My research looks to understand how diverse bacterial species respond, acclimate, and adapt to novel or stressful environments. Questions my lab asks take molecular, microbial ecology, experimental evolution, and comparative genomics-based approaches to uncover and elaborate mechanisms underlying bacterial stress response traits. Currently, my team works in three main areas: 1) mapping physiological and metabolic traits in Acidobacteria to their ecological success in soils (NSF CAREER; NSF BII: EMBER), 2) heterogenous metal demands in C1 metabolism (NIH R21), and 3) virulence trait repression by superoxide stress response systems in Salmonella. To meet these aims, my lab utilizes classical approaches microbial genetics and biochemistry in conjunctions genomic, transcriptomic, and lipidomic methods to correlate bacterial genotypes to stress tolerance phenotypes.
We focus on the role of environmental variability in the evolution and ecological function of cognition (e.g. learning, memory, and decision making). How do animals track change in their environments? When is learning and tracking a good strategy? How should animals weight different sources of information? Even more broadly, we are interested in the interplay between evolution and cognitive mechanisms. To answer these questions we use a mix of theory and experiments, and work on time scales from single foraging bouts in bumblebees to experimental evolution studies in fruit flies across many generations.
Some possible projects:
The Olivas lab studies how members of the Puf family of eukaryotic RNA-binding proteins stimulate the degradation of specific mRNAs, thus controlling protein production from those mRNAs. We use both the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae model system as well as human cell lines to perform experiments investigating the mechanisms by which Puf proteins stimulate mRNA degradation and the pathways by which Puf protein activity is altered by varying environmental conditions.
The Marchant Lab is an innovative and collaborative research group at the forefront of both applied and basic plant sciences. We are particularly interested in the biology and evolution of anthers. As the source of pollen, anthers are essential for plant sexual reproduction and are highly conserved in function; however, considerable natural variation exists in their development, physiology, and architecture. In addition, plant breeders’ ability to control pollen production underpins hybrid seed production of most crops making anther biology essential for agricultural improvement. To address our questions, we use single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), comparative genetics/genomics, microscopy, and digitized herbarium specimens using both model and non-model plant systems.
In the Marchant Lab you will pursue a primary project plus there are ample opportunities for collaborative projects within the lab and with diverse cooperators.The lab atmosphere is supportive, inquisitive, and committed to providing each student with the most effective training cognizant with individual goals.
The Social Insect Diversity lab investigates how genomics, behavior, and ecology interact to shape biological diversity. Our primary study systems are the primitively eusocial Polistes paper wasps. What drives speciation and diversification in paper wasps? Does social behavior affect diversification rates in social insects? How does social insect biodiversity compare to that of solitary insects? We explore these questions using a wide range of methods including genome assembly, population genetics, museum collections, behavioral experiments, and more.
Potential projects could include:
The Muchhala Lab conducts research in evolutionary ecology addressing the role of interspecific interactions, especially mutualism and competition, in structuring communities and driving diversification. We focus on plants pollinated by bats and hummingbirds, and integrate various approaches including molecular phylogenetics, mathematical modeling, and field experiments. Three specific questions we are particularly interested in include:
Our lab seeks to understand patterns of and mechanisms underlying biological diversification. We try to address two key questions: (1) How and why do organisms diversify phenotypically, and (2) how and why do reproductive barriers evolve between populations; i.e., under what circumstances can we observe speciation? Our research emphasizes analyses across levels of biological organization to understand how genomic variation translates to phenotypes and fitness of organisms in their natural environment. We also integrate analyses among evolutionarily independent lineages exposed to similar selective regimes to quantify the relative importance of convergent and non-convergent evolution. To achieve our goals, we leverage collaborations with researchers from diverse backgrounds, and we combine concepts and methods from various disciplines, including geochemistry, ecology, evolution, physiology, animal behavior, genetics, and genomics. While we study a variety of systems, the core research in the lab focuses on fishes, including livebearers of the family Poeciliidae and extremophiles that have colonized caves and toxic springs rich in hydrogen sulfide.
The research in my laboratory aims at understanding the signaling processes that impact plant response to environmental challenges and lipid metabolism. The current study is focused on the role of membrane lipid-mediated signaling and phospholipid turnover in plant water use efficiency, plant response to nitrogen and phosphorus availability, and lipid accumulation.
Our long-term goals are to advance knowledge that enables improvement of 1) plant drought tolerance, 2) nutrient use efficiency, and 3) energy-dense compound production. We use Arabidopsis for knowledge discovery and crop plants, such as soybean, rapeseeds, and camelina, for translational research. My research program can be divided into five thrust areas:
The Zolman Lab studies peroxisomes, small organelles found in all eukaryotes, and the reactions that occur within peroxisomes. Using the model system Arabidopsis thaliana and Zea mays, we incorporate genetics, cell biology, plant physiology, and biochemistry to study peroxisomal reactions that are important for regulating early seedling development and root architecture.
Potential rotation projects include
Go to Zolman faculty page or email zolmanb<at>umsl.edu
