri JM, Chien S, Esfandani T, Blackmon H (2024) A reference quality genome assembly for the jewel scarab Chrysina gloriosa. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics 14(6) https://academic.oup.com/g3journal/article/14/6/jkae084/7648819


2023


Rice E, Alberdi A, Alfieri JM, ... (2023) A pangenome graph reference of 30 chicken genomes allows genotyping of large and coplex structural variants. BMC Biology 21 (1), 267 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12915-023-01758-0



Smith J, Alfieri JM, ... (2023) Fourth Report on Chicken Genes and Chromosomes 2022. Cytogenetic and Genome Research 163(1) https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/529376



Alfieri JM, Jonika MM, Dulin JN, Blackmon H (2023) Tempo and Mode of Genome Structure Evolution in Insects. Genes 14(2) https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/14/2/336



Alfieri JM, Johnson T, Linderholm A, Blackmon H, Athrey G (2023) Genomic investigation refutes record of most diverged avian hybrid. Ecology and Evolution 13(1) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.9689


2022


Jonika MM, Alfieri JM, Sylvester T, Buhrow AR, Blackmon H (2022) Why not Y naught. Heredity 129, p:75-78. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41437-022-00543-z



Alfieri JM, Wang G, Jonika M, Gill C, Blackmon H, Athrey G (2022) A Primer for Single-Cell Sequencing in Non-Model Organisms. Genes 13(2): 380. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/13/2/380

2019


Alfieri JM, Anderson TK (2019) Life-cycle mediated effects of urbanization on parasite communities in the estuarine fish, Fundulus heteroclitus. PLoS ONE 14(12): e0225896. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225896

Calendar

If you would like to schedule a meeting, please look at my availability below and send me times that work best for you.