Jason R. Rohr is an American biologist and an academic. He is the Galla Professor and Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, USA.[1]
In 2019, Rohr was appointed as the endowed Ludmilla F., Stephen J., and Robert T. Galla Professor in Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame. He is also the chair of department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame.[6]
Media coverage
Rohr's work has been featured in media outlets, including Fox News,[7] and World News,[8] as well as in an opinion piece authored by Andrew C. Revkin and published in The New York Times.[9] His paper on global change drivers and the risk of infectious disease was also covered by The New York Times, wherein the paper was called valuable for revealing broad patterns within ecosystems.[10]
Rohr has conducted research in behavioral ecology, ecotoxicology, and infectious disease biology. Some of his work has focused on amphibian declines linked to infectious diseases. His lab presented evidence that the chytrid fungus was not amphibian-specific, demonstrating its persistence in other hosts.[21] His research on agrochemicals revealed links between pesticide exposure and increased parasite infections in amphibians.[22] He also showed that environmental factors, such as temperature and pollution, interact to exacerbate amphibian disease susceptibility and associated declines.[23]
Rohr's work in ecotoxicology has focused on the impact of synthetic chemicals on wildlife populations. He conducted research on the adverse effects of agrochemicals, particularly atrazine. His meta-analyses showed consistent negative effects of atrazine and other pesticides on amphibians and freshwater vertebrates.[24]
Along with collaborators, Rohr proposed the thermal mismatch hypothesis, which explained how climate change influences infectious disease risks by altering host-pathogen interactions. His work showed that temperature anomalies contribute to disease outbreaks, with host susceptibility varying depending on whether the species is warm- or cold-adapted.[25] Rohr's research has shown that multiple global change drivers—including biodiversity loss, pollution, habitat destruction, climate change, and invasive species—interact to influence infectious disease dynamics. His work emphasized that urbanization can sometimes decrease disease risk, while conservation efforts, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preserving biodiversity, are critical for mitigating disease outbreaks.[26]
Some of Rohr's research has dealt with how agrochemical impacts extend to human health, showing how fertilizers and pesticides increase the risk of schistosomiasis.[27] His studies in Africa tested interventions that reduced disease risk and improved agricultural productivity. As part of their study, they removed invasive vegetation that serves as a snail habitat and repurposed it into fertilizer, livestock feed, or fuel for biodigesters; and presented it as a strategy to mitigate disease and promote economic and agricultural sustainability.[28]
Awards and honors
2012 – Career Award, United States Environmental Protection Agency[29]
2016 – Jerome Krivanek Distinguished Teacher Award, University of South Florida[30]
Rohr, Jason R.; Schotthoefer, A. M.; Raffel, T. R.; Carrick, H. J.; Halstead, N.; Hoverman, J. T.; Beasley, V. R. (16 October 2008). "Agrochemicals increase trematode infections in a declining amphibian species". Nature. 455 (7217): 1235–1239. Bibcode:2008Natur.455.1235R. doi:10.1038/nature07281. PMID18972018.
Cohen, J. M.; Lajeunesse, M. J.; Rohr, J. R. (March 2018). "A global synthesis of animal phenological responses to climate change". Nature Climate Change. 8 (3): 224–228. Bibcode:2018NatCC...8..224C. doi:10.1038/s41558-018-0067-3.
Rohr, Jason R.; Sack, Austin; Bakhoum, Souleymane; Barrett, Christopher B.; Lopez-Carr, David; Chamberlin, Adam J.; Wolfe, Noah (20 July 2023). "A planetary health innovation for disease, food and water challenges in Africa". Nature. 619 (7971): 782–787. doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06333-0 (inactive 19 July 2025).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)
Mahon, Michael B.; Sack, Alexandra; Aleuy, Alejandro; Barbera, Carly; Brown, Ethan; Buelow, Heather; Civitello, David J.; Rohr, Jason R. (11 April 2024). "A meta-analysis on global change drivers and the risk of infectious disease". Nature. 629 (8013): 830–836. Bibcode:2024Natur.629..830M. doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07380-6. PMID38720068.
↑ Prahl, Jarid; Wilson, Thomas P.; Giles, David; Craddock, J. Hill (17 May 2020). "An overview of research regarding reservoirs, vectors and predators of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis". Acta Herpetologica. 15 (1): 39–45 Pages. doi:10.13128/a_h-8744.
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