Research

Reserach Intrests

My research focus is in microbial and chemical ecology of insects. I am invested in symbioses and the impact they have on ecosystem funcationality. The model organism I use are ants because they are great for understanding complex microbial interactions and chemical regonition/infiltration in a eusocial organism.

Current Research Project

Doctoral Research

Deciphering Social Parasitism: Investigation of CHC Profiles and The Microbiome in Parasitic Aphaenogaster Species

Aphaenogaster tennesseensis is a temporary parasite on A. rudis, A. fulva, and A. picea, however many aspects of this relationship remain unstudied. I am to investigate how the microbiome of A. tennesseensis and its host change during parasitism. Additionally, I aim to investigate infiltration strategies of A. tennesseensis by documenting their cuticular hydrocarbon profiles while parasitism is occurring to understand if they use chemical camoflauge, mimicry or insignificance to inflictae host nests. Additionally I am want to see if CHCs and the microbiome are species specific in Aphaenogaster and could possibly be used as a taxonomic tool for this genus.

Previous Research Projects

Masters Research

The Influence of Global Climate Change on Aphaenogaster ants in the Northeast Coast Region

Determining the microbiome composition of spine-waisted ants (Aphaenogaster spp.) in response to different temperature conditions. From the samples, DNA was extracted and then sequencing. PCR was then performed to focus on the 16s rRNA gene sequence. The data was processed to look at microbe diversity and abundance in relation to environmental conditions.

Undergraduate Research

Deciphering Soil Microbial Dynamics in Pennsylvania Grasslands with Goldenrods (Solidago sp.)

Studying soil microbial communities. Samples were extracted from four grassland sites in Pennsylvania along with environmental data from each of the sites. From these samples DNA was extracted and then a sequencing PCR was performed to focus on the 16S rRNA gene sequence. The data was processed to look at microbe diversity and abundance in relation to environmental conditions, sampling location and soil type (rhizosphere, proximal and bulk).

Understanding the evolutionary significance of gliding and parachuting in neotropical lizards (Uracentron flaviceps)

Studying the shovel tailed lizard (Uracentron flaviceps) in the Peruvian rainforest to determine the evolutionary significance of gliding and parachuting in neotropical lizards. We determined how the lizards navigate the precarious elements of the upper canopy architecture, examine the degree of directed aerial descent and document the physical anatomy of the lizards to determine specifically how they control their descent.

Travel date: July 2022 and June 2024.

Lepidopteran Megadiveristy at the Uyuca Biosphere Reserve in Honduras

Studying the different moth populations in the Uyuca Biosphere Reserves in Honduras to determine the biodiversity of the forest. To do this we collected moth specimens at night up in the cloud forest in the Uyuca preserve. We then identified and documented the moths that were collected to determine the biodiversity.

Travel date: March 2023.

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