Jessica Lee Ware
Personal Information
Born: 1984 or 1977
Country of Birth: Canada
Nationality: Canadian/American
Ethnicity: Black
Education
University of Toronto grades 7-13; 2001, University of British Columbia BS Invertebrate Zoology; Rutgers University 2008 PhD Entomology
Professional Life
Field of Study: Evolutionary Biology; Entomology
Institution/Corporation: American Museum of Natural History; Rutgers University
Degrees & Memberships: Memberships: Worldwide Dragonfly Association; Entomological Society of America; co-founder of Entomologists of Color
Awards & Achievements
Awards: 2019, PECASE (Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists & Engineers) Medal; 2008-1010, NSF Postdoc Fellow; 2022, Fellow of California Academy of Sciences; 2019, Leader in Faculty Diversity Award. Rutgers University; 2017, Snodgrass Memorial Research Award, Entomological Society of America; 2015, NSF Early CAREER Award; 2008, John Henry Comstock Graduate Student Award, Entomological Society of America
Achievements: work on a phylogenomics of insect evolution, especially reproductive, social, & flight behavior; focuses on the evolution of behavioral & physiological adaptations in insects especially Odonata (dragonflies & damselflies) & Diclyoptera (termites, cockroaches, & mantises
Her twin brother is artist & activist Syrus Marcus Ware; Became interested in biology because her grandparents in northern Canada encouraged her to collect snakes, insects, & frogs; After obtaining her BS, she travelled to Costa Rica for one semester & studied with scientists of color for the 1st time, decided on a career in research at the time; Has appeared on NOVA PBS shows & Jonathan Van Ness's podcast Getting Curious; Holds dual citizenship in US & Canada