Current Graduate Students
Current PhD Students:
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Shiva Abdollahi Aghdam – PhD Student
My research: My primary interest is the co-evolutionary relationship between host plants and endophytes. I am interested in how host-endophyte interactions lead to production of secondary metabolites with antifungal, antibacterial and anticancer activities, focusing on endophytic microorganisms (fungi and bacteria). My current project seeks to identify possible disease-protective microbiota in plants, specifically Musa spp., by isolating and sequencing whole microbial communities to enable detailed taxonomic and gene repertoire characterization and predict possible disease-protective function. This study is designed to uncover the core and pan ‘ome profiles (metagenome, metatranscriptome, and metabolome) through a multi-omics bioinformatics approach combined with experiments.
About me: I like cooking, shopping and watching movies. I like to help with community events.
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Amandeep Kaur – PhD Student
My Research: My research interest is bacterial endosymbioses in plant-parasitic nematodes and looking into the possible roles of endosymbionts in plant-parasitic nematodes. I am also interested in exploiting Cytoplasmic Incompatibility (CI) in phytonematode endosymbionts that could be used to suppress nematode population, thereby reducing the use of nematocides.
About Me: I am a foodie at heart!! I love travelling and trying new food. When free, I enjoy cooking.
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McKinlee Salazar – PhD Student
My Research: My research interest involves studying symbiotic relationships between insects and bacteria. My current project focuses on the endosymbionts found within Membracid bacteriomes collected from Brazil. Our goal is to use a multi-omics approach to understand the diversity found in this group of insects.
About me : Outside of research, I love spending time with family, baking, and being outdoors!
Jesse White – PhD Student
My Research: My research focuses on the ruminant microbiome and the mutualistic relationships of the microbiota and host. Using a variety of multi-omic techniques, I want to discover the relationships between the microbial metabolic products and host genetics. The end goal is to increase feed efficiencies, health and reproductive functions in order to reduce green house gas production, decrease human/ruminant competition for nutrients, and help to increase the sustainability of ranching and farming practices.
About me: I am raising three amazing boys, lots of barn cats, two Alpine goats and an Airedale Terrier named Edgrrrrr.
Hana Ghavanloughajar – PhD Student
My Research: My research will focus on the microbiology of infection including aspects of genomics and CRISPR. My project that will investigate CRISPR-dependent suppression of biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and other related biofilm-forming species. my research aims will be to (1) experimentally test the natural and artificial lines of Pseudomonas, including the cystic fibrosis-associated strain PA14 with and without the temperate phage DMS3 that has been hypothesized to control changes in biofilm formation through the CRISPR system, and (2) to perform next generation sequencing (PacBio/MinION) and bioinformatics to assess CRISPR-dependent biofilm inhibition systems in short- and long-term microevolutionary host-microbe and microbe-microbe experiments, and finally (3) to explore promising avenues by which knowledge of these processes might be harnessed for beneficial therapeutic approaches to inhibit chronic polymicrobial and biofilm infections.
About me: I love growing plants and gardening.
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Christian Guerrero – PhD Student
My Research: My research focus is on the microbe-gut-brain axis using crickets (Gryllus texensis) as a model species.
About me: TBD.
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Era Sharma – PhD Student
My Research: My research is on computational approaches to analyze hidden drivers of symbiosis and parasitism in plant-parasitic nematode interactions with microbiota and plants.
About me: I love doing photography as it allows me to re-live certain parts of my life which can never be replicated again and I also love cooking.
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Current Master’s Students:
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Amanda Ramirez – Master’s Student (non-thesis)
My Research: My current project involves microbial extraction of Musa spp. With isolation and sequencing of microbial communities, we aim to characterize gene profiles of microbial contents to get a better understanding of disease-protective functions. We rely heavily on multi-omics bioinformatics for this project, an area of keen interest that I hope to pursue further into my career.
About me: I am an avid traveler and outdoors fanatic that loves to experience cultures and cuisines.
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Alex Luecke – Master’s Student
My Research: My research interest is on mechanisms controlling biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
About me: TBD.
Taranjot Kaur – Master’s Student
My Research: My research interest is to study bacterial endosymbiosis in plant parasitic nematodes and determine signatures of selection for predicted endosymbionts host- manipulating genes across field- collected nematode populations using population and comparative genomics. My result ultimately aims at biocontrol measures for plant parasitic nematodes, reducing the use of chemical nematicides.”
About me: Besides research, I love dancing and singing. I am a good cook. I love helping others.
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Graduate Alumni
Simrandeep Singh Master’s of Science (Biology) 2021
Thesis Title: Bioinformatic analysis of endophytic microbiomes from banana uncovers novel antimicrobial gene clusters.
