Dr. Hannah Reynolds
Assistant Professor
Science Building 213
ReynoldsH@wcsu.edu
203-837-8796
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Reynolds graduated from the University of Kansas in 2004 with a B.S. in Organismal Biology. She performed research in France on a Fulbright Scholarship after graduating, then earned a Ph.D. in Biology from Duke University (2011). She completed postdoctoral studies at the University of Akron and The Ohio State University. Dr. Reynolds joined the faculty at WCSU in 2017.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Reynolds studies fungal ecology and evolution. Only a small handful of the fungi we encounter in the environment can cause disease in healthy animals. How have they evolved and what are the mechanisms that let them flourish in the environment and in their hosts? To address these questions, Dr. Reynolds uses a variety of tools in the field and lab, in collaboration with researchers at The Ohio State University (Dr. Jason Slot & Dr. Chad Rappleye) and the University of Akron (Dr. Hazel Barton). For example, she is currently working with students to use evaluate evolutionary patterns in pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungal genomes. Pathogens of interest include the bat disease White-nose Syndrome and the human pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum. Field projects include collecting urban soils and cave guano to test how soil chemistry and microbial communities relate to disease dynamics.
SURF PRIMARY SETTING
Laboratory and field work.
SKILLS TO BE ACQUIRED DURING FELLOWSHIP
The SURF fellow will learn evolutionary and/or ecological analysis, techniques for culturing fungi. Depending on the project, possible other skills could include writing computer code (scripting) for evolutionary genomics, field collections, PCR and sequencing of fungal genes. The SURF fellow will gain knowledge of multiple fungi relating to human and animal health.
SKILLS REQUIRED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A FELLOWSHIP IN THIS LAB
The SURF fellow should be very happy to work in a quiet setting with few other people, yet also be excellent at oral and written communication. The student should be able to read and understand a scientific paper. The fellow should also enjoy the process of optimizing/troubleshooting challenging techniques, whether on the computer on in the lab.
FELLOWSHIP DATES
Contact faculty member for availability.
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