Dr. Randall DeJong

Associate Professor

Departments:

Biography

I grew up in northwest Washington state in the land of evergreen trees and the Cascade mountains. Interests in biological research and parasitology developed as an undergraduate propelled me to graduate school, which brought many new adventures and a love for the southwest U.S. I enjoy reading, attending concerts, exploring Michigan, hiking, and camping with my wife and three children.

Education

B.S. in Biology, Calvin College, 1994
M.S. in Zoology, Michigan State University, 1997
Ph.D. in Biology (with distinction), University of New Mexico, 2003

Professional Experience

Visiting Faculty, University of Michigan Biological Station (2019)
Calvin University, Associate Professor (2013-present)
Calvin College, Assistant Professor (2007-2013)
Postdoctoral Fellow, National Institutes of Health (NIH) (2004-2007)
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of New Mexico (2003-2004)

Academic Interests

I love the biology and diversity of invertebrates, especially parasites and their hosts, and study them from ecological, evolutionary, and genetic perspectives. Before coming to Calvin, I was a research scientist at the National Institutes of Health near Washington D.C., where I worked on the interactions between malaria parasites and the mosquitoes that transmit them to people. During my Ph.D. studies, I participated in the first global genetic study of the human schistosome parasite, Schistosoma mansoni, and led the most complete genetic study of its snail host, Biomphalaria. Schistosomes and snails continue to be subjects of my research, including those in North America that cause “swimmer’s itch”. One of my favorite things is incorporating research into the classroom with the phage research course offered to first-year students.

Research

Current topics

‘swimmer’s itch’ on northern Michigan lakes (and elsewhere)
schistosomes and their snail hosts (everywhere)
bacteriophages
using molecular tools in ecology; e.g., using DNA to detect bacteria in Plaster Creek, or to detect swimmer's itch parasites in lakes

Research and Scholarship

Genomic and Niche Characterization of Bacteriophages in the Microbial Communities of the Aquatic Snails

<p>Most multicellular organisms rely on symbiotic relationships with prokaryotes (bacteria), especially within the digestive tract, for aiding digestion and providing essential nutrients and energy. Even in the small guts of invertebrates, these bacterial communities can be robust, unique, and critical to survival. One aspect of invertebrate microbial communities that has been largely unexamined is the potential role of bacteriophage, which putatively could play a large role in regulating community composition and function. Recent research has highlighted the importance of gut bacteria in both the transmission of malaria and the immune response of the mosquito and therefore any phage that affects such bacteria are of interest.</p>