Mitchell J. Feldmann
Undergraduate Researcher
University of Arizona
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
BioSciences West Room 310
1041 East Lowell Street
Tucson, Arizona 85721
Office: BioSciences West 333
Email: mfeldmann[at]email[dot]arizona[dot]edu
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
BioSciences West Room 310
1041 East Lowell Street
Tucson, Arizona 85721
Office: BioSciences West 333
Email: mfeldmann[at]email[dot]arizona[dot]edu
Research
I have been working in Dr. Whiteman's lab with Andy Gloss since June of 2014. My interested are in quantitative genetics, particularly Plant Breeding, and this research allows me to study the genomic evolution of an insect herbivore as it adapts to different hosts and environmental conditions. The interactions between these species could be one of the driving forces behind adaptive genetic variation as different insect morphs should allow for variable fitness, just as different host plant physiology should affect the fitness capabilities of the insect herbivores, and their larvae. The fitness capabilities are most likely related to genetically determined phenotypes and can thus be analyzed, and we can see them change through generations.
I started in the Whiteman lab working on a genome wide association study with Dr. Groen and Andy Gloss. This project taught me many interesting techniques which, I have no doubt, will prove useful as I move forward in my career. I have also been helping manage and maintain a new experimental evolution project with Andy Gloss which has given me insights on proper experimental design for answering specific questions. Much of my work in the Whiteman lab has been to maintain multiple fly colonies in different environmental conditions as we design and prepare to perform new assays to assess how the insect's genomes are evolving, as well as growing and maintaining the plants on which they feed and breed.
I started in the Whiteman lab working on a genome wide association study with Dr. Groen and Andy Gloss. This project taught me many interesting techniques which, I have no doubt, will prove useful as I move forward in my career. I have also been helping manage and maintain a new experimental evolution project with Andy Gloss which has given me insights on proper experimental design for answering specific questions. Much of my work in the Whiteman lab has been to maintain multiple fly colonies in different environmental conditions as we design and prepare to perform new assays to assess how the insect's genomes are evolving, as well as growing and maintaining the plants on which they feed and breed.
Background
I am a University of Arizona graduate from Newbury Park, CA in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology with a Minor in Mathematics. In the Fall of 2015 I will be moving to Davis, CA to attend UC Davis where I have been accepted into a PhD program in the graduate field of Horticulture and Agronomy.
I spent 3 years at California State University, Northridge studying percussion performance and music composition until it became apparent that I was turning an avenue of stress release into a method of stress collection. Returning to school and studying science has returned to me my favorite activity.
I have spent the last two and a half years in the lab of Dr. Ken Feldmann under Dr. Frans Tax studying Arabidopsis thaliana looking for novel phenotypes to confirm mutant knock out variants against the Columbia Wild Type in germination assays with different environmental and nutrient stress.
Personal hobbies include performing and composing music, reading fantasy/science fiction/science nonfiction novels, hiking, biking.
I spent 3 years at California State University, Northridge studying percussion performance and music composition until it became apparent that I was turning an avenue of stress release into a method of stress collection. Returning to school and studying science has returned to me my favorite activity.
I have spent the last two and a half years in the lab of Dr. Ken Feldmann under Dr. Frans Tax studying Arabidopsis thaliana looking for novel phenotypes to confirm mutant knock out variants against the Columbia Wild Type in germination assays with different environmental and nutrient stress.
Personal hobbies include performing and composing music, reading fantasy/science fiction/science nonfiction novels, hiking, biking.
Honors and Awards
Academic Dean's List 2009-2015
UA graduate Magna Cum Laude 2015
UA graduate Magna Cum Laude 2015
