Jason A. Toy, Ph.D.

About Me

I am a marine science researcher interested in the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of marine subtidal ecosystems.  Currently, I am a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Barshis Lab at Old Dominion University investigating the genetic basis of thermal tolerance in Pacific corals, and was formerly a PhD candidate in the Kroeker Lab and Bernardi Lab at the University of California Santa Cruz where I investigated the adaptive capacity of natural fish populations in the face of global environmental change. In general, my research interests are broad and I enjoy approaching them from both the “question-based” and “system-based” perspectives.

Professional History

During my undergraduate career, I pursued research on determinants of ecosystem function with [then] PhD candidate Matthew Whalen and Dr. Jay Stachowicz.  I took part in surveying both the Bodega Bay and Tamales Bay sites for the global seagrass research initiative, the Zostera Experimental Network (ZEN), and collaborated on a project investigating the effects of flow heterogeneity and diversity of fouling organisms on water column filtration.  After graduating, I worked as a Junior Specialist with Dr. Eric Sanford at the Bodega Marine Laboratory (BML) on a project investigating juvenile seastar ecology and the prevalence of wasting disease in Pisaster ochraceus juveniles.  Before beginning graduate work, I was stationed at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS) helping to teach a marine invertebrate zoology course and assisting with invasive lionfish and coral research. At UC Santa Cruz, I led a multi-institutional group of researchers in a collaborative effort to elucidate the impact of ocean acidification and environmental variability on temperate fish, using the black perch (Embiotoca jacksoni) as a model species. I now work at the intersection of global change biology and population genomics to investigate the role of genetic adaptation in the response of fish and coral populations to a changing environment.

Research Interests

My academic interests are broad, but an overarching theme is an interest in the response of marine systems to “novel environments” (aka change, including changes in temperature, dissolved oxygen, and carbonate chemistry, as well as pollution and invasive species). This starts at the physiological and population levels and cascades up to the goal of understanding community- and ecosystem-level changes, including how these factors combine to influence the evolution of the populations within the community. Included in this spectrum of interests are such topics as local adaptation, evolutionary ecology, population genomics, species interactions, and range expansions.  For more updates on my current avenues of investigation, see the Research tab.

Career Goals

My non-research interests are in science communication and education, as well as the application of research findings to ecosystem management.  With the world now within the recently coined “Anthropocene” and an increasing understanding of the impacts our society has had on global processes, it is more important than ever to bridge the gap between the academic and public worlds. To this end, I hope to promote an interest in, and understanding of, scientific research results to replace an unfortunately pervasive culture of misunderstanding and intimidation. I aim to continually improve my ability to communicate research results to more public audiences, as well as expand and refine my toolbox for effectively teaching college students core concepts of biology and experimental design. I hope to instill in students some of the same passion for biology that led me to pursue this career path and a solid understanding of the scientific method and critical thinking relevant to any path they take moving forward. For more information, see the Science Communication tab.

A useful graphic produced by the World Wildlife Fund illustrating the many ecosystem services provided by the ocean and its inhabitants, as well as consequences of human impacts.

In my blog, I record events, findings, or critters of particular interest that I come across in my studies and work in the world of ecological research, as well as reflections or updates on recent activities.  These days, however, I mainly post updates and field photos on Instagram @the_evologist and occasionally on twitter (also @the_evologist).

My personal interests include freediving/spearfishing, motorcycling, reading, hiking, camping, and almost any sort of sport or outdoor activity.

All photos property of Jason Toy, unless otherwise stated.