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Our research lies at the nexus of ecology and evolutionary biology
We take an integrative and multi-faceted approach to understanding the role that ecological interactions have played in shaping the striking diversity of life on our planet. We use plant-animal interactions as model systems for connecting ecological processes and macroevolutionary patterns. Specific systems include plant-bodyguard defense mutualisms, herbivore- and pathogen-host interactions, and plant-pollinator interactions. We integrate a diverse set of approaches, including comparative phylogenetic modeling, community & chemical ecology, microbiome sequencing, genomics, and manipulative field experiments. Read more about our research here!
Evolutionary research in the Weber Lab is currently funded by a five year NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity Grant (NSF 1831164). The grant is aimed at exploring links between phenotypic evolution and hidden life on the leaf surface. The project links macroevolutionary change in a common, but understudied, mutualist defense trait (mite domatia) with multi-trophic ecological dynamics and genomic change.
Evolutionary research in the Weber Lab is currently funded by a five year NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity Grant (NSF 1831164). The grant is aimed at exploring links between phenotypic evolution and hidden life on the leaf surface. The project links macroevolutionary change in a common, but understudied, mutualist defense trait (mite domatia) with multi-trophic ecological dynamics and genomic change.
We are also the home of Project Biodiversify: An online repository of teaching tools to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging in STEM classrooms. Work on Project Biodiversify in the Weber Lab is currently funded an NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education Grant titled: Diversifying and Humanizing Scientist Role Models to Increase the Impact of Data Literacy Instruction on Student Interest and Retention in STEM (NSF IUSE-2012014) as well as NSF DEB-1831164, NSF DBI-1708931 and the Michigan State University Plant Biology Department, and was recently awarded a University Level Excellence in Diversity Award for work promoting DEI in Biology Education.
More about us:
The Weber Lab is located at the University of Michigan in the heart of the Great Lakes state. We are housed in the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Department.
The lab is often looking to recruit motivated undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs. Click here for more information if you are interested in joining the lab!
The lab is often looking to recruit motivated undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs. Click here for more information if you are interested in joining the lab!
Lab News!!HUGE Congratulations to Weber lab graduate students Rosy Glos, Abbey Soule, and Sylvie Martin-Eberhardt who were all awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowships this year!!! So proud of you three!
Marjorie was awarded the NSF CAREER award! The grant will start in September 2023. Stay tuned for more updates!!
Five lab members traveled to the Plant-Herbivore Interactions Gordon Conference this month to present their exciting research!
The Weber Lab moved to University of Michigan! We are looking forward to starting our new chapter here! Yay Wolverines!
Postdoc Margaret Fleming on NPR this week!
Liz talks about our STEM education social justice grant on The Bug Podcast! Learn more about Liz's great work at datanuggets.org!
The bottle from the 141st year of The Beal Seed Experiment has been unearthed! Check out coverage from The New York Times (and here), NPR, IFL Science, WKAR, Business Standard, WVIK.
Project Biodiversify is teaming up with Data Nuggets and University of Auburn researcher Cissy Ballen in our newly funded NSF IUSE grant: "Diversifying and Humanizing Scientist Role Models to Increase the Impact of Data Literacy Instruction on Student Interest and Retention in STEM!"
Exciting Accomplishments from the Weber Lab this season!!!
Wow so many exciting changes in the Weber Lab this summer! Carolyn Graham is starting as a new PhD student (welcome Carolyn!) Erika LaPlante and Michael Foisy are finishing up their Masters Degrees in the lab (woo hoo!). Bruce Martin passed his oral comprehensive exam with flying colors (yay!). Caroline Edwards, Erika LaPlante, and Dan Hughes are moving on to excellent PhD programs! Postdoc Ash Zemenick co-wrote an NSF grant that was funded to support Project Biodiversify! And postdoc Eric LoPresti got a job as an Assistant Professor at Oklahoma State! Woooo! So proud of all of these labbies! You all rock! 
Project Biodiversify wins award!
Project Bidodiversify was awarded MSU's Excellence in Diversity Award in the Teams-Emerging Progress category. Check out our work at projectbiodiversify.org 
Ash came to visit! Here we are eating ramen to celebrate.
Welcome back mega-lab party!
We had a super fun annual beginning of the year party with the Weber, Bradburd, Meek and Wetzel labs. What a great crew! 
Meetings, Talks, and Posters, oh my!
So proud of our awesome Weber Lab folks who have been presenting their work this summer! Michael and Bruce both presented work at the Evolution meeting in Providence! Undergrads Carolyn and Thomas presented their research at the midSURE & REU research symposiums, and Carolyn and Eric are both presenting their work at the Ecology Society of America meeting in Kentucky! Woo hoo! More news here! |
Banner Photo of ant drinking from extrafloral nectary by Ellen Woods!
"Wildness reminds us what it means to be human, what we are connected to rather than what we are separate from"
- Terry Tempest Williams
