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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 pattern. I work in many systems, including ant-plant and ant-mite mutualisms, plant defense against herbivory and disease, and plant-pollination interactions. I am particularly interested in understanding the role that species interactions play in the evolution of bizarre phenotypes, such as the fascinating structures found on plants that attract and retain arthropod bodyguards.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: weberm11(at)msu.edu
Truncated 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 pattern. I work in many systems, including ant-plant and ant-mite mutualisms, plant defense against herbivory and disease, and plant-pollination interactions. I am particularly interested in understanding the role that species interactions play in the evolution of bizarre phenotypes, such as the fascinating structures found on plants that attract and retain arthropod bodyguards.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Email: weberm11(at)msu.edu
Truncated CV
Eric LoPresti (NSF Postdoctoral Fellow)
I did my PhD on the ecology of plants with "external defenses" and will continue in this vein for my post-doc. I will be studying the ecology and evolutionary history of sand entrapment at a small scale in the genus Abronia and at a large scale across the plant phylogeny. I will also be looking at the effects on mandibular structure of the insect herbivores which eat these plants.
website: http://www.ericflopresti.com/
I did my PhD on the ecology of plants with "external defenses" and will continue in this vein for my post-doc. I will be studying the ecology and evolutionary history of sand entrapment at a small scale in the genus Abronia and at a large scale across the plant phylogeny. I will also be looking at the effects on mandibular structure of the insect herbivores which eat these plants.
website: http://www.ericflopresti.com/
Ash Zemenick (NSF Postdoctoral Fellow )
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/
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/
Michael Foisy (PhD student)
Michael comes to the Weber lab after completing a Master's with Helen Rodd and Luke Mahler. Michael is interested in co-evolution, trait evolution, and comparative methods. He also has a fondness for bees (and more recently, seeds!).
Email: foisymic[at]msu.edu
Michael comes to the Weber lab after completing a Master's with Helen Rodd and Luke Mahler. Michael is interested in co-evolution, trait evolution, and comparative methods. He also has a fondness for bees (and more recently, seeds!).
Email: foisymic[at]msu.edu
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.
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.
Erika LaPlante (Masters student)
I am an evolutionary ecologist interested in plant defense interactions and uncovering the genetic mechanisms that underlie mutualistic adaptations. Before joining the Weber lab, I earned my B.S. at the University of Arizona in Soil, Water and Environmental Science. As an Undergraduate Researcher at the University of Arizona and eventually a Research Assistant at the University of California, Berkeley, I studied Drosophila melanogaster to quantify the benefit-to-cost ratio of specific molecular substitutions in Capillary Feeder (CAFE) assay experiments. I also studied Arabidopsis thaliana to identifying plant genes involved in resistance to an herbivorous insect, Scaptomyza flava through performing Scaptomyza flava choice test experiments for host plant preference.
Email: laplan23[at]msu.edu
I am an evolutionary ecologist interested in plant defense interactions and uncovering the genetic mechanisms that underlie mutualistic adaptations. Before joining the Weber lab, I earned my B.S. at the University of Arizona in Soil, Water and Environmental Science. As an Undergraduate Researcher at the University of Arizona and eventually a Research Assistant at the University of California, Berkeley, I studied Drosophila melanogaster to quantify the benefit-to-cost ratio of specific molecular substitutions in Capillary Feeder (CAFE) assay experiments. I also studied Arabidopsis thaliana to identifying plant genes involved in resistance to an herbivorous insect, Scaptomyza flava through performing Scaptomyza flava choice test experiments for host plant preference.
Email: laplan23[at]msu.edu
Daniel Hughes (Lab Manager)
I am interested in ecological interactions and their effect on larger-scale evolutionary trajectories and biogeographical patterns. Though much of my research at University of Chicago was focused on vertebrates, I have become fascinated by plant/insect coevolution for its amazing diversity in both organisms and facets of interaction.
I am interested in ecological interactions and their effect on larger-scale evolutionary trajectories and biogeographical patterns. Though much of my research at University of Chicago was focused on vertebrates, I have become fascinated by plant/insect coevolution for its amazing diversity in both organisms and facets of interaction.
Carolyn Graham (Undergraduate REU Student, with the Brudvig Lab)
Carolyn is interested in biology and biochemistry. Her research in the lab is in conjunction with the Brudvig lab, and is focused on understanding the impact of habitat fragmentation and edge effects on plant-mite defense mutualisms.
Carolyn is interested in biology and biochemistry. Her research in the lab is in conjunction with the Brudvig lab, and is focused on understanding the impact of habitat fragmentation and edge effects on plant-mite defense mutualisms.
Thomas Zambiasi (Undergraduate Researcher)
I am a sophomore from Spring Lake, MI currently majoring in Plant Biology and minoring in Spanish. Outside of class, I enjoy playing trumpet in the Spartan Marching Band and supporting MSU sports teams. I am currently interested in all things related to plant biology, ecology, evolution, and interactions between plants, other organisms, and the environment. I’m very excited to be working in the Weber Lab this year!
I am a sophomore from Spring Lake, MI currently majoring in Plant Biology and minoring in Spanish. Outside of class, I enjoy playing trumpet in the Spartan Marching Band and supporting MSU sports teams. I am currently interested in all things related to plant biology, ecology, evolution, and interactions between plants, other organisms, and the environment. I’m very excited to be working in the Weber Lab this year!
Honorary members:
Eloise Wolf (Co-advised with Bradburd Lab)
Lou's research is primarily focused on understanding how to use her hands to put things into her mouth. Recently, she had a major research breakthrough: the discovery of her own feet (work not yet published). She also has a side project investigating a fundamental longstanding question in science: How much drool can one physically produce at one time?
Lou's research is primarily focused on understanding how to use her hands to put things into her mouth. Recently, she had a major research breakthrough: the discovery of her own feet (work not yet published). She also has a side project investigating a fundamental longstanding question in science: How much drool can one physically produce at one time?
Banjo & Cosmo
Both Banjo and Cosmo love getting scratches on the head and looking deeply into your eyes while they wag their tails. |
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Lab alumni:
Carina Baskett (PhD Student - Co-advised with Doug Schemske, Graduated 2018)
Susan Gordon (Lab tech, 2016-2017)
Katy Garber (Research assistant, summer 2017)
Abby Sulesky (Undergraduate researcher, 2016-2018)
Lucy Schroeder (Undergraduate researcher, 2016-2018)
Ellen James (Undergraduate Summer Research Assistant at Kellogg Biological Station, 2018)
Susan Gordon (Lab tech, 2016-2017)
Katy Garber (Research assistant, summer 2017)
Abby Sulesky (Undergraduate researcher, 2016-2018)
Lucy Schroeder (Undergraduate researcher, 2016-2018)
Ellen James (Undergraduate Summer Research Assistant at Kellogg Biological Station, 2018)
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