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Yaireth Castro Master’s of Science (Forensics) 2020
Thesis Title: Temperature Effect on Skin Microbes Used as Trace Evidence on Knife Handles.
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Kaitlyn Myers Master’s of Science non-thesis (Microbiology ) 2020
Research Topic: Detection and comparative analysis of Wolbachia and Cardinium endosymbionts from plant-parasitic nematodes.
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Bravada Hill Master’s of Science (Microbiology) 2019
Thesis Title: Novel HiC Modification to Study Biofilms in Polymicrobial Infections
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Undergraduate Students
2022 Spring
Kierra Hughes (NIH Bridges): Genomics of mosquito microbiomes
Liane Vásquez-Weber (CISER): Gut-brain axis computer modeling
Christina Kelley (TrUE): Membracid symbiosis comparative genomics
Sushim Mishra (URS): Metatranscriptomics and data mining
Micah Garner: PPN endosymbionts
Daniel Hsai: Banana microbiome genomics
Tyler Kim (Clark Scholar): Genomics of leafhopper horizontal gene transfer
2021 Fall
Matthew DePugh: Data mining computation (from SRA)
Kierra Hughes (NIH Bridges): Genomics of mosquito microbiomes
Tyler Kim (Clark Scholar): Genomics of leafhopper horizontal gene transfer
Liane Vásquez-Weber (CISER): Gut-brain axis computer modeling
Christina Kelley (Pi2/TrUE): Membracid symbiosis comparative genomics
Guilice Nadia Nguetsa (Pi2/TrUE): Rumen microbiome
Sushim Mishra (URS): Metatranscriptomics and data mining
Micah Garner: PPN endosymbionts
Esther Metcalf: Gut-brain axis
Daniel Hsai: Banana microbiome genomics
2021 Summer
Matthew DePugh: Data mining computation; Cactus microbiomes
Micah Garner: Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Kierra Hughes (NIH Bridges): Genomics of mosquito microbiomes
Tyler Kim (Clark Scholar): Genomics of leafhopper horizontal gene transfer
2021 Spring
Daniel Conn: Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Rachel Lahowetz (URS)*: Defensive microbiome isolation from Musa sp.
*Awarded 2nd Place Outstanding Presenter Award, URC Conference, 2021 ($250)
Brianna Mendoza (URS): Leafhopper symbiont diversity
Tyler Kucera: Leafhopper symbiont diversity
Liane Vásquez-Weber (CISER)*: Gut-brain axis computer modeling
*Awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholar Fellowship, 2021
Matthew DePugh: Gut-brain axis computer modeling
2020 Fall
Daniel Conn: Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Rachel Lahowetz (URS): Defensive microbiome isolation from Musa sp.
Brianna Mendoza (URS): Leafhopper symbiont diversity
Tyler Kucera: Leafhopper symbiont diversity
Liane Vásquez-Weber (CISER): Gut-brain axis computer modeling
Matthew DePugh: Gut-brain axis computer modeling
Rishabh Tewari (CS): Metatranscriptomics
Christopher Bednarz (CS): Metatranscriptomics
2020 Summer
Rachel Lahowetz (URS): Defensive microbiome isolation from Musa sp.
Brianna Mendoza (URS): Leafhopper symbiont diversity
Tyler Kucera: Leafhopper symbiont diversity
Aneesa Harper: Mosquito virome long-amplicon-seq
Liane Vásquez-Weber (CISER): Gut-brain axis computer modeling
Dalilah Rodriguez (NIH Bridges): Metatranscriptomics
Rishabh Tewari (CS): Metatranscriptomics
2020 Spring
Daniel Conn: Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Amariany Gomez (CISER)*: HiC microbiome study
*Awarded Gary and Nancy Fish Medical Missions Award, spring 2020
McKinlee Lewis: Membracid endosymbiont multi-omics
Rachel Lahowetz (URS): Defensive microbiome isolation from Musa sp.
Georgia-Rae Atkins (CISER)*: HiC microbiome study
*Awarded Choc Hutchenson Endowment for Undergraduate Research & Leadership Scholarship, spring 2020
Brianna Mendoza (URS): Leafhopper symbiont diversity
Tyler Kucera: Leafhopper symbiont diversity
Aneesa Harper: Mosquito virome long-amplicon-seq
Alejandro Hernandez: Mosquito virome long-amplicon-seq
Liane Vásquez-Weber (CISER, computer science)*: Gut-brain axis computer modeling
*Awarded Dr. Allie Clinton-Smith Endowed Scholarship, spring 2020
Tabitha Urbanski (computer science): Omics pipeline development
Tom Bednarz (computer science)
Bonny Barragan (computer science)
Sally Comer (computer science)
Nadine Salem (computer science)
Justin Frossard (computer science)
Carlos Martinez-Salazar (computer science)
Nhi Nguyen (computer science)
2019 Fall
Elliot Hughes: Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Daniel Conn: Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Amariany Gomez (CISER): HiC microbiome study
McKinlee Lewis: Membracid endosymbiont multi-omics
Rachel Lahowetz (URS): Defensive microbiome isolation from Musa sp.
