April 27, 2026

Grant: $1000 in Fall 2020

Education level at the time of the grant: PhD student

Project Description: 

The evolution and spread of antibiotic drug resistance is sparking alternative research programs that focus on using natural viruses of bacteria (phages) as an alternative to traditional antibiotic drugs. Early clinical trials have been promising, but we know little about the long-term dynamics of bacteria–phage coevolution. My project demonstrated that bacterial resistance to phage infection can be either long-lived or short-lived depending on the type of mutation underlying resistance; in other words, some mutations are more reversible than others. I hope my work will be useful both in the development of evolutionarily informed strategies for managing bacterial pathogens, as well as in our fundamental understanding of how chance events can have lasting consequences in evolution.

How did the grant process or the project itself influence you as a scientist/researcher?

This funding from Sigma Xi enabled me to extend my existing project into the realm of bacterial population genomics, allowing me to gain valuable bioinformatics skills. This was a new area for me, and it was challenging but rewarding. After I finished my doctorate, I continued along this path to a postdoc in bacterial genomics, and I now run a research group in which I use these skill sets every day.

What advice would you give to future applicants?

I think nearly every grant I’ve applied for has felt worth my time whether I was ultimately funded or not. Sitting down to write a proposal forces you to clarify your ideas, methods, timeline, and budget. Don’t feel discouraged if your application doesn’t get funded, because you probably got something out of the writing process. And don’t assume that your ideas aren’t interesting or important; you might have just had trouble communicating them.

Where are you now? 

I am a group leader in the department of primate behavior and evolution at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany. My research group studies the ecology and evolution of wild animals, especially their relationships with their microbiomes. The Max Planck Institute is an incredible place to work, and I’m thankful for opportunities like this funding from Sigma Xi that helped me reach this point.

Students may apply for Sigma Xi research grants by March 15 and October 1 annually at www.sigmaxi.org/giar.