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Marjorie Weber (PI)
I am an evolutionary ecologist, interested in how ecological interactions impact phenotypic evolution and diversification across evolutionary scales. My research focuses on interactions between plants and arthropods, and evaluates hypotheses that link plant-arthropod interactions with macroevolutionary patterns. I work in many systems, including ant-plant and ant-mite mutualisms, plant defense, and plant-pollination interactions. I am particularly interested in understanding the role that species interactions play in the evolution of bizarre phenotypes, such as flowers, chemical defenses, or the fascinating structures found on plants that attract and retain arthropod bodyguards. I also have a passion for promoting social justice and equity in STEM, and work to understand and implement change through education.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: webermg(at)umich.edu
Google scholar profile
CV
I am an evolutionary ecologist, interested in how ecological interactions impact phenotypic evolution and diversification across evolutionary scales. My research focuses on interactions between plants and arthropods, and evaluates hypotheses that link plant-arthropod interactions with macroevolutionary patterns. I work in many systems, including ant-plant and ant-mite mutualisms, plant defense, and plant-pollination interactions. I am particularly interested in understanding the role that species interactions play in the evolution of bizarre phenotypes, such as flowers, chemical defenses, or the fascinating structures found on plants that attract and retain arthropod bodyguards. I also have a passion for promoting social justice and equity in STEM, and work to understand and implement change through education.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: webermg(at)umich.edu
Google scholar profile
CV
Bruce Martin (PhD student)
I am broadly interested in understanding the factors underlying disparities in biodiversity across space and taxa, and I believe integrating phylogenetics with studies of ecological patterns and processes can greatly contribute to this goal. Prior to joining the Weber Lab, I earned my B.A. in biology at Skidmore College. My undergraduate research experiences constitute an eclectic mix, including projects focused on porpoise skull morphology, avian malaria, social wasp-mediated pest control, and ant social immunity. Though my academic interests remain broad and flexible, I am especially fascinated by plant-insect interactions due to their diversity and accessibility as model ecological systems which can be placed in larger evolutionary contexts. 
Abbey Soule (PhD Student)
Plants and insects make up the vast majority of terrestrial biomass, and therefore understanding the interactions between them are vital to understanding the natural world; it is in these interactions that my research interests lie. I enjoy studying plants and their insect herbivores through the lens of community ecology, addressing research questions regarding environmental change, defensive chemistry, and multi-trophic relationships. I earned my B.S. magna cum laude from the University of Michigan in 2018 for my research on monarch butterfly flight ability in the context of global change, and did three years of post-bacc work at the University of Utah studying the evolution of chemical defense in tropical trees. As a PhD student, I study large-scale patterns of biotic interactions including herbivory, direct and indirect chemical defense in Populus spp and associated herbivores. I am also interested in the relationship between plant functional traits and secondary metabolites, and predicting changes in plant chemistry as a result of global change using big data and machine learning. Outside of research, I am a dedicated activist, and am currently working with MDOC officials to establish a science seminar series in prisons around southeast Michigan - more on that to come! 
Sylvie Martin-Eberhardt (PhD Student - co-advised with the Gilbert lab)
I am broadly interested in the adaptive significance of plant traits, particularly in the context of plant-insect interactions. I have a special interest in carnivorous plants as systems with uniquely complex insect interactions. Co-advised by Dr. Kadeem Gilbert at Kellogg Biological Station, I am examining anthocyanin (red pigments) in Sarracenia and am curious about the complex benefits that red pigmentation might confer to carnivorous plants, as well as convergence in red pigmented structures across lineages. Prior to joining the Weber lab, I completed my undergraduate in Biology and Linguistics at Indiana University, where I studied honeybee – flower microbiome ecology. I also completed a field program at Notre Dame’s field station (UNDERC) in northern Michigan, where my fascination with carnivorous plant anthocyanin was sparked by a project investigating if red venation on trap leaves guides insects to the trap surface. Your face here??
Interested in joining the lab? Send Marjorie an email at webermg(at)umich.edu |
Carolyn Graham (PhD Student)
My academic interests include plant defense evolution, plant-insect interactions, mutualisms, and chemical ecology. I love testing broad evolutionary hypotheses using phylogenetic comparative methods paired with experimental manipulations. I graduated from Michigan State in 2019 with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and a minor in the History, Philosophy, and Sociology of Science. I then spent a year as a technician in the Weber Lab, working on a research project about whether indirect and direct defensive traits in the grape genus Vitis trade-off over evolutionary time. As a PhD student, I have continued studying defensive trait evolution in Vitis, expanding my perspective to capture a larger suite of traits that arthropods interact with on a grapevine. In my undergraduate work, I was involved in projects studying how microarthropods and their mutualistic interactions with plants are impacted by habitat fragmentation, and how plant defense investment compares across geographic scales. 
Rosemary Glos (PhD Student)
I am a botanist and evolutionary ecologist with an interest in the ways that plant morphology and anatomy mediate interactions with other organisms. I earned my B.S. in plant sciences from Cornell University in 2020 and spent the following year as a research technician and lab manager in the Onyenedum Lab at Cornell. My PhD research is focused on the ecological and evolutionary drivers of complex trichome (hair) morphology in the plant family Loasaceae. This family has the most complex suite of hairs seen in any plant group (stinging, barbed, glandular and more!) but we know surprisingly little about their exact function and evolutionary patterns. My second passion is botanical illustration, so I often seek out projects that merge art and science. Outside of research, I enjoy skating for Ann Arbor Roller Derby, climbing big trees with ropes, and hunting for cool plants in the wild. 
