People

Meet the Shurin Lab

Dr. Jonathan Shurin

Lab Principal Investigator
jshurin@ucsd.edu – Google Scholar page

I am a Professor in the Section of Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, part of the Division of Biology at the University of California- San Diego. I am also a member of the San Diego Center for Algal Biotechnology.

My lab studies the causes and consequences of variation in species diversity, the flow of energy between producers and consumers, and the impacts of predators on the functioning of ecosystems.

Postdoctoral Researchers

Dr. Isidora Echenique

Postdoctoral Researcher
iechenique@ucsd.edu – Google Scholar page

I am a microbial ecologist, originally from Chile, interested in the ecological processes and mechanisms shaping microbial diversity, assembly and adaptation. My postdoc focuses on algal responses and adaptive strategies to selective pressures using directed evolution.

In the Shurin Lab, I am (i) studying the microalgal communities to improve biofuel production and understand microalgae resilience from an ecological and evolutionary perspective, and (ii) exploring dispersal and colonizing capabilities of microorganisms, focusing on characterizing the phenotypic traits responsible of making good dispersers and colonizers and how these traits are selected by contrasting environments.

Dr. Chris Wall

Postdoctoral Researcher
cbwall@ucsd.edu – Google Scholar page

I am a physiological ecologist using stable isotopes and molecular techniques to study symbioses, food webs, and microbiomes. My research has focused on the coral reefs, wetlands, montane forests, and alpine lakes.

In the Shurin Lab, I am studying the distribution of environmental and zooplankton host-associated microbiomes across alpine lakes of varying food quality in order to understand the contributions of microbial partners to host performance and ecosystem productivity. In addition, I am using manipulative experiments to test the interaction of plant biomass loading and fire (i.e., pyrogenic material) on aquatic ecosystem productivity and trophic transfer efficiency.

Graduate Student Researchers

Ugbad Farah, M.Sc.

Ph.D. Student
ufarah@ucsd.edu

I am studying how eco-evolutionary dynamics of microorganisms (i.e., algae) affect the production of natural products and how evolutionary adaptation of the host and microbiome affect productivity of commercially cultivated algae. I also hope to explore how resource supply influences the evolution of commercially cultivated algae.

I previously studied the ecology and evolution of plants in extreme environments, and I worked in the Plant Pathology branch at the California Department of Food and Agriculture in Sacramento. I am also part of a community garden grant that seeks to address food insecurity and justice within the National City community in San Diego and plans to facilitate roundtable discussions with her community to influence local policy on soil remediation in the gardens.

Josh Dominguez

Ph.D. Student
jhdominguez@ucsd.edu – Google Scholar page

I am a PhD student broadly interested in community ecology, symbioses, evolution, climate change, and microbial ecology. More specifically, I am studying the mechanisms underlying patterns of diversity and community structure in host-associated microbiomes across alpine lakes along an elevational gradient in the Sierra Nevada. Additionally, I study the effects of inter-annual climate variability (wet vs dry years) on microbial biodiversity in alpine lake systems. Through these projects, I aim to enhance our understanding of the factors shaping host-associated microbiomes in nature and reveal potential effects of short-term climate variability on alpine lakes.

Prior to joining the Shurin Lab, I studied marine invertebrate ecology and the effects of invasive species on south Florida reefs in my undergraduate studies at the University of Miami.

Scott Morton

Ph.D. Student
sgmorton@ucsd.edu

I am a stream ecologist interested in the mechanisms that control food web structure and its effects on ecosystem function. As a member of the Shurin lab, I am investigating the role of aquatic subsidies, predominantly emergent aquatic insects, in linked terrestrial systems and the eco-evolutionary dynamics that can underpin this process. With this research I hope to better understand how species interactions in streams impact adjacent terrestrial ecosystems and regulate biodiversity.

Previously, I studied the effects of climate warming on the trophic interactions of aquatic stream invertebrates at Colorado State University. After completing my masters, I worked for the United States Geological Survey looking at the impacts of contaminants in stream food webs.

Megan Demmel

Ph.D. Student
mdemmel@ucsd.edu

I am interested in how microbial communities affect host fitness and ecosystem function. In the Shurin Lab, I am investigating the structure of algae-associated microbial networks, their effects on algae productivity, and the response of aquatic microbiomes to disturbance and environmental fluctuation. I am also investigating how environmental shifts shape gut microbial communities of feral horses across the American west. By characterizing microbial dynamics across these varied systems, I aim to broadly understand how both host-associated and free-living microbiomes shape ecosystem-level responses to environmental change.

Previously, I studied diet-microbiome interactions in wild African herbivores during my undergraduate at Princeton University.

Laboratory Assistants and Undergraduate Researchers

Ari Brisco-Schofield

Undergraduate researcher

I am a third-year Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution major interested in learning more about how humans (directly and indirectly) transform ecosystems. I also have an interest in studying how changes to trophic levels can cascade throughout an ecosystem.

Troy Weldon

Undergraduate researcher

I am a third-year student majoring in Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution. I have two broad research interests that I would like to work on in the future. My first goal is to study the effects invasive bark-beetles have had on forest ecosystems, and to develop conservative/restorative measures to reduce their harmful impacts. Secondly, I would like to study the impacts that long term fire suppression practices have had on montane, subalpine, and alpine ecosystems, specifically in the Sierra Nevada.

Ananya Giri

Undergraduate researcher

I am a first-year majoring in Ecology, Behavior and Evolution, curious about all the worlds of biology. Specifically, I am interested in studying evolutionary adaptation, animal behavior, and how organisms interact with each other and their environment, functioning as part of a larger ecosystem.

Samantha Tsang

Undergraduate researcher

I am a fourth year ESYS-EBE major interested in ecology and climate change. I am interested in studying and learning more about the impacts that climate change will have on ecosystems and various organisms. I also have an interest in learning about different species, big and small!

Xinyu (Mary) Lin

Undergraduate researcher

I am a senior marine biology major student. I am interested in exploring impacts of climate change and human activities on the fitness of marine organisms. To be specific, climatic impacts on marine ecosystems, particularly the impacts of and adaptation to warming, hypoxia and ocean acidification in marine species. As well as the adaptive potential of various marine organisms in response to climate change.

Erin Go

Undergraduate

I am a fourth year Environmental Systems, EBE major and Marine Sciences minor student. I am interested in studying aquatic ecosystems, impacts of climate change and environmental conservation. More specifically, I am interested in the relationships between aquatic organisms, how aquatic organisms are impacted by climate change and how those impacts can be lessened

Former Shurin Lab Members

Madeline Perreault, MSc student
Evelyn Diaz, MSc student
Hank Baker, PhD student
Cindy Tran, MSc student
Cody Spiegel, MS student
Aidan Ryan, Technician
Stefan Samu, MS student
Daniella Fairbank, MS student
Megan Hannah, MS student
Stephanie Li, MS student
Natalie Jones, Post-doc
Ben Van Allen, Post-doc
Celia Symons, Ph.D. student
Marika Schulhof, Ph.D. student
Hamanda Cavalheri, Ph.D. student
Rachel Abbott, technician
Shovon Mandal, Post-doc
Jiang Yu, Post-doc
Akana Noto, Ph.D. student
Brian Hong, M.Sc. student
Emily Adamczyk, M.Sc. student
Kathleen Kwok, M.Sc. student