Jim Smith

I am Professor Emeritus of Biology at Michigan State University, where I taught primarily Introductory Biology in the Lyman Briggs College, and where I also guided undergraduate research projects and led seminar courses on genetic, evolutionary and environmental issues. I am also Professor Emeritus in the MSU Department of Entomology.

My students and I conducted research on the evolutionary relationships of Rhagoletis fruit flies and the parasitoid wasps associated with their eggs, larvae, and pupae. We remain interested in all aspects of the biology of Rhagoletis species, and we are particularly interested in working with our colleagues to decipher the evolutionary relationships of the naturally occurring Rhagoletis species and populations that are distributed across the temperate zones of the Old and New World.

I also remain involved in a number of biology education initiatives and research projects, which are aimed towards helping students understand the relationships of genotypes, phenotypes, Mendelian genetics and biological evolution. One major project involves the design, implementation and assessment of a set of cases for evolution education that integrate principles from across biology's sub-disciplines. Another involves having students experiment with digital organisms, using the computer program Avida-ED, to explore how evolutionary processes play out.

Check out our Integrative Cases in Evolution Education at: www.evo-ed.org!

Check out Avida-ED at: avida-ed.msu.edu!

Jim Smith
Michigan State University
Lyman Briggs College	Department of Entomology
919 E Shaw Lane, Rm. E26	288 Farm Lane, Rm. 244
Holmes Hall	Natural Sciences Building
East Lansing, MI 48825-3804	East Lansing, MI 48824-1115
tel: 517-706-9454
email: jimsmith@msu.edu

TEACHING

RESEARCH

CV (brief)

CV (expanded)

Things I'd like to have from you, if you'd like a letter of recommendation from me.