Come Work with us!
We are a new lab and are looking for motivated scholars to work and collaborate with! Please see our Join Us page to learn about opportunities in the lab.
Dr. Mar L. Schmidt
PhD in Ecology & Evolution, University of Michigan
Assistant Professor
Department of Microbiology
Cornell University
E-mail: marschmi@cornell.edu
Links: Google Scholar, ORCiD, Twitter, Github
Teaching: BIOMI6300: Computational Approaches for Microbial Systems, taught in the Spring Semesters
Mar (they/them) grew up on Lake St. Clair, the lake that connects Lake Huron to Lake Erie, where they developed a curiosity of aquatic ecosystems. After attending Hampshire college, where they unexpectedly designed a "major" in environmental microbiology, they fell in love with the world's tiniest organisms: bacteria. Mar's research interests are in microbial community ecology, evolution, genomics, limnology and bioinformatics with a special focus on how climate change is modifying the ecology and evolution of freshwater microbes. Mar identifies as queer, non-binary, neurodivergent, and polyamorous and values authenticity in the lab. In their spare time, Mar often runs far on the "gorges" trails of Ithaca, bakes sweet treats (especially granola and birthday cookies/cakes), and spends time with their dog, Walnut. Fun fact: Mar once swam from Asia to Europe across the Bosphorus above thousands of jellyfish and their mom!
Sophia Aredas
Cornell Microbiology PhD Student
E-mail: sna49@cornell.edu
Links: Twitter
Sophia (she/her) is a second year PhD student in the Cornell Microbiology program. She was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, CA. Sophia received two undergraduate degrees in Public Health Sciences and Public Health Policy from UC Irvine in 2023. Her research interests include community assembly, microbial interactions, and evolution through horizontal gene transfer in freshwater ecosystems. In Sophia's free time she loves to bake new recipes, knit/crochet, and hang out with friends. Fun fact: Sophia has two cats (named Sorrel and Shy).
Sophia Gerrans
Cornell Undergraduate Researcher
E-mail: sg2388@cornell.edu
Sophia (she/her) is originally from Denver, Colorado. She is a cellular and molecular biology and statistics major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). Sophia is working on a project funded by the New York State Water Resources Institute on how various nearshore enviornments in Lake Ontario impact microbial community composition and their ability to methylate mercury. One day, she hopes to get a PhD in quantitative genomics or cellular biology and explore the interface of wet lab and bioinformatics researcher. Sophia skis, hikes and is part of the cornell speech and debate team. Fun fact: Sophia has elbows and six fingers that are double jointed..
Kelly Miller
High School Researcher, New Visions Program
E-mail: klm366@cornell.edu
Kelly (she/her) is a high school senior taking part in our lab as an intern through the Tompkins Seneca Tioga (TST) BOCES New Visions program. Kelly's research interests lie in how aquatic microbial communities impact larger ecosystem dynamics, especially in the context of our planet's changing environments. She is evaluating the impacts of oyster farming on marine sediment microbial communities and their ability to perform denitrification. In her free time, Kelly enjoys spending time with friends and family, running, getting out on the lake, playing guitar, and catching Fall Creek Brass Band performances.
Augustus Pendleton
Cornell Microbiology PhD Student
E-mail: arp277@cornell.edu
Links: Personal Website and Twitter
Gus (he/him) is a second-year graduate student studying microbiology. He was raised in Wisconsin and received his degree in microbiology from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He then received a master’s in geography from the University of Galway. He has worked in diverse research projects including bacterial physiology, seaweed policy, and pathogenic gene regulation. In grad school, Gus plans to expand his skills as a bioinformatician while studying interactions within complex microbial communities. In his free time, Gus enjoys baking pies, Nordic skiing, and doing pretty much anything that’s outside.
Walnut
or "Walli" for short.
Lab Dog
Cornell University
Research Interests: Olfaction, sticks, soil ecology
Hobbies: Dog parks, hikes/walks, naps in the sunshine
Lab Alumni
- Kailyn Hanke, Fall 2024: Current rotation student
- Zahavah "Havi" Rojer, Spring 2024: Current PhD Student in Dr. Tory Hendry's Lab
- Jiawei (Azalea) Yang, Spring 2023: Current PhD Student in Dr. Ilana Brito's Lab
- Brandon Reyes-Chavez, Fall 2022: Current PhD Student in Dr. Lori Huberman's Lab
- Evangeline (Angie) Wang, Spring 2022: Current PhD Student in Dr. Dan Buckley's Lab
- Sophia Richter, 2023 - 2024: Current PhD student at Notre Dame University
- Julia Meyer, 2022 - 2023
- Joseph S. Nocua, McNair Scholar & Senior Thesis Student, Fall 2022 - Spring 2024: Current Consultant at Epic Systems
- Evelyn Martinez, Summer 2023 MFF REU Student from University of Tampa
- Gabriela Acevedo Oquendo, Summer 2022 MFF REU Student from University of Puerto Rico
- Michael Bai, Summer 2022 Cornell Undergraduate Researcher
- Sam Katz, Summer 2022 Cornell Undergraduate Researcher