PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
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DR. ARNAUD MARTIN
Assistant Professor, tenure-track (started in January 2016) 2005: License in Molecular and Cellular Biology -École Normale Supérieure de Lyon / Université Lyon I 2007: Master in Molecular and Cellular Biology – École Normale Supérieure de Lyon; Thesis: Development and diversity of rodent palatal rugae profiles in rodents. Advisors: Dr. Vincent Laudet, Dr. Sophie Pantalacci. 2012: Ph.D. in Biological Sciences – Evolutionary Genetics group – UC Irvine (2012); Thesis: The developmental genetics of color pattern evolution in butterflies. Advisor: Dr. Robert Reed 2012-2014: Post-Doctoral Research with Dr. Robert Reed (Cornell U) and Dr. Thomas Schilling (UC Irvine). 2014-2015: Post-Doctoral Research with Dr. Nipam Patel (UC Berkeley). |
Arnaud is a gene-nerd and evo-devotee often found day-dreaming in the lab about color pattern landscapes and tropical cloud-forests. He is dedicated to using genome editing in non-traditional laboratory animals, establishing butterfly and moths as models in developmental biology and genetics, and integrating our general knowledge of genotype-phenotype relationships in nature via Gephebase.
CURRENT LAB MEMBERS
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Martin Lab's Field Trip (June 2019)
GRADUATE STUDENTS
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Vince is studying the evolution and genetic basis of a sexually ornamental type of butterfly scale found in the family Pieridae. He uses ancestral state reconstruction and phylogenetic comparative methods to estimate the macroevolutionary trends of the scale type and he uses population genetics combined with CRISPR methods to uncover a locus necessary for the development of this scale type in Colias eurytheme. He is probably reading or taking long walks across chromosomes.
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Amruta is interested in the molecular basis of diversity in the animal kingdom. Currently studying the landscape of Wnt signaling in the developing wing and the role of Hox genes in wing patterning, Amruta eventually wants to investigate the role of the same developmental pathways in other animal lineages. Other than excessive pipetting, Amruta enjoys reading and hiking.
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Anna is broadly interested in how structure can influence material properties. Currently, she is working on how scale cells can use colorless chitin to appear as a spectrum of different colors, from iridescent blues and ultraviolets to metallic gold and silver. When she is not turning everything in Illustrator/Photoshop into a mask, she enjoys painting, baking, and walks in the city.
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Ling Loh is mainly interested in the developmental genetics and molecular mechanisms underlying pattern formation. Using butterflies and moths as study models, she is investigating the developmental basis of wing patterns by expression and functional analyses. Other than spending time in the concrete jungle, she enjoys hikes in green spaces under the sun and loves cats.
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STAFF
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Joe is interested in the evolution, development and genetics of butterfly wing patterns. During his PhD he studied the wing patterns of Heliconius butterflies with population genetics and transcriptomics. Now, he is working on the mechanism of Wnt signalling in the developing wing, as well as the genetics of pattern differences between a sympatric species pair of Colias butterflies. He enjoys watching movies and long walks in the park.
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Christa is interested in the added economic and scientific values of manipulating prolific organisms for human endeavors, from cell-based biosensors and bioreactors, to insect models. Currently, she is on a mission to establish the Indian mealmoth, Plodia interpunctella, a grain pest, as an animal model for lepidopteran CRISPR works. She is obsessed with fountain pens, inks, and all things stationery.
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UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
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OLAF CORNING Bachelor Student Olaf is fascinated by how cells organize to form complex structure and how DNA acts as a dynamic driver of state. He is interested in using disparate lines of thinking to understand and engineer biological machines. As an undergrad, he is using CRISPR mutagenesis and machine learning to discover and describe key developmental cis-regulatory modules. He has outside interests, but he’s out of spa-- |
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NATALIE D'SOUZA Bachelor Student Natalie is interested in learning more about the relationships between genotype and phenotype. In the lab, she images mutated butterflies to compare the differences in wing pattern and structure to the wild type. She is currently investigating the role that Frizzled genes play in vein structure on wings. In her free time, she enjoys checking out DC’s food scene and new exhibits. |
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EMILY EARLS Bachelor Student Emily is interested in the relationships between manipulated genotypic changes and the expressions of phenotypes resulting from these changes. In the lab, she is involved in the investigation of the ligands and receptors that work together within the WNT-signalling pathway. In her free time, she enjoys watching documentaries, running, and cooking. |
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CAROLINE FRANCESCUTTI Bachelor Student Caroline is interested in how evolution can be discerned from genetic differences in related species. At the moment she is working on the mechanism and phylogeny of UV iridescence in Delias butterflies. When she is not at the GW Science and Engineering Hall, you can find her at a Smithsonian, Compass Coffee, or the farmer’s market. |
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DEREK LONG Bachelor Student Derek is investigating the interactions between genes and proteins that shapes life at a molecular level. As an undergraduate researcher, he is investigating the natural range of butterfly wing patterns and attempting to see how they change as a result of minor tweaks to the genome. If he is not poring over butterfly wings or eggs, you will probably find him playing Dungeons & Dragons. |
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ERICA ROBERTSON Bachelor Student Erica is interested in the variety of colors animals produce and their evolutionary development and function. At the moment she is working on identifying mutated butterflies based on comparisons of wing patterns. When she is not teaching Biology or at the climbing gym, she is probably daydreaming about her next road trip. |
FORMER LAB MEMBERS
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Postdoctoral Researchers
Lab Technicians
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Undergraduate Students (GWU)
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