Johanna Harvey is an Assistant Professor of Wildlife Disease Ecology at the University of Rhode Island. Dr. Harvey is a broadly trained evolutionary ecologist with a focus on wildlife disease ecology, immunogenetics, and conservation and management science. Dr. Harvey received her Ph.D. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University, completed a postdoctoral position at the University of Connecticut and a Gerstner Scholar Fellowship at the American Museum of Natural History, followed by a position as a jointly appointed postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maryland and USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center within the Disease, Decision, Analysis, and Research Group. Dr. Harvey’s research has focused on emergent diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, emergent and co-evolved pathogens including avian malaria parasites and vampire flies.

The Harvey lab makes use of multiple methods including but not limited to transcriptomics, immunology, phylogenetics. In light of the dramatic declines in bird populations, their work aims to address the overlooked role of wildlife disease, with a particular focus on emerging pathogens. Understanding the compounding effects of anthropogenic stressors including disease, urbanization, contaminants, sea level rise, and climate change, is crucial particularly for coastal species. Members of the lab focus on understand the impacts of disease and anthropogenic pressures on wildlife and understand their ability to adapt to these stressors. The Harvey lab’s research program seeks to apply science to conservation problems, working with decision makers and leveraging partnerships with governmental and local agencies, non-governmental groups, and stakeholders to inform conservation management across scales.