Understanding how early-life environments shape the ability of organisms to cope with change

Assessing the consequences of early-life environments requires tracking individuals and populations over time. Our research combines long-term studies of free-living populations, historical collections, experimental manipulations, and physiological and molecular approaches to connect developmental experiences with biological responses from individuals to populations. Together, these complementary approaches allow us to identify the processes and mechanisms that allow organisms to respond to a changing world.

We conduct much of our research on house sparrows, an exceptional system for studying how early-life environments shape biological responses. Their broad geographic distribution, use of nest boxes, and suitability for both long-term monitoring and experimental manipulation allow us to link developmental experiences with physiological, ecological, and evolutionary outcomes. Although house sparrows are our primary study system, the questions we ask and the approaches we use apply broadly, and we enjoy collaborating with researchers working in diverse systems, including other birds, fish, and bees.