Georgia-Rae Atkins (CISER): HiC microbiome study
Tabitha Urbanski (computer science): Omics pipeline development
Caden Norman (computer science) Omics pipeline development
Brianna Mendoza (URS) Leafhopper symbiont diversity
Tyler Kucera Leafhopper symbiont diversity
Kort Alexander Leafhopper symbiont collection
Aneesa Harper Mosquito virome long-amplicon-seq
Liane Vásquez-Weber Gut-brain axis computer modeling
2019 Summer
Elliot Hughes Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Daniel Conn Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Amariany Gomez Mosquito virome long-amplicon-seq
Hannah Hester Mosquito virome long-amplicon-seq
Adam Callahan Mosquito virome long-amplicon-seq
McKinlee Lewis Membracid endosymbiont multi-omics
Kimberly Morales Defensive microbiome isolation from Musa sp.
2019 Spring
Rick Trevino (McNair Scholar) Dark matter functional data mining
Shrinidhi Joshi (CISER)* HiC microbiome study
*Awarded the Dr. Richard L. Blanton Endowment for Undergraduate Research Scholarship through CISER program.
*Awarded the Gary & Nancy Fish Medical Missions Scholarship through CISER program.
Victor DelPrincipe HiC microbiome study
Brianna Mendoza (URS) Leafhopper symbiont diversity
Tyler Kucera Leafhopper symbiont diversity
Reagan Ball (URS) Nematode endosymbiont transcriptomics
Nick Weyandt – Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Elliot Hughes Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Daniel Conn Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Amelia Nutt Gut-brain axis in model invertebrate
Rachel Lahowetz Gut-brain axis in model invertebrate
Jessica Chipelesa Gut-brain axis in model invertebrate
Matthew Buxton Defensive microbiome isolation from Musa sp.
Kimberly Morales Defensive microbiome isolation from Musa sp.
Georgia-Rae Atkins Defensive microbiome isolation from Musa sp.
Stephen Saltus Membracid endosymbiont multi-omics
David Montoya Mosquito virome long-amplicon-seq
Amariany Gomez Mosquito virome long-amplicon-seq
Hannah Hester Mosquito virome long-amplicon-seq
Adam Callahan Mosquito virome long-amplicon-seq
Ricardo Ruiz (computer science) Ortholog software development for big data
Saurav Dhungel (computer science) Dark matter functional data mining
Leslye Morales (computer science) Metal physiology data mining
Rahil Patel (computer science) Endosymbiont population genomics analysis
Caden Norman, (computer science) Omics pipeline development
Tabitha Urbanski (computer science) Omics pipeline development
2018 Fall
Rick Trevino (McNair Scholar) Dark matter functional data mining
Shrinidhi Joshi (CISER) HiC microbiome study
Victor DelPrincipe HiC microbiome study
Brianna Mendoza (URS) Leafhopper symbiont diversity
Abigail Bell Leafhopper symbiont diversity
Nick Weyandt – Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Reagan Ball (URS) Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Nazira Lewis Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Amelia Nutt Gut-brain axis in model invertebrate
Wyatt Prewit Mosquito virome long-amplicon-seq
David Montoya Mosquito virome long-amplicon-seq
Amariany Gomez Mosquito virome long-amplicon-seq
Matthew Buxton Defensive microbiome isolation from Musa sp.
Kimberly Morales Defensive microbiome isolation from Musa sp.
Stephen Saltus Membracid endosymbiont multi-omics
Katie Hubbard Membracid endosymbiont multi-omics
Srijana Regmi SRA data mining
Adaobi Okoye SRA data mining
Nimotallah Abdurrazaq SRA data mining
Ricardo Ruiz (computer science) eDNA pipeline
Robin Ronson (computer science) DNangler software development
2018 Summer
Nick Weyandt – Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Katie Hubbard Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Srijana Regmi Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Adaobi Okoye Leafhopper symbiont diversity
Nimotallah Abdurrazaq Leafhopper symbiont diversity
David Montoya Mosquito dissection and COI PCR
Amiary Gomez Mosquito dissection and COI PCR
Kimberly Morales Defensive microbiome isolation from Musa sp.
