Oklahoma State University	Department of Zoology

Jennifer Grindstaff Assistant Professor Ph.D., 2004, Indiana University Email: jen.grindstaff at okstate.edu Phone: 405-744-9676 Message for Prospective Students

(Ecological Immunology, Maternal Effects, Maternal Antibody Transmission, Avian Biology, Behavioral Ecology)

Specific Interests

My research interests incorporate concepts and approaches from physiology, behavioral ecology and evolutionary biology. This integrative approach is a powerful way to understand both the proximate mechanisms and evolutionary consequences of parental investments in determining offspring performance. For example, although there is a wealth of knowledge on the proximate mechanisms of maternal antibody transmission, relatively little is known about individual differences within a species in maternal antibody transmission or differences among species in transmission. Conversely, maternal effects theory has historically neglected the mechanistic basis through which mothers influence offspring phenotype. One goal of my research is to explain differences among individuals and species in maternal provisioning by integrating the proximate mechanisms of transmission with evolutionary theory on maternal effects.

Selected Publications

• J.L. Grindstaff, D. Hasselquist, J-Å Nilsson, M. Sandell, H.G. Smith, M. Stjernman. 2006. Transgenerational priming of immunity: maternal exposure to a bacterial antigen enhances offspring humoral immunity. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B 273:2551-2557.
• J.L. Grindstaff, G.E. Demas, E.D. Ketterson. 2005. Dietary protein restriction affects egg size and number but does not reduce maternal antibody transfer in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Journal of Animal Ecology 74:1051-1058.
• J.L. Grindstaff, E.D. Brodie III, E.D. Ketterson. 2003. Immune function across generations: integrating mechanism and evolutionary process in maternal antibody transmission. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B 270:2309-2320.
• J.L. Grindstaff, C.A. Buerkle, J.M. Casto, V. Nolan, Jr., & E.D. Ketterson. 2001. Offspring sex ratio is unrelated to male attractiveness in dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis). Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 50:312-316.
• E. D. Ketterson, V. Nolan Jr., J. M. Casto, C.A. Buerkle, E. Clotfelter, J.L. Grindstaff, K.J. Jones, J.L. Lipar, F.M.A. McNabb, D.L. Neudorf, I. Parker-Renga, E. Snajdr and S.J. Schoech. 2000. Testosterone, phenotype, and fitness: a research program in evolutionary behavioral biology. In A. Dawson and C.M. Chaturvedi (Eds) Avian Endocrinology, Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi, India.

Message for Prospective Students

I am currently seeking graduate (M.S. or Ph.D.) students interested in pursuing a degree in my lab. I am also interested in talking to undergraduate students looking for relevant practical experience in lab and field methodology. If you are interested in joining the lab, please e-mail me a summary of your research interests and a copy of your CV with any publications, relevant qualifications, coursework, descriptions of lab and field experience, and the names and institutions of people you will ask for letters of reference.

For general information on graduate study at Oklahoma State University:

• Visit the Graduate College website: http://gradcollege.okstate.edu/default.htm
• Visit the Department of Zoology’s Graduate Information website: http://zoology.okstate.edu/gradinfo.htm