Joel L. Sachs
Assistant Professor of Biology
Dr. Sachs is presently completing postdoctoral studies at UC Berkeley.
He will arrive at UCR in July, 2007
Office and lab TBA
current E-mail: jlsachs@berkeley.edu
E-mail after 7/1/2007: joel.sachs@ucr.edu
Degree: Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, 2004
Cooperation is a fascinating aspect of nature, and biologists are only beginning to determine how cooperative interactions evolve. Cooperation occurs at many biological levels, ranging from co-evolving gene networks to social interactions to symbioses. I investigate the mechanisms and selective forces that drive cooperation and conflict.
My current research focuses on the rhizobial bacteria that live in soils throughout the world and nodulate the roots of many legumes. Rhizobia offer incomparable research tractability with sequenced genomes, easy lab experimentation and access to the vast agricultural database that has been rarely studied in an evolutionary or ecological context. My research attempts to integrate multiple perspectives and techniques. I investigate aspects of the origins, maintenance and ultimate breakdown of cooperative systems. My work pairs theoretical and empirical approaches, the latter include field and lab studies of natural variation, experimental evolution, microcosm experiments, as well as phylogenetic and molecular analysis.
Recent publications:
A complete publication list is here
