Lillian Dillard is a 3^rd year PhD candidate in Dr. Jason Papin's lab in the Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics department here at UVA. Her research uses a computational systems biology approach to study the functional metabolism of Gardnerella, the primary pathogen in bacterial vaginosis (BV). She hopes to improve treatment efficacy and reduce rates of BV recurrence through a better understanding of Gardnerella's metabolism in the biofilm state.

In her free time, Lillian can be found at the dog park, updating her Goodreads, or eating ice cream.

Erin Kastar is a doctoral student co-mentored by Jessica J. Connelly and Alev Erisir in the Department of Psychology. She studies the epigenetic and neuroanatomical regulation of social behavior in the prairie vole. Specifically, Erin is interested in how the complex hormonal and environmental interactions that occur during the peripartum period alter neuronal circuitries in the maternal brain. Using epigenetic, immunohistochemical, and behavioral techniques she employs an interdisciplinary approach to understanding complex phenotypes such as variations in maternal behavior.

When she’s not in the lab, Erin enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time caring for her plants.

Sarah McPeek is a 4th year Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior PhD candidate in Butch Brodie's lab. She studies how multiple species interactions can shape each other via ecological and evolutionary effects on a shared partner species. In particular, she investigates the interplay of toxin synthesis and nectar production in the neurotoxic wildflower, fly poison, to understand how the plant's resource traits affect interactions with pollinators and herbivores.

Sarah is also an impassioned science communicator who shares hers and others' science broadly through teaching, writing, and podcasting.

Clare Rodenberg is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Environmental Sciences Department. Her research focuses on investigating how climate influences the invasive spread of the gypsy moth, a nonnative forest insect pest in North America. She is particularly interested in understanding how different climatic regimes relate to different rates of gypsy moth range expansion. During her Ph.D. she will study the ecological and evolutionary consequences of unsuitable climatic conditions on gypsy moth development and their population dynamics.

Kelsey Huelsman is a third-year doctoral student in the Department of Environmental Science at the University of Virginia. Her current research at Blandy Experimental Farm in northwestern Virginia is focused on remote sensing of plants and their characteristics, with applications to aid both land managers and ecologists. Her research utilizes a novel approach of collecting hyperspectral imagery using a drone. Prior to beginning her Ph.D., she earned an M.S., studying ecosystem functions in plants and soils. In her spare time Kelsey enjoys gardening, cooking plant-based meals, and playing tennis.

Andrew is a 4th year PhD candidate in the Department of Psychology studying cognitive neuroscience. He is also an alum of UVA’s School of Data Science. Andrew is interested in a wide variety of domains within psychology and neuroscience including learning, memory, and healthy development throughout the lifespan. He believes interdisciplinary approaches from genetics, neuroscience, psychology, and data science can help better characterize and understand the complexities of these and other phenotypic systems. