prospective lab members
The Grillo lab (the arrow in the header photo is pointing to our lab) provides numerous opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdocs to become involved in research. Undergraduate students typically work in teams composed of upper and underclassman on a specific project in the lab. Undergraduate students need to be creative, dedicated, and work well independently and as part of a group. Undergraduates that are excited about the research in the lab should contact Mike Grillo (mgrillo1 at luc.edu) for information on getting involved. The Grillo lab trains graduate students as part of the Biology or Bioinformatics masters program. Graduate students work with Mike to design projects that will help them achieve their career goals. Graduate students also play a significant role in mentoring undergraduates. Prospective students should contact Mike for more information. The Grillo lab is able to support postdoctoral scholars as funds allow. Postdocs have opportunities to teach within the department and Mike is willing to assist with applying to fellowships and other funding sources. The Grillo lab is dedicated to fostering a vibrant, diverse, safe, and inclusive research environment.
Current lab members
Michael Grillo, Assistant Professor
B.S. Zoology 2004 , Michigan State University Ph.D. Plant Biology/EEBB 2013 , Michigan State University NSF Postdoctoral Fellow 2014-2017, University of Illinois Email: mgrillo1 at luc.edu Mike is fascinated by the extraordinary diversity of life on earth. He is originally from Michigan and enjoys hiking, gardening, fishing, traveling, exploring Chicago, and spending time outside. Here he is in a breathtaking rainforest in Kauai, Hawaii (2019). Andres Gutierrez, Postdoctoral Scholar
Ph.D. Louisiana State University Andres is from Columbia. Project: Andres' research is focused on studying the genetics of adaptation in Medicago and the wild relatives of rice using GWAS and QTL mapping for numerous adaptive traits. Previously he worked on plant breeding and plant-pathogen interactions in sugar cane and rice Jeremy Davis, Postdoctoral Scholar Ph.D. Indiana University https://jeremysdavis.weebly.com/ Project: Jeremy is interested in evolutionary genetics and ecology, especially involving interactions between insects and plant hosts. Matt Scott, M.S. Student
B.S. Biology 2019, Loyola University Chicago Matt is from the Chicago suburbs Project: Biotic interactions and distributions of Astragalus Matt's research is aimed at determining the extent to which biotic interactions influence the distribution (e.g. narrow or wide spread) of Astragalus taxa. In the summer of 2019 he spent 2 months collecting A. lentiginosus specimens in the western US. M Joshua Melnick, M.S. Student B.S. Biology, University of Illinois Springfield Joshua is from northern Chicago. Project: Joshua is interested in coevolutionary relationships between Astragalus and nitrogen-fixing rhizobium. He is in the Bioinformatics program. Victoria Martinez, M.S. Student B.S. Biology, Barry University Vic is from Miami. Project: Phylogenetics of North American Astragalus species. Vic is using ddRADseq to examine evolutionary relationships among ~100 species of Astragalus in western North America. She is originally from Mexico City and is in the Bioinformatics program. Cian Dotson, B.S/M.S. Student
Cian is a Biology major and in the Bioinformatics BS/MS program. He joined the lab in fall 2021 and is originally from Royal Oak, Michigan. Project: Plant-soil feedbacks and the role of rhizobia in structuring the microbiome of native legumes. Azucena Gomez, Undergraduate researcher
Azucena is a Biology major. She joined the lab in the spring of 2022. She is from Romeoville, Illinois. Project: Genetics of partner specificty in the Medicago-Ensifer mutualism. Jahin Rehonoma Hasan, Undergraduate researcher Jahin is a Bioinformatics major. She joined the lab in the fall of 2022. She is from Bangladesh. Project: Genetics of partner specificty in the Medicago-Ensifer mutualism. Zoe Smutko, Undergraduate researcher
Zoe is a Biology major. She joined the lab in the fall of 2022. She is from the Chicago suburbs. Project: Genetics of partner specificty in the Medicago-Ensifer mutualism. Edie McClure, Undergraduate researcher
Edie is a Biology major. She joined the lab in the spring of 2023. She is from Nashville, Tennessee. Project: Genetics of partner specificty in the Medicago-Ensifer mutualism. |
lab alums
Quinn Thomas, M.S. Bioinformatics 2023
B.S. Biology, Drake University Quinn is from Minneapolis. Project: Population genetics in Astragalus lentiginosus. Quinn used ddRADseq to characterize population structure among A. lentiginosus varieties. She also conducted Pst-Fst analysis to determine if selection might be driving fruit morphological variation in this species. Nicolle Leon-Araujo B.S. Biology 2023 Nicolle was an undergrad in the lab from 2021-2023. She is from Pontiac, Illinois. Project: Adaptive significance of fruit morphological variation within Astragalus lentiginosus. Manar Kashk B.S. Biology 2023 Manar was an undergrad in the lab from 2021-2023. She is originally from Toledo, Ohio. Project: QTL mapping for mating system traits in the wild relatives of rice. She recieved a Loyola Mulcahy Fellowship. Edgar Vera B.S. Psychology 2023 Edgar was an undergrad in the lab from 2021-2023. He is from Victorville, California. . Project: Genetics of partner specificity in Medicago-Ensifer mutualism. Viviana Gonzales B.S. Biology 2023 Viviana was an undergrad in the lab from 2021-2023. She is from Munster, Indiana. Project: Adaptive significance of fruit morphological variation within Astragalus lentiginosus. Mathew "Thew" Thariath
