PI: LEONORA BITTLESTON

Email: leonorabittleston@boisestate.edu

Leonora is fascinated by the complex interactions that form between very different kinds of organisms. She wants to learn more about life on our planet, taking into account the interconnectedness of ecosystem processes, communities, and species.

Before joining Boise State, Leonora was a James S. McDonnell Postdoctoral Fellow in Complex Systems with Dr. Otto Cordero at MIT. She earned her PhD from the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University with Dr. Naomi Pierce and Dr. Anne Pringle. She grew up in California, and attended U.C. Berkeley for undergrad.

Jess Gronniger - Postdoc

Jess is interested in identifying the mechanisms underlying microbial community assembly, diversity, and coexistence using model bacterial communities.

Jess earned her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Davidson College and her PhD in microbial ecology from Duke University. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her dog Cali, SCUBA diving, and exploring new places. 

Jessica Bernardin - Postdoc

Jessica is interested in plant-associated fungi and other microbes, her goals include studying the microbial communities associated with Sarracenia purpurea and uncovering processes related to ecosystem function.

Jessica earned her PhD from Boise State University, her Master's degree in Biology from Texas State University, and her Bachelor's degree in Botany from Oklahoma State University.  Some of her interests include hiking, camping, botanizing, lichenizing, and playing with clay.

Visit Jessica’s website.

JACOB HEIL - EEB PHD program

Jacob’s interest in community ecology was cultivated on the Great Plains of Kansas. He would like to pursue research on community dynamics and their influence on diversity and function.

Jacob received his M.Sc. from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS.

Elle Horwath - EEB PhD Program

Elle is interested in the relationships between plant chemical composition and microbial communities in the local Sagebrush steppe ecosystem, with the hope of building conservation avenues using plant-microbe interactions. 

Elle received her bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in environmental science from the University of Nevada, Reno. In her spare time, she enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding, and fly-fishing.

Visit Elle’s website.

Adedotun Arogundade - EEB PhD Program

Adedotun is interested in using microbiological, molecular, and bioinformatic tools to answer plant microbial ecology questions.

He received his bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria and his Masters degree in biology from Boise State University. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, checkers, and video games.

Visit Ade’s website.

Fiona Harrigian - EEB PhD Program

Fiona is interested in interactions between microorganisms, and specifically those that determine which microbial species can coexist in a community. She plans to research how microbial predators (protists), parasites (bacteriophages), and a greater variety of competitors (yeasts) may impact bacterial coexistence. She would also like to add these synthetic microbial communities to pitcher plants in a greenhouse to determine whether the mechanisms found to control coexistence in a laboratory setting apply to a more realistic setting.

Fiona received her Master's degree in Biological Sciences from Bowling Green State University and Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from Wellesley College. When she has free time, she enjoys running, skiing, reading, and looking at beautiful microbes under the microscope.

Denisse Larin-Henriquez - Research Associate and Lab Manager

Denisse is fascinated by microbial evolution and the symbiotic relationships between a community of diverse microbial species. By studying microbes within different niches, she hopes to develop a deeper understanding about the ecosystem we live in.  

Denisse received her bachelor’s degree in General Biology with a minor in Marine Science from the University of California San Diego. In her free time, she loves to rockhound for gems and minerals, read philosophy books, and learn new skills.

Dawn Bolen  - M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Partners in Science Affiliate

Dawn is interested in introducing secondary students to scientific research practices and projects in our region. Through rigorous science opportunities, team sustainability and conservation projects, she offers students from all backgrounds a path to join efforts to improve the future of our planet through education and action. 

Dawn earned her Associates in Science from Grand Rapids Community College, her Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and her Master of Education degree in Educational Technology at Boise State University. She is the Sustainability Lead, and an Academic Advisor for Science Olympiad, STEAM Club, and the Green Team in her school.

Visit Dawn’s website.

Chadwick DeFehr - C3 VIP Course, SARE program, Research Tech

Chadwick transferred from the College of Western Idaho to Boise State to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Biology in 2022, a choice informed by experiences with thoughtful mentors and teachers Andrea Schumaker and Dusty Perkins.

