Ellen O. Martinson
Assistant Professor [email protected] @wasp_venom PhD, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, 2012 Postdoc, University of Rochester, 2013-2017 Postdoc, University of Georgia, 2017-2019 |
Shannon Rollins
PhD Student [email protected] I joined the Martinson lab in August 2023 with a background in insect molecular phylogenetics, taxonomy and ecology. I am interested in the evolutionary arms race between parasitoid wasps and their hosts and the ecology and evolution of gall communities. I am also interested in insect-focused science communication. |
Adam Kranz
PhD Student [email protected] I joined the Martinson lab as a PhD student in fall 2024. Before joining the lab, I co-founded Gallformers.org, a website dedicated to facilitating amateur and scientific study of gall inducing organisms. My research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of gall induction in the oak gall wasps (Cynipini), using transcriptomics to identify both wasp effector molecules and the plant developmental pathways they alter to induce a species-specific gall. I also have ongoing partnerships with ecologists and taxonomists working to complete our understanding of the life histories, phylogenetics, and ecological interactions of the North American Cynipini. |
Sorrel Tran
Pronouns:they/them/theirs Postdoctoral Researcher [email protected] I joined the lab in August 2024, bringing a background in plant pathology, plant development, and molecular biology. I completed my PhD in Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia in May 2023 and most recently worked at Bayer Crop Science in St. Louis, MO. My current research examines the relationship between cynipid wasps and Southern live oak trees, specifically investigating the mechanisms behind gall formation. I have a strong interest in plant-insect interactions and leveraging bioinformatics tools to uncover insights into these complex relationships. |