​Catfish parasites
obliterate ponds overnight!
Knock out their buddies!
​
Richard Van Hoosen
Mississippi State University

​I studied fish parasitology at Mississippi State University (1998). My dissertation concerned examining the intermediate hosts of a protozoan parasite of catfish that causes proliferative gill disease, with an eye towards finding ways of limiting population growth of those intermediate hosts. Less hosts=less parasites=less of a catastrophic infection.

​Cells: they stick to things
And move around. I wonder,
What’s the deal with that?
​
Julia Sero
Harvard University

​In my PhD I studied the relationship between cell adhesion and directional migration by looking at single cells constrained to small adhesive islands.

​angry little fish
when dating, do you much care
if it’s ladies’ night?
​
Cynthia O’Rourke
University of Maryland, Baltimore County

​In the course of my dissertation research, I investigate how components of the operational sex ratio (OSR), such as the adult sex ratio (ASR), may affect the sex roles in Etheostoma flabellare, the fantail darter.

​Aplacophorans
and polyplacophorans
Monophyletic!
​
Jakob Vinther
Yale University

​I work on the early evolution of some lesser known mollusc groups, the aplacophorans and polyplacophorans (also known as chitons). The term monophyletic specifies the fact that my discovery is that these two molluscs are more closely related to each other than to any other mollusc.

​A mollusk creeping
saw its destiny in mud
Wormed to the present
​
Jakob Vinther
Yale University

​This is a more inspiring version of my previous, obscure haiku. Here I want to communicate that I can demonstrate the fact that aplacophorans are worms derived from a creeping more snail-like ancestor

​industrious life
perception insufficient
glycolysis: known.
​
Johann Eicher
University of Stellenbosch

​I’m working on a phd in systems biology modelling glycolysis in E. Coli using NMR.

Brachiopods and
Sponges- paraphyletic?
Still they just sit there
​
Erik Sperling
Yale University

​My dissertation used molecular biology techniques (molecular phylogenies and molecular clocks) to address questions in early animal evolution. Specifically, when did the earliest animals evolve, what was the body plan of this animal, when (and how) did they first begin to biomineralize, and how early animal evolution relates to the changing ecology of the Precambrian. I’ve focused primarily on sponges and brachiopods, which are (I think!) very interesting from an evolutionary perspective but are benthic, sessile marine invertebrates and so perhaps not what catches the eye of the casual diver. I’ve particularly focused on whether these two groups form a real evolutionary group (monophyletic) or whether some members of that group are more closely related to another group of organisms (paraphyletic).

​animal choices-
relative comparison
why should that evolve?
​
Avi Waksberg
Dissertation title: Comparative choice and its fitness consequences in a model environment

​I investigated the potential for non-rational comparative assessment to outperform a decision-making strategy consistent with the principles of economic rationality. To evaluate these strategies I used a computer model that incorporated several realistic features of choice in the natural environment. This work provides insights into where we might expect animals to use relative comparisons and, correspondingly, where we might expect to see deviations from economically rational models of behavior.

​Trees misplaced,
Far goes the seed,
how high the wind?
​
Paul Caplat
University of Queensland, Australia

​I study the importance of long distance seed dispersal in the spread of invasive conifers.

​Photosynthesis.
Adaptation to high light,
by redox signals.
​
Gal Wittenberg
Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel

​Plants use light energy in the process of photosynthesis. However, too much light might cause damage to the plant cells. In my work I try to uncover how plants use the relay of electrons amongst proteins, known as redox reactions, to adjust to the changing light intensities throughout the day.

​Mice are not like man
That is what I have proven
And a new gene too.
​
Yishay Shoval
Weizmann Institute, Israel
I have studied the evolution of a family of cell death promoting kinases, and discovered that one of them diverged considerably in the murines (mice and rats), to become a very different protein. I have also found a new member of this family, previously unknown, which results from alternative splicing.

​“Agonistic Coots,
Behaviour in.” Is any…
…body still awake?
​
Alastair Humphreys
Edinburgh University

​My first dissertation was at Edinburgh University about how coots (those little black ducks) communicate and use bluff/double bluff to avoid having to actually fight.

​The last thing through the
zombie cockroach brain alas.
Wasp venomous sting.
​
Gal Haspel
The Ben Gurion University, Israel

Dissertation Title: Biochemistry and Physiological Action of Ampulex Compressa Venom Cockroach Prey.
We studied different aspects of the cockroach-mind-controlling sting of the parasitoid wasp Ampulex compressa. Briefly, the wasp stings a roach into the brain and the venom subdues the prey to become wasp larvae food. We published some papers and it also got some nice attention in the popular science arena.

​Lichens in Piedmont
exist throughout the forest
in communities
​
Gary B. Perlmutter
University of North Carolina Herbarium

​Dissertation Title: “Piedmont Lichen Inventor: building a lichen biodiversity baseline for the Piedmont Ecoregion of North Carolina, USA”.
I submitted my dissertation to the North Carolina Botanical Garden as partial fulfillment of the Native Plant Studies certificate program, May 2009. I continue my work in lichen surveys in the Southeast USA.

​stop! judder! a smell?
are we friends or enemies?
sting! and then we dance
​
Sara Tallarovic
Oregon State University
Dissertation Title: “Reproductive and Aggressive Behaviors in the Giant Hairy Desert Scorpion.”

​Marlin roam oceans
Thunnus anus is tuna ass
This is my abstract

​Anonymous
I’m investigating the movements of highly migratory fishes for my PhD.

Microsatellites
detecting populations,
gene flow, growth, decline

Kelly Barr
University of Louisiana

I studied the effects of landscape alteration and other such human-caused environmental changes on populations of an endangered songbird, the Black-capped Vireo (Vireo atricapilla) using genetic techniques.

​Breeding pretty plants
Parent chromosome painting
Microscope eyes hurt
​
Ryan Contreras
The University of Georgia
I’m in ornamental plant breeding and genetics, primarily cytogenetics.  Some of my research involves Mendelian inheritance in diploids and polyploids and I also do some work in molecular cytogenetics.  Other sundry things like the effects of induced polyploidy on pigment composition and antioxidant enzyme activity.