CIHMID SPOTLIGHT: The Hendry Lab

There are diverse areas of study across CIHMID’s member labs, but our PIs are unified in their commitment to science. CIHMID will periodically shine a spotlight on an individual lab to highlight the people behind the work.

These are their stories.

What is the primary focus of the work done in your lab?

We study how bacteria evolve, especially how they evolve to influence other organisms like plants and animals. Bacteria can have big impacts on the hosts they live with, but they can also evolve and change very quickly. Understanding how bacteria evolve when they are interacting with other organisms is important for our health, as well as that of our crops and ecosystems.

Microbiology graduate students: Zahavah “Havi” Rojer (URE alum), Sophia Aredas (REU alum), Daphne Garcia

What is the most surprising thing in your lab?

We have (accidentally) ended up working on multiple things that glow: bacteria that make light for anglerfish in the deep sea, and fluorescent bacteria that live on plants.

What is your favorite science fact?

There are estimated to be more viral particles on Earth than there are stars in the universe.

What is your best advice for budding scientists?

In depth research experience is the best research experience. It’s how you learn the full process of research and if you like it. It doesn’t matter what system you are working on or what you are doing, seek out opportunities that let you generate and test hypotheses.