Melissa Kjelvik (Postdoc and Lab collaborator - Co-founder of Data Nuggets)
I am formally trained in behavioral ecology (consequences of individual differences in foraging behavior), but have 10+ years of informal training in science education. I am a co-founder of the Data Nuggets program, which brings contemporary research and role models into K-16 classrooms. I am currently working with Marjorie and Ash, along with collaborators at Auburn University through an NSF IUSE grant: “Diversifying and humanizing scientist role models to increase the impact of data literacy instruction on student interest and retention in STEM.” I am excited to strengthen the collaboration between Data Nuggets and Project Biodiversity to increase representation in STEM classes! |
Lab Collaborators:
Ash Zemenick (Lab collaborator - Director of Project Biodiversify )
I am a community ecologist interested in plant-arthropod interactions, and their role in structuring microbial communities. For my PhD I worked to disentangle how the structure of plant-flower visitor interactions varies for different types of flower visitors, and the implications of varying structure for floral microbe communities. During my post doc, I will be studying how plant-mite interactions directly and indirectly influence leaf microbial communities and subsequent invasibility by pathogens. I will also be working on building a repository of introductory biology teaching material that humanizes the field of biology and biologists. It will include how biological research applies to current societal problems and highlight what it is like to be a biologist. The materials will be composted of examples provided by biologists that self-identify as being part of underrepresented group(s) in STEM (e.g. in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sex, sexuality, income, nationality, immigrant status, cognitive and physical ability, etc.). website: http://ashzemenick.weebly.com/ Google scholar Profile |
Liz Schultheis (Lab collaborator - Co-founder of Data Nuggets)
I am a co-founder of Data Nuggets, an innovative approach to bring cutting edge research and authentic data into K-16 classrooms. My work includes plant biology and science education research, grant writing, curriculum development, running training workshops for scientists focused on science communication, and teacher professional development. My PhD is in Plant Biology and EEBB, advised by Jen Lau at MSU’s Kellogg Biological Station. |
Honorary members:
Banjo & Cosmo & Mulberry & Korra & Freya
Love getting scratches on the head and looking deeply into your eyes while they wag their tails. |
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Eloise Wolf (Co-advised with Bradburd Lab)
Lou's research is focused on developing new forms of dance, notions of personal property and, concurrently, the ability to share that property (work ongoing). Future research plans include sleeping in a little bit later on weekends.
Lou's research is focused on developing new forms of dance, notions of personal property and, concurrently, the ability to share that property (work ongoing). Future research plans include sleeping in a little bit later on weekends.
Abraham Oak (Co-advised with Bradburd Lab)
Abe's research is focused on developing rudimentary motor control and (parental fingers desperately crossed) circadian sleep rhythms.
Abe's research is focused on developing rudimentary motor control and (parental fingers desperately crossed) circadian sleep rhythms.
Lab alumni:
Andrew Myers (Postdoc, 2019-2022)
Daniel Anstett (Postdoc, 2021-2022)
Margaret Fleming (Postdoc, 2019-2021)
Caroline Edwards (Lab Tech, 2018-2020)
Erika LaPlante (Graduate Student, 2017-2020)
Michael Foisy (Graduate Student, 2018-2020)
Eric LoPresti (NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, 2017-2020)
Susan Gordon (Lab tech, 2016-2017)
Keegan Mackin (Undergraduate researcher, 2016-2018)
Ellen James (Undergraduate Summer Research Assistant at Kellogg Biological Station, 2018)
Katy Garber (Research assistant, summer 2017)
Abby Sulesky (Undergraduate researcher, 2016-2018)
Lucy Schroeder (Undergraduate researcher, 2016-2018)
Dan Hughes (Lab tech, 2017-2019)
Carina Baskett (PhD Student - Co-advised with Doug Schemske, Graduated 2018)
Riley Scanlon (Undergraduate Artist in Residence 2019- 2020)
Thomas Zambiasi (Undergraduate Researcher 2018-2020)
Aaron Slater (Undergraduate Researcher and Project Biodiversify Intern 2019-2020)
Daniel Anstett (Postdoc, 2021-2022)
Margaret Fleming (Postdoc, 2019-2021)
Caroline Edwards (Lab Tech, 2018-2020)
Erika LaPlante (Graduate Student, 2017-2020)
Michael Foisy (Graduate Student, 2018-2020)
Eric LoPresti (NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, 2017-2020)
Susan Gordon (Lab tech, 2016-2017)
Keegan Mackin (Undergraduate researcher, 2016-2018)
Ellen James (Undergraduate Summer Research Assistant at Kellogg Biological Station, 2018)
Katy Garber (Research assistant, summer 2017)
Abby Sulesky (Undergraduate researcher, 2016-2018)
Lucy Schroeder (Undergraduate researcher, 2016-2018)
Dan Hughes (Lab tech, 2017-2019)
Carina Baskett (PhD Student - Co-advised with Doug Schemske, Graduated 2018)
Riley Scanlon (Undergraduate Artist in Residence 2019- 2020)
Thomas Zambiasi (Undergraduate Researcher 2018-2020)
Aaron Slater (Undergraduate Researcher and Project Biodiversify Intern 2019-2020)
