We are broadly interested in understanding evolution as a creative force. Our lab primarily uses experiments with microorganisms and molecules to watch evolution in action. We also use the tools of synthetic biology and bioengineering to manipulate and study evolutionary processes. Preventing evolutionary failure in synthetic biology. Genome dynamics in long-term evolution experiments. Evolvability of organisms with synthetic genetic alphabets.

I am an evolutionary biologist currently working as a postdoctoral research associate in the lab of Dr. Richard Lenski at Michigan State University. In my research I use experimental evolution with. To address a variety of evolutionary questions, including the role of historical contingency in evolution, the origin, evolution, and consequences of novel traits, speciation, and more. Most of my work is focused on a population of.

Mechanisms and Evolution of Social Decision Making. Savannah performing an icv injection under the microscope. Swapping out our regular lab meeting for vested bowling. Hofmann lab cleaning up our adopted creek section. How has complex social behavior evolved? .

Science, Writing, Fitness, Nutrition, Professional Development. I blog on a variety of topics, including professional development, scientific writing, and health and fitness. Below are a few select articles you might find interesting. To read my latest posts, visit my blog. To read posts on specific topics, head over to virtual books. To see a complete list of all blog posts ever written, visit the table of contents. How good is good enough? Critical decision points in the academic career.

Are Humans the most Advanced Species? It should be obvious to anyone by now that there is something special about the human species. We are the most dominant species the planet has ever seen. How did this happen? Does intelligence always lead to dominance once it passes a threshold? Are we the most highly evolved or most advanced species? Does it even make sense to say that some species are more advanced than others? Such as the various hunting techniques that orcas use.

Thursday, July 16, 2015. The great divide in how researchers manipulate fruit flies. How do you manipulate your Drosophila. Small efficiencies could save huge amounts of time. Wednesday, June 17, 2015.

Reaching beyond the pool of knowledge into the airy expanse of the unknown. Monday, March 2, 2015. Is essentially an accident in your DNA, and while most of them ar.

The ecology is theoretical but the fun is real. There is a very interesting dataset available on Mammalian Trophic Levels and Body Sizes. This means that when you use. R will think that all of the data are factors. I want to use this publicly.

Understanding coevolution of hosts and their parasites in the lab and in the field. I am an evolutionary biologist seeking to understand how interactions among species generate and maintain much of the diversity we see on earth. how pathogen relatedness affects the outcome of coinfection. And coevolving with bacterial hosts over time.

Saturday, October 31, 2015. Yes, I spread bioluminescent bacteria on Petri dishes, and then inserted them into a pumpkin. Students on Thursday, and my Symbiosis and Parasitism.