Ricardo Ruiz (computer science) eDNA pipeline
Robin Ronson (computer science) DNangler software development
Shambhavi Makeswaran (computer science) Ortholog software development for big data
2018 Spring
Kenia Ascencio (CISER) Mosquito dissection and COI PCR
Evan Akene Mosquito dissection and COI PCR
Delores Emeagi Mosquito dissection and COI PCR
Kenneth Chuang Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Sean Miller Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Nick Weyandt Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Katie Hubbard Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Shrinidhi Joshi (Honors) Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Abigail Bell (URS) Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Robin Ronson (computer science) DNangler software development
Shambhavi Makeswaran (computer science) Ortholog software development for big data
Lino Virgen (computer science) Elastic network models for omics
2017 Fall
Lauren West (URS) Mosquito dissection and COI PCR
Sarah Barela Mosquito dissection and COI PCR
Eric Murphy (Bridges Program) Mosquito dissection and COI PCR.
Delores Emeagi Mosquito dissection and COI PCR
Nick Weyandt Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Abigail Bell (URS)* Nematode endosymbiont genomics
*Awarded Texas Tech Center for Active Learning and Undergraduate Engagement (CALUE) Funding.
Marian Herring Leafhopper symbiont diversity
Mallory Hyatt HiC microbiome study
Kelechi Obi Mosquito dissection and COI PCR
Robin Ronson (computer science) DNangler software development
Nils Griswold (computer science) Dark matter functional data mining
Shambhavi Makeswaran (computer science) Ortholog software development for big data
Lino Virgen (computer science) Elastic network models for omics
2017 Summer
Eric Murphy (Bridges Program) Mosquito dissection and COI PCR
Adithi Govindan (Emory U.) Mosquito dissection and COI PCR
Nickolas Weyandt Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Daniel Rhoades Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Harsh Wadhwani (computer science) Metagenomic clustering
Robin Ronson (computer science) DNangler software development
Katrina Bueno (computer science) Ortholog software development for big data
2016–2017
Gabrielle White – Leafhopper symbiont diversity/Musa sp. project
Joshua Truong – Leafhopper symbiont diversity
Mallory Hyatt – Leafhopper symbiont diversity
Colton Eaton – Defensive microbiome isolation from Musa sp.
Lauren West – Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Josef Fowler – Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Abigail Bell – Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Tate Hilken – Nematode endosymbiont genomics
Dr. Brown is currently recruiting!
We are looking for new undergraduate researchers, graduate students, and postdocs. If you are interested in what we do, want to gain wonderful training, and have skills and a commitment to learning, we would love you to join us! Please see the opportunities below and contact me.
Undergraduate Students
- undergraduates interested in trying research for the first time
- undergraduates looking for advanced training that will help in finding future work in fields such as medicine, medical research, agriculture, bioinformatics, microbiology
- undergraduates wanting training to lead to graduate school application
To apply, contact me and please prepare to discuss your interests and experiences as they pertain to our lab. Also consider seeking funding opportunities, e.g. through NSF (National Science Foundation). If you qualify, we can discuss how I can help you apply for such a fellowship.
Graduate Students
- prospective Master’s or PhD students: completed or soon to complete an undergraduate program or Master’s program in the US or elsewhere.
- I will be advertising positions for two graduate students to begin in 2017. See details here and contact me for further information.
To apply, send me (1) your resume or CV, (2) a statement of interests describing your skills, knowledge, and research/career direction (maximum 1-page), (3) contact information for 2-3 people who I might contact as references who can speak to your academic skill, (4) your GPA and/or GRE scores, as appropriate.
While RA funding is available for summer research and teaching assistantship (TA) funding is often available for the rest of the year, all applicants are also strongly encouraged to seek their own funding though other sources. See a few examples below. Please also search carefully for other opportunities that apply to your unique background:
e.g.
NSF Graduate Fellowships
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (DOD)
EPA STAR Fellowship
American Association of University Women
Hertz Foundation
National Academies Fellowship Office (for minorities)
Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
Others from other nations, for international students
I will assist with your funding application process, whenever I can.
Postdocs
- postdoctoral researchers: those with a PhD or soon to complete a PhD in the US or elsewhere.
- I have advertised a postdoctoral position for 2017-2019. Contact me for further information.
To apply, send (1) a cover letter, (2) your up-to-date CV including contact information for 3 academic references who I may contact for a letter of reference, (3) a short statement of research interests describing your research goals, expertise, and highlighting the impact of your academic achievements (maximum 2 pages).
While I funding for this postdoc for 2 years, applicants are always strongly encouraged to also apply to other sources! Having fellowship awards will improve your future competitiveness. Furthermore, the application process itself will provide precious skills in scientific writing, thinking, and goal-setting that will be invaluable later on.
Consider postdoctoral funding from:
NSF – Postdoctoral Fellowships
USDA Grants & Fellowships
Marie Curie Fellowships
Life Sciences Research Foundation
NOAA Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
Fulbright Scholar Program
Human Frontier Science Program
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
BARD – The U.S./Israel Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund
…and many others specific to your background or country of origin…
I will assist with postdoctoral fellowship applications as appropriate.
Dr. Brown's Lab 