Biosketch

Noah K. Whiteman

Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution & Development

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology (100%)

Department of Integrative Biology (0%)

University of California, Berkeley

Education

Postdoctoral Fellow Harvard University & Massachusetts General Hospital (2006-2010)
Advisors: Naomi E. Pierce & Frederick M. Ausubel

Ph.D. Biology, University of Missouri-St. Louis (2006)
Advisor: Patricia G. Parker

M.S. Entomology, University of Missouri-Columbia (2000)
Advisor: Robert W. Sites

B.A. Biology cum laude with Distinction, Saint John’s University, Minnesota (1998)
Advisor: James Poff

Appointments

2024-present Professor, Division of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution & Development in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology (100%) and Department of Integrative Biology (0% “over the line”), University of California, Berkeley University of California, Berkeley

2021-2024 Professor, Division of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution & Development in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology (50%) and Department of Integrative Biology (50%), University of California, Berkeley

2016-2021 Associate Professor, Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley

2015-2016 Associate Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona

2010-2015 Assistant Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona

Awards & Honors

2025 Genetics Society of America Medal

2024-2025 Miller Research Professor, Miller Institute for Basic Research, UC Berkeley

2020 John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellow

2020 Elected Fellow, Royal Entomological Society

2020 Elected Fellow, California Academy of Sciences

2019 Elected Full Member, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society

2016-present NIH Outstanding Investigator Award

2007-2010 NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows (F32)

2007 Harvard University Distinction in Teaching Award

Leadership & Service

2023-present Senior Editor for Genome Reports, G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics

2022-present Advisor, Arcadia Science

2022-present Co-Director, Genetics Dissection of Cells and Organisms Training Program (GDTP), NIH T32 predoctoral grant (with Nicole King)

2023-2025 Special Advisor to the Provost on Climate and Mentoring (Co-lead, Faculty Link Program, Office for Faculty Equity & Welfare, UC Berkeley, Co-lead Serena Chen)

2021-2023 Elected to Board of Directors, Genetics Society of America

2019 Elected Vice Chair (2023) and Chair (2025), Gordon Research Conference on Plant-Herbivore Interaction

2018 Co-organizer, Annual Drosophila Research Conference, Philadelphia

Selected Publications

Matsunaga, T., C. Reisenman, B. Goldman-Huertas, S. Rajshekar, H. C. Suzuki, D. Tadres, J. Wong, M. Louis, S. R. Ramírez & N. K. Whiteman. (2025). Odorant receptors mediating avoidance of toxic mustard oils in Drosophila melanogaster are expanded in herbivorous relatives. Molecular Biology and Evolution in press. Matsunaga et al. 2025 PDF

Tarnopol, R.L., J. Tamsil, G. Cinege, J. Ha, K.I. Verster, E. Ábrahám, L.B. Magyar, B.Y. Kim, S.L. Bernstein, Z. Lipinszki, I. Andó & N.K. Whiteman (2025). Experimental horizontal transfer of phage-derived genes to Drosophila confers innate immunity to parasitoids. Current Biology 35: 514-529.

Magyar, L. B., E. Ábrahám, Z. Lipinszki, R. L. Tarnopol, N. K. Whiteman, V. Varga, D. Hultmark, I Andó & G. Cinege (2025). Pore-forming toxin-like proteins in the anti-parasitoid immune response of Drosophila. Journal of Innate Immunity 17: 10-28.

Chaturvedi, S., M. Escalona, M.P.A. Marimuthu, O. Nguyen, N. Chumchim, C.W. Fairbairn, W. Seligmann, C. Miller, H.B. Shaffer & N.K. Whiteman (2024). A draft reference genome assembly of California Pipevine, Aristolochia californica Torr. Journal of Heredity 115: 507–515.

Guo, L., X. Qiao, D. Haji, T. Zhou, Z. Liu, N.K. Whiteman & J. Huang (2023). Convergent resistance to GABA receptor neurotoxins through plant–insect coevolution. Nature Ecology & Evolution 7: 1444-1456.

Verster, K.I., G. Cinege, Z. Lipinszki, L.B. Magyar, É. Kurucz, R.L. Tarnopol, E. Ábrahám, Z. Darula, M. Karageorgi, J.A. Tamsil, S.M. Akalu, I. Andó & N.K. Whiteman (2023). Evolution of insect innate immunity through domestication of bacterial toxins. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 120: e2218334120.

Peláez, J.N., A.D. Gloss, J.F. Ray, S. Chaturvedi, D. Haji, J.L.M. Charboneau, K.I. Verster & N.K. Whiteman (2022). Evolution and genomic basis of the plant-penetrating ovipositor: a key morphological trait in herbivorous Drosophilidae. Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B 289: 20221938.

