Dr. Jason Walsman's research examines the dynamic relationships between host traits and the spread and evolution of infectious diseases. Infectious diseases spread and evolve rapidly, creating complex and difficult-to-predict public health challenges. His work addresses this problem by moving beyond static perspectives of hosts and pathogens, recognizing that both are highly dynamic. Hosts respond to infectious diseases through behavioral changes, such as avoiding infected individuals, and through immunological responses, including immune priming following an initial infection.

By integrating theoretical models with empirical data, Dr. Walsman advances understanding of how host behavior and immunity influence infectious disease transmission and evolution. His research spans basic science, conservation science, and One Health approaches, using animal systems including guppies, frogs, and songbirds to generate insights with important implications for human health. He has published as lead author in leading journals including Nature Ecology & Evolution, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, and Functional Ecology.

Dr. Walsman's teaching focuses on improving student learning through active learning, classroom-based research, and quantitative reasoning. He is particularly interested in applying these approaches to subjects that are not traditionally considered quantitative, including courses such as GLHLTH 306, GLHLTH 101, and BIOL 110.

Dr. Walsman received B.S. degrees in Biology, Environmental Science, Biological Physics, and Pure Mathematics from Indiana University Indianapolis. He earned his Ph.D. in Ecology from Indiana University Bloomington and subsequently completed postdoctoral research appointments at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of California, Santa Barbara.