Jaap de Roode
Scientist & Author
Welcome to the official website for Jaap de Roode's research lab, books, podcast, and educational materials.
Behavioral Ecology, Parasitology, & Evolutionary Biology
Research in the de Roode lab at Emory University focuses on the ecology and evolution of hosts and their parasites. Lab members study monarchs butterflies and honey bees and their parasites, asking how host plants, chemicals and microbes help these animals protect themselves against infectious diseases. We also study animal migration and population genetics.
Our lab has a diverse research team. In addition to training students in research and teaching undergraduate and graduate student courses, we organize scientific outreach, and visit schools and festivals to talk about science and help establish pollinator gardens.
Jaap has a background in science journalism, and is the author of Doctors by Nature: How Ants, Apes, and Other Animals Heal Themselves (Princeton University Press, 2025). He is also the director of the Infectious Diseases Across Scales Training Program, and hosts the Virulent Vortex Podcast, in which he discusses infectious disease research and control with students and faculty.
Books, research, and pollinators
Books
Jaap became interested in science writing when he was a student at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. He has been a freelance journalist for Dutch and English magazines, and his first book, Doctors by Nature, was published by Princeton University Press. He is currently working on a popular-science book on coevolution.
Research
Our research laboratory at Emory University focuses on the study of host-parasite interactions, microbiomes, and animal behavior, including migration and self-medication. We have a diverse team of researchers, including postdocs, PhD students, and undergraduate students. Learn more about our research and team members here.
Pollinators
Jaap is a board member of the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail, a non-profit organization whose aim it is to raise awareness about pollinators and recreate native pollinator habitat in the United States and beyond. Our team provides plants, and help with setting up pollinator gardens.
Training, education, community, and media
We have a passion for training, education, & community outreach. Our activities include training graduate students in infectious disease biology and control, development of educational materials, and bringing new ideas to the community. We like visiting schools and festivals to talk about science, and we often talk to the press about new developments in science.
Get in Touch
We'd love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out for inquiries, collaborations, or speaking engagements. Let's connect and inspire the next generation of scientists and readers.
Department of Biology
Emory University
Atlanta, GA 30307
USA
jderood@emory.edu
