Breakfast

Introduction & Welcome

Dr. Karina Sand

"Deciphering DNA-Sediment Interactions: Unveiling Fundamental Insights to Enhance Ecological Inference"

Associate Professor Karina K. Sand has a masters degree in geology, a PhD in Chemistry and her interdisciplinary approach combines geochemistry, microbiology, and surface science. Her research explores the complex interactions between minerals and biomolecules at the molecular scale and have defined a new frontier in geobiology—where minerals are not passive substrates but active agents in the evolution and transmission of life. Her research has revealed how mineral surfaces can adsorb and stabilize nucleic acids, particularly DNA, leading to breakthroughs on deep-time molecular records and improving paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Her and her group have demonstrated that mineral-bound DNA can remain biologically active, which points to an underappreciated pathway for gene exchange and microbial evolution. Specific for both microbial evolution and paleoecologic reconstructions: mineral type and surface chemistry govern the selectivity and strength of biomolecule adsorption. She leads her Molecular Geobiology Group at the Section for Geogenetics, Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Break

Dr. Zacchaeus Compson

"Environmental DNA Frontiers: Overcoming Challenges and Embracing New Applications"

Zacchaeus Greg Compson is an environmental geneticist at the University of North Texas who

has over a decade of experience using environmental DNA (eDNA) for ecological research. His

work is broad, spanning the fields of aquatic ecology, stable isotope ecology, and food web

ecology, but this work is unified in its use of eDNA, which he uses in a range of ways, from

invasive and endangered species detection to heuristic food web modeling. The overarching aim

of his research program is to understand the factors controlling the fate of eDNA in the

environment, and to use this information to guide basic and applied ecological research

capitalizing on eDNA approaches.

Dr. Laura Weyrich

Using microbial sedaDNA to reconstruct past ecologies, environments, and beyond

Dr. Weyrich is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Bioethics at Penn State

and is the Director of the Penn State Ancient Biomolecules Research Environment.

The cornerstone of her research is using calcified dental plaque to reconstruct ancient

human oral microbiomes. Her team was the first to reconstruct the microbiome of an

extinct species - Neandertals - and has reassembled one of the oldest microbial

genomes to date at 48,000 years old. Her team’s research has been featured by the

BBC, NPR, Science, Nature, New Scientist, NY Times, Smithsonian Magazine,

National Geographic, and many others, and has even had a Buzz Feed quiz written

about it. Her team is now reconstructing the evolutionary history of the human oral

microbiome on six continents, leveraging the information from our ancestors to

develop new biotechnologies to transform our health today.

Break

Career panel

Featuring symposium speakers and Dr. Chrisy Mancuso

Dr. Christy Mancuso is currently the Eastern United States Sales Representative for gas isotope ratio mass spectrometer instruments and peripherals for Thermo Fisher Scientific. Prior to joining Thermo Fisher, Christy received her Phd in Biology from the University of Utah, where she worked with Dr. James Ehleringer on a multi-stable isotope analysis of human keratin tissues for region of origin and residency determination applications. She later was awarded an NIH IRACDA Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of New Mexico. Christy has been a long time stable isotope enthusiast and has enjoyed getting to teach for over 12 years with the IsoCamp short course and in her spare time enjoys hanging out with her dog Solo and taking on new crafting projects.