I am a fungal biologist and curator of the ARS Entomopathogenic Fungi Collection (ARSEF) at the Emerging Pests and Pathogens Unit (EPPRU) of the USDA-ARS on the Cornell Campus in Ithaca, NY.
My research program investigates fungal pathogens of invertebrates and their metabolites for use in biocontrol and sustainable management of invertebrate pests in agriculture. Harnessing fungi for biological control necessitates an understanding of the co-evolution and chemical communication with their hosts, as well as their ecological functions in natural ecosystems. As curator of the USDA-ARS entomopathogenic fungi collection, which houses over 12,000 living fungi isolated from insects and other invertebrates (spiders, mites, nematodes), I am curious about how these fungi have evolved to interact with not only their invertebrate hosts, but also alternate hosts such as plants. In particular, my lab researches the role(s) of fungal secondary metabolites in these symbiotic interactions and how fungal-host associations shape the evolution of secondary metabolite gene clusters across fungi. Recent work in the lab has elucidated the role of microbes and their metabolites in invasive insect symbioses and investigated fungal metabolites for the biological control of plant pathogenic nematodes.
My lab aims to contribute both to fundamental knowledge on the biology, chemistry, and ecology of fungi and to use cutting edge tools to develop novel approaches for using fungi or their chemical products in sustainable agriculture, medicine, and natural resource management.
Find more information at my USDA profile page.
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Interests
Microbial ecology of emerald ash borer and other invasive woodboring insects
Nematophagous fungi for biocontrol of cyst nematodes
Host-Microbe interactions, endophytic fungi, and secondary metabolism and chemical ecology of fungi