Matsunaga, T., C.E. Reisenman, B. Goldman-Huertas, P. Brand, K. Miao, H. Suzuki, S.R. Ramírez, & N.K. Whiteman (2021). Evolution of olfactory receptors tuned to mustard oils in herbivorous Drosophilidae. Molecular Biology and Evolution 39: msab62.

roen, S.C. & N.K. Whiteman (2021). Convergent evolution of cardiac-glycoside resistance in predators and parasites of milkweed herbivores. Current Biology 31: R1465-R1466.

O’Connor, T.K., M.C. Sandoval, J. Wang, J.C. Hans, R. Takenaka, M. Child VI & N.K. Whiteman (2021). Ecological basis and genetic architecture of crypsis polymorphism in the desert clicker grasshopper (Ligurotettix coquilletti). Evolution 75: 2441-2459.

Nabity, P.D., G.A. Barron-Gafford & N.K. Whiteman (2021). Intraspecific competition for host resources in a parasite. Current Biology 31: 1344-1350.

Humphrey, P.T. & N.K. Whiteman (2020). Insect herbivory reshapes a native leaf microbiome. Nature Ecology & Evolution 4: 221-229.

Verster, K.I., J.H. Wisecaver, R.P. Duncan, M. Karageorgi, A.D. Gloss, E. Armstrong, D.K. Price, A.R. Melon, Z.M. Ali & N.K. Whiteman (2019). Horizontal transfer of bacterial cytolethal distending toxin B genes to insects. Molecular Biology and Evolution 36: 2105-2110.

Karageorgi, M., S.C. Groen, K.I. Verster, J.M. Aguilar, F. Sumbul, A.P. Hastings, J.N. Peláez, S.L. Bernstein, T. Matsunaga, M. Astourian, G. Guerra, F. Rico, S. Dobler, A.A. Agrawal & N.K. Whiteman (2019). Genome editing retraces the evolution of toxin resistance in the monarch butterfly. Nature 574: 409-412.

Humphrey, P.T., A.D. Gloss, J Frazier, A.C. Nelson Dittrich, S. Faries & N.K. Whiteman (2018). Heritable plant phenotypes track light and herbivory levels at fine spatial scales. Oecologia 187: 427-445.

Groen, S.C., E.R. LaPlante, N.M. Alexandre, A.A. Agrawal, S. Dobler & N.K. Whiteman (2017). Multidrug transporters and organic anion transporting polypeptides protect insects against the toxic effects of cardenolides. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 81: 51-61.

Groen, S.C., P.T. Humphrey, D. Chevasco, F.M. Ausubel, N.E. Pierce & N.K. Whiteman (2016). Pseudomonas syringae enhances herbivory by suppressing the reactive oxygen burst in Arabidopsis. Journal of Insect Physiology 84: 90-102.

Gloss, A.D., S.C. Groen & N.K. Whiteman (2016). A genomic perspective on the generation and maintenance of biodiversity in herbivorous insects. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 47: 165-187.

Wiens, J.J, R.T. Lapoint & N.K. Whiteman (2015). Herbivory increases diversification across insect clades. Nature Communications 6: 8370.

Goldman-Huertas, B., R.F. Mitchell, R.L. Lapoint, C.P. Faucher, J.G. Hildebrand & N.K. Whiteman (2015). Evolution of herbivory in Drosophilidae linked to loss of behaviors, antennal responses, odorant receptors and ancestral diet. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 112: 3026-3031.

Gloss, A.D., D.G. Vassao, A.L. Hailey, A.C. Nelson Dittrich, K. Schramm, M. Reichelt, T.J. Rast, A. Weichsel, M.G. Cravens, J. Gershenzhon, W.R. Monfort & N.K. Whiteman (2014). Evolution in an ancient detoxification pathway is coupled with a transition to herbivory in the Drosophilidae. Molecular Biology and Evolution 31: 2441-2456.

Koop, J.A.H., K. DeMatteo, P.G. Parker & N.K. Whiteman (2014). Birds are islands for parasites. Biology Letters 10: 20140255.

Groen, S.C., N.K. Whiteman, A.K. Bahrami, A.M. Wilczek, J. Cui, J.A. Russell, A. Cibrian-Jaramillo, I.A.E. Butler, J. Rana, G.-H. Huang, J. Bush, F.M. Ausubel & N.E. Pierce (2013). Pathogen-triggered ethylene signaling mediates systemic induced susceptibility to herbivory in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell 25: 4755-4766.

Whiteman, N.K., A.D. Gloss, T.B. Sackton, S.C. Groen, P.T. Humphrey, R.T. Lapoint, I. Sønderby, B.A. Halkier, C. Kocks, F.A. Ausubel, & N.E. Pierce (2012). Genes involved in the evolution of herbivory by a leaf-mining drosophilid fly. Genome Biology and Evolution 4: 900-916.

Whiteman, N.K., S.C. Groen, D. Chevasco, N. Beckwith, T.R. Gregory, C. Denoux, N. Mammarella, F.M. Ausubel & N.E. Pierce (2011). Mining the plant-insect interface with a leafmining Drosophila of Arabidopsis. Molecular Ecology 20: 995-1014.

