Dr. Scott Villa recently joined the laboratory as an IRACDA FIRST program postdoctoral fellow. Scott received his PhD from the University of Utah, where he conducted a series of elegant experiments to study the impacts of lice adaptation to alternative pigeon hosts. This work was with Dale Clayton.

Scott will be developing the squash bug – Burkholderia system as a model to explore the impacts of symbiosis on sexual selection, hybridization, and reproductive isolation.

Quimi Vidaurre Montoya is a graduate from the laboratory of Andre Rodrigues. He is a mycologist studying the diversity, evolution and taxonomy of Escovopsis, a fungal parasite associated with the gardens of fungus-growing ants. We are excited to bring his expertise and love for fungi into the lab.

by Nicole Gerardo

Kino received a grant from Emory to fund his collaborative research with postdoc Erika Diaz-Almeyda on how milpa agriculture (the planting of corn, beans and squash together) shapes the soil microbial community. The planting experiments were carried out at Oxford Farm, near Emory’s Oxford campus. We are so grateful for their support.

by Nicole Gerardo

Postdoc Hassan Salem has officially left us for a journey to Berlin. He will continue his work while getting an opportunity to interact with leaders in the fields of symbiosis and evolutionary biology, including Nancy Moran, Joan Strassmann, Koos Boomsma, Howard Ochman and Dave Queller. Right now, it appears that they are helping him perfect his basic drawing skills. 

By Nicole Gerardo

In September 2017, Erica Harris and I were fortunate to be able to attend a wonderful symposium in Blossin, Germany on Ecological Immunology that was organized by Oliver Otti, Paul Schmid-Hempel and Jens Rolff. It was practically half immunology and half symbiosis, so I felt right at home. Invigorating science all around… oh, and a nice swim in the lake. Here’s a picture of the group.

Miguel Reyes gave his first poster presentation of his Gerardo Lab research. He is officially an insect researcher now!

by Nicole Gerardo

Postdoc Miguel Reyes headed to Washington DC earlier this week to participate in in the Linton-Poodry SACNAS Leadership Institute. This is a well-deserved honor, and an exciting opportunity for Miguel. Only one problem: he has to wear a suit… in the summer… in Washington, DC!

Here is a description of the program: “The Linton-Poodry SACNAS Leadership Institute (LPSLI) provides premier training for motivated underrepresented minority (URM) scientists, laying the foundation for them to lead institutional transformation. In collaboration with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the LPSLI is an intensive five-day course featuring small group exercises, keynote speakers, leadership development planning, networking opportunities, and extensive community building among selected participants.”

Congratulations to Hassan Salem and Aileen Berasategui for their recent wedding! We are so happy that this wonderful couple is part of the Gerardo lab. 

Caitlin Conn, currently finishing up her graduate work at the University of Georgia, received a phone call from an NSF program officer today! She was awarded an NSF Special Collections Postdoc to work on Escovopsis, a pathogen associated with fungus-growing ants. We are so excited that she will be joining us!