Missy Rudeen - Lab Manager

Research Interests: I have a broad interest in biology and enjoy the variety of field work and laboratory work that are necessary in research science.  I have a strong interest in studying trophic interactions, especially those involving insect communities, and I am also eager to work on research that aims to better understand host/vector/disease dynamics in grassland habitats.

Email: ryne0008@umn.edu

Eric Lind - Postdoctoral Researcher and Nutrient Network (NutNet) Research Coordinator

Research Interests: In my research I combine phylogenetic analytical techniques and field experiments to explore the influence of evolution and anthropogenic change on contemporary ecological communities. I have specific interests in moth caterpillars, insect stoichiometry, and management and analysis of large ecological datasets.

Email: elind@umn.edu

Links:

Eric's Website

Christelle Lacroix - Postdoctoral Researcher

Research Interests: I am interested in the ecological and evolutionary forces that drive host-parasite interactions. In the context of environmental changes mediated by humans’ activities, my current project aims at determining how the loss of plant diversity, and increased atmospheric CO2 and terrestrial nitrogen levels influence the prevalence of several viral species in different host plant species. These questions will be assessed using data associated with leaf samples collected from grasses as part of manipulative plant experiments conducted at the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Reserve (Minnesota, USA).

Email: clacroix@umn.edu

Kate Freund - Ph.D. Student

Research Interests: I am interested in exploring diversity and evolution of fungal endophytes in native ecosystems and agroecosystems. I am currently working on a project on the effects of nurient and herbivore treatments on fungal endophyte communities in Minnesota prairie grasses.

Favorite fruit that's actually a vegetable: rhubarb

Favorite vegetable that's actually a fruit: pumpkin

Favorite quote: "I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope." -Dr. Seuss

Hobbies: gardening, painting, playing piano

Email: freu0039@umn.edu

Amy Kendig - Ph.D. Student

Research Interests: I am interested in the factors that drive community interactions and coexistence. I am focusing on the influence of pathogens and herbivores on plant community dynamics, specifically invasion.

Current work: I am currently using spatial relationships to understand patterns of pathogen prevalence (barley/cereal yellow dwarf virus) and the influence of soil nutrients and plant community composition on the distribution of these pathogens in California grassland communities.

Favorite quote: "Just because some of us can read and write and do a little math, that doesn't mean we deserve to conquer the Universe." - Kurt Vonnegut

Favorite athletic activities: running, hiking, and dance

Favorite song: Chattahoochee - Alan Jackson

Email: kend0110@umn.edu