Lab members
Emily Burgess
Ph.D. Student - 2021 - Present
Education: B.S. - Grinnell College
Research interests: Agroecology, plant-microbe interactions, pollination ecology
Ph.D. Student - 2021 - Present
Education: B.S. - Grinnell College
Research interests: Agroecology, plant-microbe interactions, pollination ecology
Bailey Crowley
M.Sc. Student - 2021 - Present
Education: B.S. - Utah State University
Research interests: Lactic acid bacteria, genetics, solitary bees
M.Sc. Student - 2021 - Present
Education: B.S. - Utah State University
Research interests: Lactic acid bacteria, genetics, solitary bees
Drew Freshour
NSF REPS Student - 2022 - Present
Education: B.S. - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Research interests: Environmental change, evolutionary ecology, mutualism
NSF REPS Student - 2022 - Present
Education: B.S. - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Research interests: Environmental change, evolutionary ecology, mutualism
Caitlin Henderson
Ph.D. Student - 2020 - Present
Education: M.Sc., B.S. - Lincoln University (NZ)
Research interests: Invasion ecology, biological control, weed management
Ph.D. Student - 2020 - Present
Education: M.Sc., B.S. - Lincoln University (NZ)
Research interests: Invasion ecology, biological control, weed management
Kristin Leutgeb
B.S. Student - 2022 - Present
Education: B.S. (in progress) - Utah State University
Research interests: Evolutionary biology, plant-microbe-insect interactions
B.S. Student - 2022 - Present
Education: B.S. (in progress) - Utah State University
Research interests: Evolutionary biology, plant-microbe-insect interactions
Valerie Martin
Ph.D. Candidate - 2019 - Present
Education: B.S. - Webster University
Research interests: Plant-microbe-insect interactions, chemical ecology, mutualism
Valerie is interested in exploitative behaviors displayed by mutualists, and the role of microbial chemosensory
cues in facilitating them.
Skylar McDaniel
M.Sc. Student - 2020 - Present
Education: B.S. - University of South Carolina
Research interests: Plant-microbe-insect interactions, chemical ecology, floral metabolism, mutualism
Skylar is currently studying the assembly of floral microbiomes associated with Utah's montane wildflowers.
Robert N. Schaeffer
Assistant Professor - 2019 - Present
Education: Ph.D. - Dartmouth College
B.S. - University of Pittsburgh
Research interests:
Plant microbiome, plant-microbe-insect interactions, agroecology, chemical ecology
Lab affiliates
Sarit Chanprame
Ph.D. Student - 2020 - Present
Education: B.S. - Utah State University
Research interests: Conservation biology, pollination ecology
Sarit's research is focused on the endangered solitary bee, Perdita meconis and its host plant, Arctomecon californica (Dwarf
Bear Poppy), also endangered. Native to southwestern Utah, these species are in steady decline and face threats from habitat
fragmentation and invasive species, including the Africanized honey bee. Sarit's research will ascertain the current population
status and genetic structure of these species, in addition to monitoring of threats they face, informing management. His primary
advisors are Joe Wilson (USU-Tooele) and Terry Griswold (USDA).
Ph.D. Student - 2020 - Present
Education: B.S. - Utah State University
Research interests: Conservation biology, pollination ecology
Sarit's research is focused on the endangered solitary bee, Perdita meconis and its host plant, Arctomecon californica (Dwarf
Bear Poppy), also endangered. Native to southwestern Utah, these species are in steady decline and face threats from habitat
fragmentation and invasive species, including the Africanized honey bee. Sarit's research will ascertain the current population
status and genetic structure of these species, in addition to monitoring of threats they face, informing management. His primary
advisors are Joe Wilson (USU-Tooele) and Terry Griswold (USDA).
Lab alumni
Alondra Arroyo-Flores (NSF REU, 2021)
Kat Benson (Undergraduate, 2019-2020)
Grace Freundlich (NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, 2020-2022)
Hailey Hatch (Undergraduate, 2021-2022)
Emma Landenberger (NSF REU, 2022)
Karson Lund (Undergraduate, 2019-2020)
Chase Nelson (Undergraduate, 2019-2020)
Elizabeth Simpson (Ph.D. Student, 2020-2022)
Kat Benson (Undergraduate, 2019-2020)
Grace Freundlich (NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, 2020-2022)
Hailey Hatch (Undergraduate, 2021-2022)
Emma Landenberger (NSF REU, 2022)
Karson Lund (Undergraduate, 2019-2020)
Chase Nelson (Undergraduate, 2019-2020)
Elizabeth Simpson (Ph.D. Student, 2020-2022)
