Research Interests:
I am currently investigating how we can learn about evolutionary processes from understanding the protein-protein interactions of a cell. The approach includes validating and integrating protein-protein interaction data from yeast two hybrid and mass spectrometry experiments with Bayesian models. Continuing interests include phylogenetics and the evolution of retroids.

Hobbies:
Politics, web, photography, running, camping, canoeing, opera, cooking.

Education
Ph.D, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 2004
Dissertation: Phylogenetic models, distribution, and evolution of retroids.
B.S., Drake University, Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude, 1999
Study Abroad, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia, 1998

Publications
Rest, J.S. and D.P. Mindell. 2003. Retroids in Archaea: phylogeny and lateral origins. Molecular Biology and Evolution 20:1134-1142.

Rest, J.S., J.C. Ast, C.C. Austin, P.J. Waddell, E.A. Tibbetts, J.M. Hay, and D.P. Mindell. 2003. Molecular systematics of Reptilia and the tuatara mitochondrial genome. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 29: 289-297.

Rest, J.S. and D.P. Mindell. 2003. SARS has a recombinant polymerase and coronaviruses have a history of host shifting. Infection, Genetics and Evolution 3: 219-225.

Tucker, P.K. RM. Adkins, and J.S. Rest. 2003. Differential rates of evolution for the ZFY-related zinc finger genes, Zfy, Zfx and Zfa in the mouse genus Mus. Molecular Biology and Evolution 20:999-1005.

Xiankui S., J.M. Fontaine, J.S. Rest, E.A. Shelden, M.J. Welsh, and R. Benndorf. Interaction of human HSP22 (HSPB8) with other small heat shock proteins Journal of Biological Chemistry 279:2394-2402.

Fontaine, J.M., J.S. Rest, M.J. Welsh, and R. Benndorf. 2003. The sperm outer dense fiber protein is the 10th member of the superfamily of mammalian small stress proteins. Cell Stress and Chaperones 8:62-69.

Dimmic, M, J. Rest, D. Mindell and R. Goldstein. 2002. rtREV: an amino acid substitution matrix for inference of retrovirus and reverse transcriptase phylogeny. Journal of Molecular Evolution 55:65-73

Liu, Y., Y Shen, J. Rest, P. Raymond, and D. Zack. 2001. Isolation and characterization of a zebrafish homologue of the cone rod homeobox gene. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 42: 481-487.

Meshnick S.R., P.A. Hossler, K.S. Enger, P. Kazanjian, J.S. Rest, D. Mindell, B. Li, C.H. Lee, L.F. Nimri, J.L. Carter, C.B. Beard, L. Huang. 2001. Distribution of DHPS mutations among ITS subtypes of P. carinii f. sp. hominis. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology Suppl:126S-128S.

Book Chapters
Mindell, D.P., J.S. Rest, and L.P. Villarreal. 2004. Viruses and the tree of life. In Cracraft, J. and M.J. Donoghue (eds.), Assembling the Tree of Life. Oxford University Press, New York. In Press.