Dr. Shayla Salzman
Assistant Professor of Chemical Ecology
2019- 2023 Postdoctoral Fellow, Neurobiology and Plant Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
2019 Ph.D., Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
2012 B.S., Genetics and Plant Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California
Support Staff & Post Doctoral Fellows
Gwen Bode, Research Professional II
Education
2023 – M.S., Biology, Chemical Ecology Focus, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York
2016 – B.S., Biology, Botany Focus & Chemistry Minor, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, Washington
Research Interests and Experience
My master’s thesis explored the potential for plant-pollinator interactions mediated by fine-scale patterns of floral scent in the yucca-yucca moth mutualism. Prior to earning my M.S. I worked in industry, at an analytical testing laboratory. I have a total of 5 years of experience in GC-MS and 3 years in LC-UVD, as well as a diverse array of laboratory and administrative skills. As the Salzman lab’s in-house phytochemist, I am interested in patterns of plant volatiles across a range of scales from fine- within flowers, cones, or across individuals- to landscape level variation.
Graduate Students
Piper Cole, PhD Student
Education
2023 – B. A., Botany , Chemistry Minor, New College of Florida, Sarasota, Florida
Research Interests and Experience
My research background includes a range of plant families and botanical fields, from the phenology of a common Viola species in Missouri to the physiological response of xeric fern gametophytes to drought. I am interested in the chemical communication of orchids with their pollinators and underground mutualisms. In the Salzman lab I am studying chemical signaling in Magnolia pollination.
Mohammed Quarshie, Master’s Student
Education
2019 – B.S. Agriculture, Entomology Specialization, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Research Interests and Experience
I am really excited about developing and implementing insect pest control strategies that use low-toxicity botanical insecticides. More specifically, monitoring and managing insects in agroecosystems using existing tools, developing innovative IPM strategies such multi-modal signaling (humidity, temperature, plant volatiles, visuals and CO2) in plant insect-interactions as well as developing management plans by understanding insect behavior and ecology, minimizing the risk of insecticide resistance, and developing effective storage-associated insect management strategies.
Teri Ramey, PhD Student
Education
2024 (anticipated) – M.S., Environmental Science, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Virginia
2020 – B.S., Biology, Ecology Focus & Conservation and Sustainability Minor, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia
Research Interests and Experience
My research background includes conservation, sustainability, mitigation and adaptation, and science policy and communication. I prefer a systemic and interdisciplinary approach to ecology and conservation.
I have been fortunate enough to be Instructor of Record for the undergraduate Zoology and Botany courses as well as lab manager for the Sherwin lab while working on my MS at CNU. I am also a 2023 Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) Fellow. During my fellowship I worked with the Virginia Department of Forestry to provide evidence-based recommendations for the Clean Economy Act.
In the Salzman lab I am excited to focus on both cycad and magnolia systems and their insect assemblages.
Jade Stryker, PhD Student
Education
2023 – B. A., Biology , Chemistry Minor, New College of Florida, Sarasota, Florida
Research Interests and Experience