The lab has several new papers out led by fantastic postdocs, with important contributions from other lab members and collaborators. Each paper focuses on different aspects of Wolbachia spread and effects on hosts. The first paper was led by Dylan Shropshire and is now in Genetics.

Postdoc search update! I am continuing to solicit applications for a postdoc opening in the lab, and probably around the beginning of July I will start selecting applicants to interview. See evoldir ad here: evoldir.net/brian/evoldi... Please RT or whatever!

Excited to share this preprint!! with @brandonscooper.bsky.social and Bill Sullivan We tested whether endosymbiotic Wolbachia can alter host gene expression through chromatin modifications that persist from spermatogenesis to adulthood.

Wolbachia-induced cytoplasmic incompatibility produces heritable chromatin modifications that suppress position-effect variegation https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.06.12.731975v1

Climate predicts wMel Wolbachia frequency variation in Drosophila melanogaster, but genomic variation reflects a recent incomplete cytoplasmic sweep https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.22.727337v1

Temperature-sensitive cytoplasmic incompatibility across divergent Wolbachia partly reflects cifB transcription, not endosymbiont density https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.03.31.715596v1

Calibrating and documenting host-switching and evolution of incompatibility loci for two closely related Wolbachia clades https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.13.705778v1

Looking for a postdoc on bacterial-insect symbiosis, combining evolution and molecular mechanisms? I'll have one open in my lab starting Sept 2025. If interested contact me (or find me at the GRC on Animal-microbe symbiosis if you'll be there). #SymbioSky

We are hiring an Assistant Professor of Microbiology, Immunology & Infectious Disease (broadly defined) at the University of Montana. Great colleagues in a great place. I’m happy to answer any questions. Please apply! apply.interfolio.com/159494

We are hiring an Assistant Professor of Microbiology, Immunology & Infectious Disease (broadly defined) at the University of Montana. Great colleagues in a great place. I’m happy to answer any questions. Please apply! apply.interfolio.com/159494