In the Bittleston lab he has been able to explore his interest in the tiny, easily overlooked communities that affect their larger, more traditionally charismatic neighbors, and his interest in accessible technology and education. His non-botanical interests include language learning, evidence-based nutrition, and agrarian reform. 

Mitchell Edwards - C3 VIP Course and 2022 SARE Program

Mitchell is interested in anything biology related. He is currently finishing his Bachelors in Biology at Boise State after transferring from the College of Western Idaho with a degree in Exercise Science and Biology. He plans to attend a physical therapy program after getting his bachelor's degree.

Dani Babcock - Bridges to Baccalaureate Program and C3 VIP

Dani has found her passion in working in a laboratory and on a smaller part of a larger project. She started her student education path after spending five years in the Marine Corps. When not peering through a microscope or chasing after her energetic child, she escapes into the immersive worlds of video games, finding both relaxation and a sense of adventure.

She is finishing her bachelor’s degree in biology with a cellular molecular and biomedical emphasis. Her life is a testament to the power of juggling diverse passions, proving that dedication and a love for learning can seamlessly coexist with the joys of family and the thrill of virtual exploration.

Abbagayle Hannebaum - C3 VIP Course

Abbagayle is fascinated in the interaction between the microbial community and other organisms that are impacted by them. She is learning more about fungi and gaining a better understanding between fungi and the local Sagebrush steppe ecosystem. 

Abbagayle earned her Associates in Health Science from College of Southern Idaho and will be receiving her Bachelors in Biology with an emphasis of Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical emphasis in Spring 2025. She hopes to pursue a Masters degree in Biology. In her spare time she loves to bake, read, and garden.

Megan Stovall - C3 VIP course

Megan is especially interested in microbial communities and how their diversity has an impact on other living things. She enjoys working with statistics and finding ways to effectively communicate results of an experiment through many different mediums.

Megan will graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical emphasis as well as a minor in Psychology in the spring of 2026. She plans to attend graduate school in the future. In her free time, she loves to run, rock climb, and go rafting.

Katie Kim - High School Researcher

Katie is interested in the interactions of microbes in sagebrush and hopes to investigate more about connecting their functions to their genome. Through working closely in the lab, she is eager to better understand plant-microbe relationships and their potential in future applications.

Currently, Katie is a student at Timberline High School.

Maddy Skinner

Bridges to Baccalaureate Program, 2022-2024

Siena Fox

SARE and C3 VIP student, 2023-2024

Amaya Aranda

Project SEED High School Student, Summer 2024. Currently an Undergraduate at University of Utah.

Brianna Sali

Undergraduate Researcher, 2024

Holly Morrison

C3 VIP Course and SARE program, 2023-2024

Chih-Yun Chen

Part-time research associate, 2023-2024

Rachel Capezza

B2B Program Undergraduate Student, 2021-2023

Mikael Strix

C3 VIP course, Lab Technician and SARE Undergraduate, 2022-2023

Paula Alvarez

B2B Program Undergraduate Student, Summer 2023

Mauricio Nava

SARE Undergraduate Student, Summer 2023

Michael Robison

Undergraduate Research Technician, C3 VIP and SARE student from 2022-2023

Kaitlyn Opland

C3 VIP student from 2022-2023

Erica HOLDMORE (Prev. Holdridge)

NSF Postdoctoral Scholar, 2021-2022

Currently a Computational Biologist II in the Department of Data Science at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Previously an Assistant Professor at Stonehill College in MA.

Mauston Beauchaine

C3 VIP Course and Lab Tech 2022

Aubrey Osorio

Undergraduate Research Technician and SARE Summer student from 2020-2022. Currently in the Optometry Program at UC Berkeley.

Stacey Pedraza

Undergraduate Research Technician and HERC Fellow from 2020-2022. Currently a PhD student at the University of Rochester.

Miranda Striluk

Visiting SARE researcher and CWI liasion from 2021-2022

Marcus Emmen

SARE Undergraduate Student from CWI in Summer 2021, and lab member until 2022

leslie nichols

Research Technician and Lab Manager, 2020

Franco Nero

SARE Undergraduate Student, Summer 2021