Wesleyan portrait of Michael  Singer

Michael Singer

Professor of Biology

Hall-Atwater Laboratories, 259
860-685-2548

Chair, Biology

Professor, Environmental Studies

860-685-2548

msinger@wesleyan.edu

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BS University Southern Calif
PHD University of Arizona

Michael Singer

Research in the Singer Lab focuses on ecological interactions among plants, herbivores, and carnivores (tri-trophic interactions) in the context of evolutionary ecology, community and food web ecology, and animal behavior. Some of the research themes include the evolution of dietary specialization/generalism, ecological immunology, animal medication behavior, and the structure and function of ecological communities. Prof. Singer and his students use field and laboratory experiments and observations to conduct this research.

My longstanding interest in natural history, especially of insects and plants, propelled me toward field biology. As a child and young adult, I studied butterflies and their relationships with plants. Like many other naturalists, I have always been fascinated by patterns of biological diversity and the processes that generate and maintain them. All of these interests led me toward the biological disciplines of ecology and evolutionary biology. My preferred study subjects, insects and plants, are relatively easy to manipulate and gather or find in large numbers. This preference of study organisms facilitated my use of laboratory and field experiments in addition to field observations as the methodological cornerstones of my research program. My research interests correspond to my teaching interests and charges at Wesleyan. I teach Conservation Biology, Ecology, Plant-Animal Interactions, and parts of several courses dealing with Evolutionary Biology. 

Academic Affiliations

Office Hours

Spring 2024: by appointment

Courses

Spring 2024
BIOL 339 - 01
Biology and MB&B Symposium II

BIOL 508 - 01
Evolution Journal Club II

BIOL 557 - 01
Adv Research Seminars in Bio

Fall 2024
BIOL 216 - 01
Ecology

BIOL 507 - 01
Evolution Journal Club I