Department News
Susanna Messinger
- Ph.D. student
Contact information
- University of Michigan
2004A Kraus Natural Science Building
830 North University
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1048 - Phone: (734) 615-4194
- Email: susmess@umich.edu
Advisor
Fields of study
Community evolution and ecology, theoretical biology
Research interests
My current dissertation research seeks to unravel the evolutionary effects of spatial structure on species interactions. It is well known that interactions between species are often mediated by factors outside of the characteristics of the species themselves. An important though often ignored example is the spatial distribution of the individual organisms. I focus on the theory of spatial effects on predator evolution, specifically pathogens (e.g. Hepatitis A) and true predators (e.g. lions). Overall, in addition to improving our understanding of the structure and composition of complex communities, this research has implications for understanding emerging infectious diseases. Thus, the potential applied benefits of this research range from improved conservation and preservation of precious ecological resources to better control of human disease and agricultural pests.
Academic background
M.S. Biology, Utah State University
B.S. Biology, Utah State University
UM affiliation
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Related news
Recent EEB graduate, Dr. Susanna Messinger, accepted a Gaylord Donnelley Postdoctoral Environmental Fellowship through the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies.
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Congratulations to our new Honorary Photographer at Large, Susanna Messinger, who came in first place with "A fleet of dragonflies."
Professor Annette Ostling and graduate student Susanna Messinger worked with a small group of seventh and eighth grade girls for a week this summer as part of a new ecology focus group for a U-M WISE-GISE summer camp.
