People

CURRENT MEMBERS

Nicole Gerardo
Principal Investigator

I am interested in how ecological and evolutionary dynamics shape species interactions. We utilize a range of systems in our research, from fungal pathogens found in ant gardens to nematodes and bacteria that protect them from environmental stress. 

Zoe Zimmerman
Research Specialist (Lab Tech)
Erik Edwards
Greenhouse Manager
Laura Avila
Senior Researcher

Working with Berry Brosi (University of Washington), I am interested in how antibiotics impact bee behavior and pollinator services, and whether observed effects are due to perturbation of the insects' microbiomes. 

Anthony Junker
USDA postdoctoral fellow

Development of host-microbe symbioses

Anu Karippadath
Post Doc

co-mentors: Sinead Younge, Larry Blumer, Chris Beck

discipline-based education research, focusing on the impact of Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) on student outcomes

Jason Chen
Postdoc (and former grad student)

Co-advisor: Nic Vega

Microbial interactions, evolution and maintenance of symbioses, insect ecology.

Ehsan Sanaei
Postdoc

co-Advisor: Jaap de Roode

host-microbiome interactions, focusing on monarch butterflies

Patrick Stillson
USDA postdoctoral fellow

insect-microbe symbioses, phytopathogen vectoring, symbiosis

Katie Herr
NIH IRACDA postdoctoral fellow

insect-bacterial symbioses

PAST MEMBERS

  • Seth Barribeau, post-doc
  • Lynn Griffin, post-doc
  • Jen Kovacs, post-doc | faculty at Agnes Scott College
  • Alice Laughton, post-doc | project manager for Mission: Invertebrate
  • Miguel Reyes, post-doc | faculty at Emory University
  • Erika Diaz-Almeyda, post-doc | faculty at Cal State
  • Hassan Salem, post-doc | Max Planck Research Group Leader
  • Caitlin Conn, post-doc | faculty at Berry College
  • Anna Zelaya, postdoc | faculty at Cal State, San Bernardino
  • Aileen Berasategui, postdoc | faculty at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
  • Scott Villa, postdoc | faculty at Davidson
  • Ben Parker, graduate student | faculty at the University of Tennessee
  • Alex Chang, graduate student
  • Nelle Couret, graduate student | faculty at the University of Rhode Island
  • Justine Garcia, graduate student | faculty at New Mexico Highlands University
  • Wen-Hao Tan, graduate student | bioinformatician at ACT Genomics in Taiwan
  • Kim Hoang, graduate student | NSF postdoctoral fellow at Emory University
  • Erica Harris, graduate student | faculty at Agnes Scott College
  • Sandra Mendiola, graduate student | NSF postdoctoral fellow at University of Georgia
  • Kayla Stoy, graduate student | NSF postdoctoral fellow at Georgia Tech
  • Bas ter Braak, visiting Masters student
  • Tom de Man, visiting Masters student
  • Yuliana Christopher, visiting graduate student from Panama
  • Quimi Vidaurre Montoya, visiting graduate student from Brazil | postdoc with Andre Rodrigues
  • Nancy Lowe, technician | director of symbASA
  • Boran Altincicek, visiting scientist
  • Stephanie Birnbaum, technician
  • Tarik Acevedo-Gonzalez, technician | graduate student at Penn State
  • Tiffani Alcaide, technician
  • Joselyne Chavez, technician