Dr. Jeremy Summers
POSTDOCTORAL NETWORK | Global Change Center
Jeremy Summers
Postdoctoral Associate
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Valentina Gómez-Bahamón
Biological Sciences
jtsummers@vt.edu
Google Scholar • Website
Dr. Summers is a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Biological Sciences working with Dr. Valentina Gómez-Bahamón. Dr. Summers received their Ph.D. from the University of Rochester while advised by Dr. Nancy Chen. Dr. Summers studies how variation in the environment and individual fitness over space and time ultimately shape population dynamics and structure, and even entire species ranges. They combine mechanistic population dynamic models with population genetics to research how birds respond to anthropogenic landscape change. These changes include the increasing isolation of the Federally Threatened Florida Scrub-Jay and the range expansion of the human commensal Great-Tailed Grackle. They are interested in why some populations can persist despite decreasing genetic diversity, and why some species can use entirely new habitats to expand their ranges while others decline.
Dr. Summers' postdoctoral work investigates the demographic and genetic consequences of large bottlenecks in populations of Barn and Cliff Swallows following independent events where these birds reversed the hemispheres they breed within. This work considers how the sudden loss in genetic diversity may pose problems for some populations, but not others, and what the role may be for anthropogenic change as both species almost exclusively nest on human-made structures. Dr. Summers aims to expand their research on population isolation and bottlenecks to explore the historical population genetics of species within highly anthropogenic environments, such as cities. These aims will provide vital reference points of historical biodiversity that will elucidate the roles of gene flow, adaptation, and behavioral plasticity in creating the wildlife populations that live alongside humans communities today.
The GCC postdoctoral network connects our outstanding postdoctoral researchers to our broader GCC community, and provides them with a variety of professional development opportunities such as training in mentorship, grant writing, and science communication.
