Siphamia- Photobacterium Symbiosis
I am currently studying the symbiotic relationship between Siphamia tubifer and Photobacterium mandapamensis at Temple University in the lab of Dr. Alison Gould. The Siphamia-Photobacterium system focuses on the symbiotic relationship between the coral reef cardinalfish Siphamia tubifer and its luminous bacterial partner, Photobacterium mandapamensis. This project investigates how the bacteria colonize specialized light organs in the fish and how the symbiosis influences the behavior, gene expression, and ecology of both partners.
Luminescent P. mandapamensis Colonies
Hawaiian bobtail squid-V. fischeri Symbiosis
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As a research technician at Kewalo Marine Laboratory in the labs of Dr. Margaret McFall-Ngai and Dr. Edward Ruby, I contributed to a variety of projects focused on understanding the mechanisms of animal-bacterial symbioses. My primary role involved studying the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes) and its symbiotic relationship with the bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri. I assisted with experimental design, animal husbandry, and molecular techniques to investigate how E. scolopes recognizes, selects, and maintains its bacterial partner. A key focus of my work was characterizing colonization patterns using mutant strains of Vibrio fischeri to determine how genetic variations impact symbiont-host interactions. This experience deepened my understanding of host-microbe dynamics and provided valuable skills in symbiosis research, including microscopy, microbial culturing, and in vivo imaging.
Hawaiian bobtail squid
Research Projects
Morphometrics of the Hawaiian bobtail squid
​For my master's thesis project at Alaska Pacific University, I studied the morphometric diversity of the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes) across various sites in the Hawaiian Islands. While the Hawaiian bobtail squid is widely recognized as a model organism for studying animal-microbial symbioses, the ecological drivers underlying these host-microbe interactions remain largely unexplored. Using high-resolution micro-CT imaging, I quantified variations in body shape and light organ dimensions to examine how environmental factors influence phenotypic traits. The results provide novel insights into local adaptation and reveal how morphological variation may shape the dynamics of its symbiosis with the bioluminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri. This research underscores the complex interplay between host morphology and microbial symbiosis in marine environments.
3D Rendering of Hawaiian bobtail squid
Body Patterning of the Dwarf Cuttlefish
As an undergraduate student at Pomona College in the lab of Dr. Rachel Levin, I studied the body patterning ability of the dwarf cuttlefish (Sepia bandensis). Using high-speed videography and image analysis, I categorized distinct pattern types and analyzed how cuttlefish modulate their skin coloration and texture in response to various environmental stimuli. The results provided insights into the behavioral strategies these cephalopods use for camouflage, communication, and predator deterrence, highlighting the remarkable adaptability of their dynamic skin system.​
Dwarf cuttlefish