Heidi Abresch
PhD Candidate | Miller Lab
Ecology and Evolution | The University of Montana
Currently, I am researching the how diatoms in the family Rhopalodiaceae have evolved with their N-fixing cyanobacterial endosymbionts. My focus is primarily on understanding how the host and endosymbiont are integrated genetically and metabolically.
More broadly, I am interested in “evolutionary grey areas”. In particular, I love thinking about the evolution of tight-knit endosymbiotic relationships, especially protist-prokaryote symbioses. My focus is on understanding the basic biology of these relationships. Learning about these processes and organisms has direct ties to understanding microbial impact on their environments.
I also love all things microcosmos and algae.