Research Interests

The evolution of sociality represented one of the major transition points in evolutionary history. Professor Goodisman is interested in understanding how evolutionary processes affect social systems and how sociality, in turn, affects the course of evolution. The main subjects of our research are the social insects, which display the most advanced levels of sociality and dominate ecological communities because of their sophisticated group behaviors.

Teaching interests

Professor Goodisman teaching Genetics, Bioethics, and Behavioral Biology. He has also taught Communicating Biological Research, Senior Project Lab, and Conservation Biology. Professor Goodisman also is interested in teaching in study abroad programs and has taught Genetics in Barcelona, Mediterranean Ecology in Valencia, and Ecology & Evolution in Australia. He developed and directed the Nature, Governance, & Sustainability program in Costa Rica and currently directs the Pacific Program to Australia and New Zealand.

Recent scholarship

Murray KA, Orr SE, Goodisman MAD, Gosse E, Hill R, Kovacs J. 2026. Same genes, different wings: wing shape divergence among castes in a social wasp. Ecology and Evolution. 16:e74478. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.74478. 

Caine PC, Nejad N, Goldman DI, Goodisman MAD. 2026. The effect of caste, mass and colony identity on rescue priorities in the red imported fire ant. Ecological Entomology. 1-15. DOI: 10.1111/een.70137.

Catto MA, Orr SE, Hunt BG, Goodisman MAD. 2026. Gene Expression and Alternative Splicing Regulate Phenotypic Plasticity of a Social Wasp. Ecology and Evolution. 16(7), 17. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.73930. 

Caine PB, Robertson AT, Treers L, Goldman DI, Goodisman MAD. 2026. Architecture of the insect society: Comparative analysis of collective construction and social function of nests. Insectes Sociaux. DOI: 10.1007/s00040-025-01057-7.

Catto MA, Xu Jixiang, Murray KA, Bossard ELM, Goodisman MAD, Orr SE. Integrative assessment of sulfoxaflor effects on gene expression, reproduction, and behavior in the bumblebee Bombus impatiens. 2026. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. Vol. 315 Pages 11. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2026.120101. 

Caine PB, Bellisimo SL, Okamoto KE, and Goodisman MAD. 2026. Genetic effects on rescue behavior in a social insect with a supergene. Journal of Insect Behavior. 39(6) ARTN 6. DOI: 10.1007/s10905-026-09899-0. 

Treers L, Soto D, Hwang J, Goodisman MAD, Goldman DI. 2026. Robot Excavation and Manipulation of Geometrically Cohesive Granular Media. Granular Matter 28(2):35. DOI: 10.1007/s10035-025-01597-6.