During my PhD and postdoc life at UFZ and iDiv, my research has mainly focused on the importance of species interactions, especially predator-prey interactions, and how the nature of perturbations shapes them.

Abiotic and biotic interactions may constrain the evolution of traits. To test the effect of ecology on evolution, I have been observing host bacterial species co-evolving with their predator bacteriophage, competitors, and different selection pressures over generations.

Many organisms survive long-term environmental stress and energy limitation by reducing metabolic activity in a dormant state. Microbial dormancy, for instance, by forming resistant spores, stores genetic, phenotypic, and taxonomic diversity, contributing to longevity and long-term stability of individuals and populations.

Evolutionary medicine is an emerging discipline that employs eco-evolutionary theories alongside analyses of historical and contemporary patient data. Tracing the evolutionary origins of human health and diseases gives us profound insights into the genetic and physiological mechanisms underlying conditions.

Sometimes, it is difficult to tell about your science to scientists. I gave a fun, ignite talk on antibiotic resistance at iDiv Conference to a broad scientific audience Download my fun story .

In past years, I participated in Science Fest at IU. It is a public event encouraging the Bloomington community to come on campus and learn about research. Lennon Lab hosted a “Bacterial Viruses” table where we explained a bacteriophage infection using illustrations, 3D models, and lab samples.

I have mentored high school students for Science Olympiad for the Experimental Design section at Bloomington South High School. Founded in 1984, the Science Olympiad is the premier team STEM competition in the nation, providing standards-based challenges to 6000 teams at 425 tournaments in all 50 states.

An ant that I drew for a great mentor and friend, Adam.

“Nothing is easier than to admit in words the truth of the universal struggle for life, or more difficult - at least I have found it so - than constantly to bear this conclusion in mind” -On Natural Selection.

Fish colors and patterns are evolutionarily derived for many reasons, such as camouflage, mating, and defense. There is so much art inspiration!

For Turner, who is in love with his study system and math.

You can adopt symbolic species to support WWF’s global efforts to protect wild animals and their habitats. Darwin’s fox’s conservation status is endangered, and the most important conservation concerns are forest fragmentation and threats posed by feral dogs, either by spreading diseases or directly attacking them.

I drew this for a collage classmate’s lab.

Almost all the world’s oceans are damaged by human impact. Only 13% left untouched.

There are too many things that I don’t know…

How would Godzilla’s biology work? Or would it work in this world?

Two inspiring living beings that I see in Bloomington often. Fern symbolizes good luck and new beginnings in some cultures.

“I would like to paint the way a bird sings.” — Claude Monet

I drew this for a sister, Emily, and her bunny friend.

Rejections hurt because the pain of heartbreak activates the same part of the brain as physical pain.

Life and death that I drew for a dear friend, Felipe, working on the origin of life.

Mothers are mothers across the tree of life.

Stop and think about how the world has changed since the pandemic.

I drew this as a birthday present for a marine scientist friend, Peter. Seahorses mate for life, romance is real in their world, and the male can have babies. Fascinating.

How did we evolve to make another species to make the center of our lives?

Illustration of Pachnoda marginata larvae and adult for a friend’s thesis project. Adults have a nice yellow-brown color.

Sometimes, realizing our connection to the planet takes only seconds if we dare to stop and think about it.

Pomegranate was known as the “fruit of the dead” arose from the blood of Adonis in Greek mythology.

This is a fun example of how some species can figure out how to navigate human-made obstacles in urban areas.

Book cover for a friend. “Mangiò i semi e scartò la buccia”"

My surname means black ram. This was one of the moments when I was worried and anxious and wanted to reflect on myself.

One month after I started my postdoc in Lennon Lab, 17-year-old cicadas (Brood X) emerged. It was the most fascinating natural event I’ve seen. They were loud and everywhere, and I remember that once I biked 10 of them on me.

For the systems bouncing back after disturbances.