JasonDr. Jason Hoeksema, Professor

Jason's research, and research in the lab, addresses a diversity of questions regarding the ecological and evolutionary consequences of species interactions (such as mutualism, parasitism and competition) on populations, communities, and ecosystems. This work is often inspired by interactions between plants and mycorrhizal fungi, but also involves animals responses to temporary wetlands in agricultural landscapes. See here for a description of some ongoing projects in the lab. A list of publications that represent the lab's work can be found here. Jason teaches courses in ecology, evolution, biometry, meta-analysis, mycology, and ornithology.

 

Post-doctoral Scientists

[Sobia photo]Dr. Sobia Ilyas

Sobia is a mycologist who applies molecular and morphological approaches to fungal community discovery in under-studied regions of the world. She has helped to pioneer the use of molecular mycology in Pakistan, and is currently working to discover and describe poorly-studied macrofungi of the southeastern USA.

 

 

 

Graduate Students

[Brooke photo]Brooke Allen (PhD)

Brooke is using genomic and experimental approaches to study root exudates, soil chemistry, and neighbor identity recognition in the context of coupled plant-fungal invasions.

 

 

 

[Savannah photo]Savannah Draud (PhD)

Savannah is interested in the ecology and evolution of symbioses between species, and has worked in diverse systems from corals to mycorrhizae. Her dissertation project uses a novel ectomycorrhizal symbiosis in an herbaceous plant lineage to investigate the ecological and evolutionary forces that shape symbiosis. 

 

 

[Ian photo]Ian Mounts (PhD)

Ian’s research investigates the role mutualistic symbionts have in maintaining the functionality of ecological networks, and the ecophysiology of network members, under extreme and changing conditions.  He investigates these topics through the experimental manipulation of common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) in greenhouse and field conditions, assays of allelopathic compounds and their relevant gene pathways, and through the use of meta-analyses.

 

[Andrew photo]Andrew Rosson (M.S.)

Andrew is interested in water quality and pollution, and how they can be controlled through water management practices and wetland restoration. His current research investigates how runoff of excess nutrients (especially nitrogen) are influenced by agricultural management practices, specifically the creation of temporary wetlands by flooding agricultural fields with surface water after crop harvest in fall.

 

[Victoria photo]Victoria Simek (M.S.)

Victoria is exploring how migratory shorebirds are contributing to nutrient cycling while varying the timing and duration of seasonal flooding across a series of farm fields in the Mississippi Delta. She is using agricultural runoff data, experimental exclosures, and sediment core collection and incubation in her research. In her spare time, Victoria enjoys fly fishing, hiking and camping with her two dogs, and spending time traveling to national parks and forests across the country.

 

Undergraduate Students

Jack Baker (2023-, Honors thesis), Norah Bruce (2023-), Katie Hamilton (2023-), Taylor Love (2023-, Honors thesis), Ash Silliman (2023-), Brooke Skolsky (2023-)

 

Lab Alumni (graduate students and post-docs)

Chase Bailey (MS, 2015, co-advised by Dr. Stephen Brewer)

Emma Counce (MS, 2023)

Anjel Craig (MS, 2010, USDA Forest Restoration graduate training program)

Kristopher Hennig (MS, 2011)

Nicole Hergott (MS, 2013)

Amber Horning (MS, 2019)

Justine Karst (post-doctoral scholar, 2007-2009, now a faculty member at the University of Alberta; website)

Ami Lokhandwala (post-doctoral scholar, 2016-2018, now works at Aerobiology Laboratory Associates, Inc.)

Mariah Meachum (MS, 2016. Watch Mariah's award-winning 3-minute thesis (3MT) summary: link)

Bridget Piculell (PhD, 2016. Watch Bridget's award-winning 3-minute thesis (3MT) summary: link)

Ann Rasmussen (PhD, 2016, USDA Forest Restoration graduate training program)

Megan Rua (NSF postdoctoral fellow, 2012-2015, now a faculty member at Wright State University; website)

 

Lab Alumni (undergraduates)

Buki Alabi (2008-2011), Karli Anders (2016), Rachel Anderson (2020), Amber Arrington (2008, McNair Summer Research Program), Michael Bennett (2017), Becky Brasher (2010-2011, Honors thesis), Jensine Coggin (2020-2021), Julia Costa (2022-2023), Emma Counce (2020), John Culbertson (2014-2015, Honors thesis), Tristan Daily (2020-2021), Hays Dubberly (2020-2021, Honors thesis), Richard Easterling (2017-2019, Honors thesis), Amber Forsman (2017-2018), Meredith Goza (2021-2023, Honors thesis), Michelle Ha (2013-2015, NSF REU), Shakaree Hale (2011, McNair Summer Research Program), Anna Herd (2012-2013), Scout Hodges (2019-2022, Honors thesis), Kyler Holmes (2015, McNair Summer Research Program), Vanesha Jaiswal (2011), Branden Jones (2017-2018), Lise Larsen (2021-2023, Honors thesis), Alex Lewis (2022-2023), Hailey Long (2020-2023, Honors thesis), Eugene Lukienko (2009-2011, Honors thesis), Ana Michaelis (2013-2014, NSF REU), Thomas Moorman (2016), Mary Hastings Moss (2018), Justin Murphy (2009-2010), Terry Nguyen (2010), Darjai Paine (2010, McNair Summer Research Program), Ashley Parker (2014-2015), Preston Perkins (2020-2021, Honors thesis), Pearl Reed (2017-2018), Valerie Rewa (2020-2021, Honors thesis), Michael Thomas (2020-2021, Honors thesis), Alexis Richardson (2018), Kendall Rodgers (2018), Shelby Sherman (2015-2016), Sarah Steele (2013-2015, Honors thesis), Chigozie Udemgba (2008, Summer Research Institute for Undergraduates), T.C. Unigwe (2009-2010, NIH Summer Undergraduate Intern in 2009), Barbara Van (2014), Lily Van (2013), Meghan Van (2018-2020, Honors thesis), Madison Woodruff (2018-2020, Honors thesis), Shannis Woods (2011, Summer Research Institute for Undergraduates)

 

BridgetMichael G. Booth

Michael was a great friend and an inspiring and brilliant collaborator. Our collaborations included testing the influence of mycorrhizal networks on plant-plant interactions in forests (Booth & Hoeksema 2010), elucidating the importance for plants of functional diversity among ectomycorrhizal fungal species (NSF award # 1119865), and characterizing soil fungal communities using a meta-genomics approach. Michael taught at Principia College and was also a research scientist at the Institute of Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. In September, 2011, Michael left this world far too early, and we miss him greatly.