evolution, behavior, integrative biology
evolution, behavior, integrative biology
Embedded Files
chasing our interests, wherever they lead
How general is our understanding of social evolution?
How do species interactions shape biological diversification?
How do insects survive on toxic host plants?
How does the timing of birth evolve?
Welcome to the Abbot Lab
Welcome to the Abbot Lab
My lab works on diverse topics in evolutionary biology, ecology, and behavior. We have worked with insects and plants - on social behavior, symbioses, and chemical ecology. For this we've often taken a molecular ecological approach, which uses tools from molecular biology to investigate fundamental questions about behavior and ecology. We are also interested in symbioses and biological diversification. Finally, we have worked on human pregnancy, in a collaboration with the Rokas and Capra labs, focusing more on genomics. So my interests and expertise are broad and lie at the intersection of these fields.
My lab works on diverse topics in evolutionary biology, ecology, and behavior. We have worked with insects and plants - on social behavior, symbioses, and chemical ecology. For this we've often taken a molecular ecological approach, which uses tools from molecular biology to investigate fundamental questions about behavior and ecology. We are also interested in symbioses and biological diversification. Finally, we have worked on human pregnancy, in a collaboration with the Rokas and Capra labs, focusing more on genomics. So my interests and expertise are broad and lie at the intersection of these fields.
If you are interested in hearing more, please reach out. You can read more about the lab here. Have a look at my publications or my Google Scholar page to get a sense of what we have worked on. I have been funded by the National Science Foundation, the March of Dimes, and Vanderbilt.
If you are interested in hearing more, please reach out. You can read more about the lab here. Have a look at my publications or my Google Scholar page to get a sense of what we have worked on. I have been funded by the National Science Foundation, the March of Dimes, and Vanderbilt.
Thanks for visiting!
Thanks for visiting!
Latest News
Latest News
Fall 2023
No, I'm not very good at all with updating this site. But there is some news. I'm making the jump to NSF. I'll be joining the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems, with primary duties in Integrative Ecological Physiology (IEP) and Symbiosis, Infection & Immunity (SII). I'm departing Vanderbilt slowly, and I'll be keeping a foot in the door of BSCI. They aren't rid of me yet...
Spring 2023
Evidently I'm not very good about updating this site...
...but the pertinent information is that I finished up a wonderful 3 years at the NSF/IOS in August, was on leave in the fall, and now back at Vandy...
...and finally finished a long overdue review on defense in social insects
Fall 2020
Happy to hear that our paper on evolution and human health has been accepted at Nature Reviews Genetics.
Just got word from Jen Mandel that our Daucus heteroplasmy paper was just accepted in J. of Heredity. Besides being thrilled for the team, I'll just note here that this came out of a USDA grant that Jen & Dave McCauley had. When Dave died in 2015, I took over the grant for him, and with A LOT of help from some amazing people, kept the project going. Dave was a dear friend, my closest colleague, and I miss him to this day. Dave would be so happy to know this work has been published.
Summer 2020
Well, this is a new website, so I don't have much news history. I guess the latest news is that I'm starting my 2nd year as a rotator at NSF (IOS-BSC). It's been an amazing experience. So much respect for the folks who work at NSF, and for the PIs and students who are doing science amidst all these challenges.
Abbe LaBella (Rokas lab) and Abin Abraham (Capra lab) published a really nice paper that illustrates the diverse ways that selection can act on disease loci. Read about it here and here and here.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse