Dr Jens Rolff
Tel: +44 (0)114 222 4777
Fax: +44 (0)114 222 0002
email : jor@sheffield.ac.uk
View Evolutionary and Ecological Entomology Website
Career
1996 Diploma in Biology, Technische Universitaet Braunschweig, Germany
1999 PhD, Technische Universitaet Braunschweig, Germany
1999 (7-12) Postdoctoral research associate, Centre for Population Biology, Imperial College at Silwood Park, UK (DAAD grant)
2000 (1-4) Paternity leave
2000-2001 Postdoctoral research fellowship (DFG), Technische Universitaet Braunschweig, Germany and University of Sheffield, UK
2001-2003 Marie Curie Research Fellow, University of Sheffield, UK
2003- NERC Research Fellow, University of Sheffield, UK
Key Research Interests
My research interests revolve around host-parasite interactions and ecological immunology. I use insects such as damselflies, flour beetles and fruit flies as model systems in the lab and in the field. Currently I am studying immunological costs of mating and relations between immunity and mating success. Furthermore I am interested in why and how sexual dimorphism in immunity arises. I am also investigating how investment in immune function is shaped by ecological factors such as predation.
Professional Activities
Editor-in-Chief of Ecological Entomology
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118504516/home?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0
Convenor of the international Royal Entomological Society Symposium on Insect Immunity (2009)
http://www.royensoc.co.uk/
Convenor of the Royal Entomological Society Special Interest Group "Microbes, Infection and Immunity"
http://www.royensoc.co.uk/
Selected Publications
Haine, E, Moret, Y, Siva-Jothy, M & Rolff, J (2008) Antimicrobial Defense and
Persistent Infection in Insects. Science 322, 1257-1259.
Nunn C, Lindenfors P, Pursall ER & Rolff J (in press) On sexual dimorphism in immune function. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London
Haine E, Pollit L, Moret Y, Siva-Jothy M & Rolff J (2008) Temporal patterns in immune responses to a range of microbial insults (Tenebrio molitor). Journal of Insect Physiology, 54, 1090-1097.
Rolff J (2007) Why did the acquired immune system of vertebrates evolve? Developmental and Comparative Immunology, 31: 476-482.
Stoks R, de Block M, Slos S, van Doorslaer W & Rolff J (2006) Time constraints mediate predator-induced plasticity in immune function, condition and life history. Ecology, 87, 809-815.
Rolff J, Armitage SAO & Coltman DW (2005) Genetic constraints, sexual dimorphism and immune defence. Evolution, 59,1844-1850.
Rolff J & Siva-Jothy MT (2004) Selection on insect immunity in the wild. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, B, 271, 2157-2160.
Rolff J. & Siva-Jothy MT (2003) Invertebrate Ecological Immunology. Science, 301, 472-475.
Teaching
APS208 Animal Population and Community Ecology
APS270 Parasitism
APS321 Trends in Biology
APS405 Advanced Biological Analysis