Whiteman, N.K., R.T. Kimball & P.G. Parker (2007). Co-phylogeography and comparative population genetics of the threatened Galápagos Hawk and three ectoparasite species: Ecology shapes population histories within parasite communities. Molecular Ecology 22: 4759-4773.

Whiteman, N.K., K.D. Matson, J.L. Bollmer & P.G. Parker (2006). Disease ecology in theGalapagos Hawk (Buteo galapagoensis): Host genetic diversity, parasite load and natural antibodies. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B, Biological Sciences 273: 797-804.

Whiteman, N.K. & P.G. Parker (2004). Effects of host sociality on ectoparasite population biology. Journal of Parasitology 90: 939-947.

Whiteman, N.K. & R.W. Sites (2003). Lentic beetles of the Missouri Prairie Region: Habitat and regional associations, with keys to the Hydradephaga. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 129: 185-243.

Book

Whiteman, N.K. Most Delicious Poison: The Story of Nature’s Toxins—From Spices to Vices. (2023) Published in English in North America (Little Brown Spark) ISBN: 9780316386579 and the UK & Commonwealth by OneWorld. Translated into Chinese (China South Booky Culture Media), Polish (JK Wydawnictwo), Romanian (Publica), and Spanish (Zinet Media).

Media Interviews & Features

NPR Science Friday – Featured interview and book excerpt

KQED (NPR) Forum with Mina Kim – Discussing Most Delicious Poison

Futureproof Podcast – DiscussingMost Delicious Poison

NPR Science Friday – Discussing Most Delicious Poison

This Podcast Will Kill You – Discussing Most Delicious Poison

Foodie Pharmacology Podcast with Dr. Cassandra Quave – Discussing Most Delicious Poison

Inquiring Minds with Indre Verma – Discussing Delicious Poison

Business Insider – Interview on poisonous houseplants

UC Berkeley Research News – Feature interview

Published Essays & Articles

TIME Magazine – “The Evolutionary Origins of Psychedelics in Nature”

ATMOS Magazine – “How the Dance of Poison Shapes Nature and Mankind”

Asimov Press – “Toxic Proteins”

Book Talks & Speaking Events

Harvard Science Book Talk with Ryan Nett – Harvard University

UC Berkeley Library Book Talk – Morrison Library (March 5, 2025)

UC Botanical Garden Book Talk – UC Berkeley

KALX 90.7FM Fiat Lux Redux Radio Interview

Reviews & Recognition

The New York Times – “[Most Delicious Poison] feel[s] like a riveting lecture by a passionate professor.”

The Wall Street Journal – “The plants in Most Delicious Poison: The Story of Nature’s Toxins—From Spices to Vices come off as very smart, even cunning… a spirited debut.”

Current Biology – “Establishes [Whiteman] as a natural historian with great breadth and depth. He delivers a compendium of knowledge on plant poisons with fascinating details on their chemistry, physiological effects, ecology, and evolution.”

Evolution – “Most Delicious Poison shows how we are mere bystanders in chemical warfare between plants, microbes, fungi, animals, and the organisms that threaten them—a conflict almost as old as life itself.”

Nature – “The stories Whiteman chooses are often complex… but the author deftly navigates readers through nature’s chemical mazes… The author’s passion for his subject matter comes through on almost every page of Most Delicious Poison.”

Scientific American – “Biologist Noah Whiteman’s exacting yet expansive analysis reminds us that although they ‘permeate our lives in the most mundane and profound ways,’ the toxic chemicals we use every day are not nature’s gifts to us but rather its munitions.”

Publishers Weekly – “This amusing debut from Whiteman, an evolutionary biology professor at UC Berkeley, explores the ‘ways that toxins from nature arose, have been used by us humans and other animals, and have consequently changed the world.'”

Booklist – “Whiteman’s provocative volume will make the reader think differently about familiar substances like coffee, cayenne, and cocaine.”

The Spectator – “A kaleidoscope of facts and historical vignettes, both of how plant chemicals work, and how humans learned to harness some of them… Like balancing the dose of a drug, he goes just to the edge of ‘too technical’ and brings it back to comprehensible for the non-scientist.”

New Scientist – “Well worth a read. Spare the time to mull over each chapter for slightly longer than you might otherwise, if just to let the poison sink in.”

Daily Mail – “Most Delicious Poison is full of illuminating insights into the natural world and the plants that have shaped us.”

Science News – Selected as Top 20 Science Book of 2023 – “Pour a cup of herbal tea, add some drops of lavender oil to the diffuser and enjoy this mind-bending read.”

Kirkus Reviews – Awarded Kirkus Star and Best Nonfiction Book of 2023 – “A fascinating discussion of how nature’s toxins can affect us all.”

NPR Science Friday – Staff Pick for 2023