People — Simler-Williamson Lab

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Kay Dodson, MS in Biology Student

I recently finished my undergraduate degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado Boulder (sko buffs!). I have joined the Simler-Williamson Lab at Boise State as a NSF Graduate Research Program Fellow to continue my work on invasive plant species. Since beginning science research, I have done a number of things trying to better understand how plants work and why they do the things they do. The plants that fascinate me most are invasive plants because of their ability to encroach on a new ecosystem and often completely change the initial state of that ecosystem. At BSU, I will be working to understand the legacies left behind by invasive species. How does skeletonweed modify the soil microbiome when it invades? How does cheatgrass alter nitrogen availability and carbon stocks? How can we counteract these legacies when we go to restore the invaded ecosystem? On a broader scale, I’m interested in conservation and restoration of ecosystems, soil dynamics, and invasive plant management. Outside of science things, I enjoy camping, rock climbing, creative writing, and traveling!

Contact: kayleighdodson@u.boisestate.edu

Tshianeo Ndou, PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Student

Naomi Oberg, PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Student

My passion for science and ecology began in Appalachia where I grew up hiking in deciduous forests and learning about the edible plants around me. After moving to Salt Lake City and completing my degree in Biology at Westminster University I was able to work with multiple public lands agencies studying whitebark pine health, gunnison sage grouse habitat, and perennial springs monitoring where I gained an appreciation for community ecology. I am excited by interdisciplinary science that combines microbial analysis, field science, and statistical methods to unveil answers to complex questions. During my time with the Simler-Williamson lab I will be studying how interactions between microbial and plant organisms are shaped by abiotic influences as well as the implication of local adaptation on restoration efforts in big sagebrush ecosystems.

In my free time I enjoy bikepacking, trail running, throwing ceramics, and working on my plant identification skills!

Jennah Brown, PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Student

As a member of the Simler-Williamson lab, I will explore questions related to population ecology that investigate species interactions, and their influence on local adaptation — specifically, the biotic interactions between soil microbe communities and big sagebrush with the goal of understanding restoration outcomes. I’ve been fortunate enough to immerse myself in diverse systems such as Tongass National Forest and Redwood National Park where I was able to observe both large and small scale land management projects. Through these experiences, I observed land managers, Indigenous peoples, and researchers, coming together to serve our natural spaces. Ultimately, these experiences have shaped my perspective on what integrative research can accomplish. It has also left me feeling inspired to explore conservation-based questions that focus on rangeland and forest ecosystems and their relationship to disturbance ecology.

I received my bachelor’s degree in Forestry with a focus on Wildland Soils from Cal Poly Humboldt. I love to make time for trail running, yoga, reading, and exploring!

Leland Bennion, Postdoctoral Researcher

Allison Simler-Williamson, Principal Investigator

I am a plant disease ecologist who is passionate about ‘scaling up’ the impacts of plant-microbe interactions to understand their role in shaping populations, communities, and ecosystems. More than anything, I love working with students on experimental designs and statistical analysis. Before joining the faculty at Boise State, I was an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Biology, examining genotype-by-environment interactions associated with pathogens and symbionts in big sagebrush. I completed my Ph.D. in the Graduate Group in Ecology at the University of California, Davis, as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow, conducting research on emerging infectious diseases in the redwood and evergreen forests of Big Sur, CA. I received my Bachelor’s degrees in Visual Art and Biology from Duke University in Durham, NC, and I spent several wonderful years backpacking across the Blue Ridge Mountains. I am always looking for new opportunities to integrate art into my scientific research, communication, and teaching.

I spend as much of my free time as possible drawing, painting, and hiking with my toddler, husband, and Alaskan Malamute.

Contact: allisonsimlerwil@boisestate.edu

Allison Simler-Williamson’s CV

Allison Simler-Williamson’s Google Scholar page

Mikael Strix, Undergraduate Researcher, INBRE Fellow

I’m a (non-traditional) undergraduate student at Boise State University majoring in Biology. I love conducting research and I make a point to integrate as much lab work as possible into my time as an undergraduate. Currently, microbiology and mycology are the fields that I’m most enthusiastic about, but the list of topics that intrigue and inspire me grows longer by the day. Bryology, microbial ecology, genetics, genomics, and entomology are high up on my list as well. Narrowing down my focus to one subject for graduate school is definitely going to be a challenge for me.
When not in class or working in the lab, I’m probably spending time with my wonderful spouse and our three awesome kids. You’re most likely to find us in our garden, tending beehives, cuddling our cats, or working on one of our numerous “in-progress” craft projects.

Contact: mikaelstrix@u.boisestate.edu

Siena Fox, Undergraduate Researcher

Hayden Levy, Undergraduate Researcher

Rey Addams, Undergraduate Researcher

I am a Biology undergraduate student with diverse research experience in restoration, plant ecology,a nd plant-soil interactions in Great Basin ecosystems. I am particularly interested in restoration following disturbance and plant disease ecology.

Lab Members