Current Fellows

Advisor: Dr. Ross Carlson

Advisor: Dr. Doug Kominsky and Dr. Seth Walk

Project: Microbial metabolites affect host gastrointestinal homeostasis and health. My research, aims to understand the mechanisms underlying signaling between the intestinal mucosa and microbial symbionts using tryptophan and indole metabolites as currency.

Advisor: Dr. Raina Plowright

Advisor: Dr. Michelle Flenniken

Project: I study honey bee host-virus interactions. Bees, like all living things, are infected by viruses that can cause disease and death. My work aims to understand (1) how honey bees combat virus infection and (2) how a particular group of viruses ( the Lake Sinai viruses) behave inside a cell.

Advisor: Dr. Roland Hatzenpichler

Project: I study uncultured microbes in Yellowstone hot springs, with an emphasis on understanding the function and metabolism of archaea that might be involved in carbon cycling. In addition, I am working to develop a novel bioorthogonal labeling approach to visualize DNA synthesizing cells using click chemistry.

Advisor: Dr. Michelle Flenniken

Project: I’m investigating the underlying molecular/genetic relationships between potato plants and Potato virus Y, which is a global problem for potato production and large economic burden. I’m currently researching possible differences in susceptibility to virus in different generations of seed and also exploring various biocontrol agents. 

Advisor: Dr. James Mazer

Project: Systems Neuroscience, focus on vision, attention, and action neurophysiology

Advisor:  Dr. Matthew Fields 

Project: I have a three part project: 1.) optimize the use of algal biofilms as a tool for the bioremediation of wastewater from intensive inland aquaculture 2.) convert algal biomass into fish food 3.) characterize potential shifts in the rainbow trout gut microbiome after the introduction of algae-based feeds.

Advisors: Dr. Valerie Copie and Dr. Frances Lefcort

Project: 

Advisor: Dr. Ross Carlson

Project: In my research, I use metabolic models of microbes to make predictions about the phenotypic behavior of those microbes under different growing conditions. These predictions can be compared with experimental data to refine our modeling techniques, or they can be used to direct metabolic engineering of organisms of interest.

Advisor: Dr. Rynda-Apple

Project: Alexis aims to understand the role of early immune recognition of viral and non-viral repeating protein subunit patterns (RPSPs) and how these RPSPs alter the host immune environment leading to changes in the host response to subsequent bacterial infections.

Advisor: Dr. James Wilking

Project: Isaak is developing a method for printing complex biological structures using a high resolution laser based 3D printer. This work aims to provide a platform for studying biological systems, like microbial consortia in biofilms, by providing control over cellular arrangement. 

Advisor: Dr. Roland Hatzenpichler

Project: My work focuses on the characterization of several environmental multicellular magnetotactic bacteria (MMB) species. Multicellularity outside of the domain of Eukarya is rare and MMB offer a prime model to understand the evolutionary driving forces of multicellularity. I am using genomic, microscopy, and spectroscopy techniques to determine if MMB engage in a division of labor between individual cells in the consortium.

Currently in lab rotations

Currently in lab rotations

Currently in lab rotations

Currently in lab rotations

Currently in lab rotations