PhD defended! 🎓 Madi Waller studied how parasitic nest flies spread among bird species, showing how tolerant hosts act as hidden sources of infection that threaten vulnerable birds. Congrats, Madi!
PI: Dale Clayton & Sarah Bush
#PhDLife26 #EEOB #Parasitology @uofu-science.bsky.social @Utah.edu

PhD defended! 🎓 Eva Vigato explored how neural circuits shape olfactory attraction in #Drosophila—linking brain wiring to ecological interactions like yeast-derived odor cues. Congrats, Eva!
PI: Sophie Caron www.thecaronlab.com
#PhDLife26 #MCEB @uofu-science.bsky.social @Utah.edu

PhD defended! 🎓 @acpostleon.bsky.social explored how wildfire and smoke impact tree physiology and forest health across scales—revealing how forests respond to environmental stress. Congrats Purna!
PI: William Anderegg
#PhDLife26 #EEOB #Ecophysiology #FireEcology @uofu-science.bsky.social @Utah.edu

PhD defended! 🎓 Jackson Bladen investigated how selfish genetic elements, meiotic drive, and hybrid incompatibilities drive speciation in #Drosophila — connecting genetic conflict to origins of species. Congrats, Jackson!
PI: Nitin Phadnis
#PhDLife26 #MCEB @uofu-science.bsky.social @Utah.edu

PhD defended! 🎓 Andrew Butts studied how dArc1—a gene derived from ancient viral elements—regulates reward, learning, and sleep-related behaviors in #Drosophila. Congrats, Andrew!
PI: Sophie Caron - thecaronlab.com
#PhDLife26 #MCEB @uofu-science.bsky.social @Utah.edu

PhD defended! 🎓 @JacksonRidges uncovered how selfish DNA exploits a germline checkpoint (Ovd) to eliminate rival sperm and bias inheritance in #Drosophila. A key insight into genetic conflict. Congrats, Jackson!
PI: Nitin_Phadnis
#PhDLife26 #MCEB @uofu-science.bsky.social @Utah.edu

PhD defended! 🎓@orbu100.bsky.sociale tackled a major bottleneck in gene delivery—showing Septin 9 and ESCRT proteins play key roles in DNA escape from endosomes. Insights that could improve #GeneTherapies. Congrats, Emmanuel!
PI: Julie Hollien
#PhDLife26 #MCEB @uofu-science.bsky.social @Utah.edu