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Emily L. Lilly

Assistant Professor, Biology


Brief Biography

I am an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department.  My current research involves comparative genomics of cyanobacteria and biogeography and speciation in Alexandrium, the causative agent of our local red tides.  We also have a new project in the lab investigating the phylogenetics of the northern coral, Astrangia, and its dinoflagellate symbionts.

In the fall semesters, I teach General Microbiology and its lab sections.  Each spring, I offer either Marine Microbiology or Microbial Symbiosis, seminar style courses with lab and field components for upper level undergraduates and graduate students, and the Ocean Environment, a non-major course.  I have also taught Biology of Organisms, our year-long course for first-year Biology majors. 
  
I came to UMass Dartmouth from Harvard University, where I was a postdoctoral research and teaching fellow in the department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology from 2003-2005.  I earned a B.A. in Biology/geology from Smith College and a Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program.



Graduate Students

Marco Pedulli
M.S. University of Newcastle
B.S.  University of Asmara

My research interests focus on understanding the intricate relationship between scleractinian corals and their microscopic symbionts.  My studies of northern stony coral Astrangia, which is used as a model organism, and its symbiotic zooxanthellae (photosynthetic dinoflagellates) examine this relationship in space and time in New England waters. Molecular analysis of host and symbiont markers emphasize co-evolutionary adaptations to different environmental changes.


Amanda Glazier
B.S. University of Maryland

I am pursuing a master's in marine biology, with the hope of a career in research in the future.  My research interests include (but are not limited to) population and community relationships and dynamics.  My current project involves populations genetics of Alexandrium.





Undergraduate Students
 
Meaghan O'Halloran
Senior, Biology
Project: Cyanobium PCC7001 genome







Sarah Toltin
Senior, Biology
Project: New phylogenetic markers in Alexandrium





Anubhab Pudasaini
Senior, Biology
Project: RubisCO in Archaea




Emilee Towle
Senior, Biology
Project: RubisCO in freshwater Cyanobium








Student Research Assistants

Caitlin Sorbello
First year, Biology








Fardin Ghanimat
Sophmore, Biology








Nathan Waldron
Sophmore, Med Lab Science








Tracy Pearson
First year, Biology







Alumni

Kara Malony

Laura Akins

Rich Elkins

Claudia Martin

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