Keertana Tallapragada

Hi! I'm Keertana and I'm a PhD candidate in the Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology (EEOB) program in the Biology Department, at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA. I'm broadly interested in host-microbe interactions and the evolution of microbiomes. I'm currently studying pea aphids and their microbial partners in the Parker Lab, investigating how host genetic variation impacts beneficial partnerships. 

I trained as a microbiologist with interests in genetics and evolution - As an undergrad and masters student, I thought microbes ruled the world. During my PhD however, I grew to admire aphids (and other insects). I consider myself model system-agnostic and get excited about big picture questions. I'm always keen to learn new techniques to unravel questions I'm not yet thinking about. 

I'm interested to pursue curiosity-driven academic research, with an ambition to run my own independent group. I'm actively looking for post-doctoral positions, starting in 2026. 

Contact:

Contact me to know more or geek out on science and art by email: keertana@unc.edu or on BlueSky and LinkedIn.

CV