Brendan Hodkinson, PhD

Principle Investigator

International Plant Science Center
The New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern Blvd.
Bronx, NY 10458-5126

Phone: 443-340-0917

Fax: 718-817-8809

Email: brendan {dot} hodkinson {at} gmail {dot} com

'Squamules' Blog

Research Interests

I study fundamental principles of ecology and evolution using the unique symbiotic structures known as lichens.

Lichen Biodiversity: In order to better understand the ecological and evolutionary processes involved in diversification, I study lichen-forming fungi using molecular phylogenetics in concert with traditional analytical methods. This work has led to the description or redefinition of numerous taxa and has provided insight into how organisms interact with one another and their surroundings through time. I am continuing to develop bioinformatic tools to manage and manipulate large data sets for ecological and evolutionary inference. Since much remains to be discovered about the overall diversity of lichenized fungi, systematic regional inventories are still crucial for the advancement of the field. To address this need, I routinely organize and/or contribute to lichen inventories, including several projects that are ongoing in eastern North America.

The Lichen as a Microcosm: I am also conducting pioneering research on the consortia of micro-organisms associated with lichens. There is an ever-increasing body of evidence suggesting that lichens exist not simply as dual partnerships of fungi and algae, but as microcosms comprised of diverse assemblages of specific microbial lineages. Through my research I have detected an undescribed lineage of bacteria ('LAR1') that has been found almost exclusively in association with lichens and I have found microbial community differences associated with various factors, including geography and the main lichen partners (fungi and algae). My more recent projects involve high-throughput pyrosequencing to examine these communities in terms of both ecology and physiology. As part of this work I am continuing to develop tools (e.g., primers, protocols, programs, and scripts) that can be widely applied to the study of ecology and evolution.

Education

PhD Biology, Duke University, 2011
     Thesis: A Phylogenetic, Ecological, and Functional Characterization of
          Non-Photoautotrophic Bacteria in the Lichen Microbiome
BS Biology with Honors, College of William and Mary, 2005
     Thesis: The lichen flora of the Williamsburg, Virginia, area

Awards

NSF Systematics and Biodiversity Science Research Award (PI; DEB-1145511), 2012-2015
XSEDE Startup Allocation Award (PI; DEB110024), 2011-2012
American Bryological & Lichenological Society Travel Award, 2010
C. J. Alexopoulos Mentor Travel Award, 2008
MSA Student Presentation Award, 2008 (MSA best student conference paper )
International Association for Lichenology Travel Award, 2008
BLS Member Travel Award, 2008
Explorers Club Diversa Awards, 2007-2009 [Reports: 1 & 2]
A. J. Sharp Award, 2007 (ABLS best student conference paper)
Duke Graduate International Research Travel Award, 2007
Adkins Arboretum Botanical Research Award, 2006
Baldwin-Speece Plant Conservation Award, 2005
Charlotte Preston Mangum Prize, 2005 (best undergraduate Honors research)

Grants

NSF Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant (DEB-1011504), 2010-2012
British Lichen Society Travel Grant, 2011-2012
American Society of Plant Taxonomists Travel Grant, 2010
Lewis and Clark Fund for Exploration and Field Research Grant, 2008-2009
Sally Hughes-Schrader Travel Grant, 2008-2009
Sigma Xi Grant-In-Aid of Research, 2007
American Society for Microbiology Student Travel Grant, 2007
Keever Endowment Grants-in-Aid, 2006-2011
William and Mary Student Research Grant, 2004-2005
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Student Research Grant, 2003-2004
William and Mary Minor Grant, 2003-2004

Fellowships

Oosting Ecology Fellowship, 2011
MSA Graduate Fellowship, 2009 [Inoculum Excerpt]
Christiane and Christopher Tyson OTS Research Fellowship, 2008-2009
James B. Duke Fellowship for Graduate Study, 2005-2009
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, 2005-2008
Berkeley Fellowship for Graduate Study, 2005 (declined)
Community of Scholars Fellowship, 2004