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Fall 2005

Department of Genetics
University of Valencia
Valencia, Spain

Transposable elements are mobile DNA, which can move from one site to another within the host genome. Far from curiosities, transposable elements are ubiquitous and comprise a significant fraction of most animal and plant genomes. This research was focused on the Drosophila transposable element, gypsy, remarkable because it can behave as an infectious agent, similar to a retrovirus. Thus, gypsy may represent an evolutionary link between transposable elements and viruses. Working with my colleague, Dr. Rosa de Frutos, and her students, we were able to demonstrate that gypsy retains its infectious properties in flies of the obsucra species group of Drosophila. This work was published in the journal, BMC Evolutionary Biology.

Fall 2009

Department of Entomology
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History
Washington, DC

The National Museum of Natural History houses one of the world’s largest insect collections. A particular strength of the collection is the insect order, Diptera (flies). This order has diversified into virtually every ecological niche and includes the shore flies, which thrive in aqueous environments. Shore flies are particularly adaptable and are found associated with alkaline lakes, hot springs, petroleum deposits, and saline lakes. Working with Dr. Wayne Mathis, I studied the morphology and distribution of shore flies associated with Utah’s Great Salt Lake. This information was subsequently used to augment my research on DNA barcoding of Great Salt Lake brine flies. This work has been presented at numerous international scientific meetings and is summarized in a manuscript recently submitted.