Lab Members & Opportunities

Tobin Hammer, he/him, PI

hammert@uci.edu

CV here

Toby is fascinated by microbes, bugs, deserts, tropical forests, evolution, and species interactions generally. He has an inordinate fondness for caterpillars and bees, and enjoys deep dives into the natural history of insects and microbes, and mysteries of how symbioses work and how they evolve. When not doing science, Toby can be found baking, backpacking, or hanging out with his cats.

Kristal Watrous, she/her, lab manager and researcher

kwatrous@uci.edu

Kristal is a lifelong bug nerd and passionate naturalist. She has done research with many different insect groups in the lab and the field, but keeps coming back to her beloved bees. She is excited to work with all the bees she can get her hands on, and to learn more about their microbes. Outside of science, Kristal is usually hiking, camping, or nerding out over plants and bugs with her spouse and kids. 

Annika Nelson, she/her, postdoc

annikasn@uci.edu

Personal website

Annika is a population, community, and chemical ecologist with research focused on the effects of global change on plant and insect mutualisms. She studies ant-hemipteran protection and seed dispersal mutualisms, with plans to soon switch gears to study symbioses between bumble bees and their gut symbionts. Outside of the lab and field, Annika loves hiking, trail running, traveling, and dumpster diving for discarded treasures!

Jennifer Schlauch, she/her, Ph.D. student

jschlauc@uci.edu

Personal website

Jen is broadly interested in symbioses, community networks, warm-weather ecosystems, and the connection between people and the natural world. She loves learning how bees, ants, and wasps interact with organisms, from microbes to towering trees, to live successfully in challenging environments. Her PhD project studies solitary bee microbiome composition and function in wetlands and deserts. When not in the lab or the field, Jen works on art projects for science communication and just for fun, and loves kayaking, cooking Thai food, and hiking with friends.

Nickole Villabona, she/her, Ph.D. student

nvillabo@uci.edu

Nickole is interested in how the environment and animals have evolved over time to reach the incredible relationships that exist today. Lately, the relationships between macro and microorganisms have struck her, especially in bees from South America. She wants to relate climate change and neotropical bees in that region for her Ph.D. project. When not doing bee stuff, she enjoys dancing, traveling, designing things, outdoor activities, and spending time with her dog. 

Bahareh Sorouri, she/her, Visiting Scientist (based at UA Fairbanks)

bsorouri@uci.edu

Bahareh is interested in understanding environmental and host-associated microbial responses to perturbations. Her work currently investigates how the gut microbes of snowshoe hares and sage-grouse allow them to eat toxic plants. Similarly, Bahareh is intrigued by the bee microbiome and is curious to learn more. She is also passionate about science communication, and making research more accessible to the general public. When not doing science, Bahareh can be found playing basketball, biking, watching movies, and spending time with both family and friends. 

Alejandro Vazquez Rodriguez, he/him, undergraduate researcher

Alejandro is majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and is interested in invasive species and habitat restoration. Recently, he has developed a curiosity for stingless bee diversity and behavior, and its relationship to their microbiota. He also enjoys writing, photography, and learning about history.

Thuy-Tien Bui was an undergraduate researcher in the lab during summer 2022.

Sophia Aredas was an undergraduate researcher in the lab during the 2022/2023 academic year.