B.S. Biology 2023 Thew was an undergrad in the lab from 2020-2023. He is from the Chicago suburbs (Hawthorn Woods). Project: Genetic basis of mating system differentiation in the wild progenitors of cultivated rice, O. rufipogon and O. nivara. Thew received the Biology Research Fellowship which is a 2 year award. Current Position: Medical student at Loyola University Chicago. Sarah Bebla B.S. Biology 2023 Sarah was an undergrad in the lab from 2021-2023. She She is from the Chicago suburbs (Lincolnwood). Project: Adaptive significance of fruit morphological variation within Astragalus lentiginosus. Erika Huerta pre-RET (pre-service research experience for teachers) Erika was a pre-RET in the lab during the summer of 2022. She is from Chicago and is a student at UIUC. Project: Genetics of partner quality in the Medicago-Ensifer mutualism Adam Hidad B.S. Biology 2022 Adam was an undergrad in the lab from 2019-2022 and is from the Chicago suburbs (Hillside). Project: Adaptive significance of fruit morphological variation within Astragalus lentiginosus. Current Position: Medical student at Georgetown Olivia Knizka B.S. Biology 2022 Olivia was an undergrad in the lab from 2021-2022. She is from the Chicago suburbs. Project: Population genetics in Astragalus lentiginosus Alyssa Hoffmann RET (Research Experience for Teachers) Alyssa was an RET in the lab in 2021 funded by a ASPB BLOOME grant. Project: Plant microbe impacts on range limits and developing teaching modules. Current Position: Biology teacher at North-Grand High School in Chicago Public Schools. Sydney DelGhingaro RET (Research Experience for Teachers) Sydney was an RET in the lab in 2021 funded by a ASPB BLOOME grant Project: Plant microbe impacts on range limits and developing teaching modules. Current Position: Biology teacher at Jane Addams High School in Chicago. Samantha Aguilar B.S. Biology 2020 Sam was an undergrad in the lab in 2020 and is from northern Illinois (Round Lake Beach). Project: Adaptive significance of fruit morphological variation within Astragalus lentiginosus. Current Position: Medical student at University of Illinois Chicago Heddy Rosenberg B.S. Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience 2020 Heddy was an undergrad in the lab from 2019-2021 and is from the Chicago suburbs (Napperville). Project: Genetic basis of partner specificity in the Medicago-Ensifer mutualism. Current Position: Heddy is currently in the Loyola accelerated nursing program. Conrad Kurowski B.S. Bioinformatics and Computer Science, 2020 Conrad was an undergrad in the lab from 2019-2020 and is from New Jersey. Project: Effects of selenium hyperaccumulation on the Astragalus microbiome. He received a Mulcahy fellowship. Current Position: Data scientist at Phizer. Nancy Somo B.S. Biology (Psychology minor) 2021 Nancy was an undergrad in the lab from 2019-2021 and is from the Chicago suburbs (Skokie). Project: Genetic basis of mating system differentiation in the wild progenitors of cultivated rice. Current position: Nancy is taking a gap year before med school. Roberto Flores B.S. Biology (Philosophy/Bioethics minor) 2021 Roberto was an undergrad in the lab from 2019-2021. He is from the west side of Chicago. Project: Genetic basis of partner specificity in the Medicago-Ensifer mutualism. Roberto received a prestigious American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) Summer Undergraduate Research Award (SURF) and a Provost fellowship from Loyola. Current position: Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois Chicago medical school. Matthew Petterson B.S. Criminal Justice & Criminology, 2021 Matthew was an undergrad in the lab from 2019-2021. He is from Milwaukee, WI. Project: Genetic basis of mating system differentiation in the wild progenitors of cultivated rice, O. rufipogon and O. nivara. Current position: Medical student at Rowan University and the US Navy. Manar Siaj B.S. Biology, 2021 Manar was an undergrad in the lab in 2021. She is from the Chicago suburbs (Montgomery) Project: Genetics of partner specificity in Medicago. Current position: Manar is taking a gap year before applying to medical schools. Akankhya Behera B.S. Biology, 2021 Akankhya was an undergrad in the lab from 2020-2021. She is from India. Project: Genetics of partner specificity in Medicago. Current position: Akankhya is conducting clinical research at U-Chicago before med school. Josh McKeever B.S. Biology, 2019 Josh was an undergrad in the lab from 2018-2019. He is from Redlands, California. Project: Genetics of partner specificity in Medicago. Current position: Ph.D. student at University of Chicago |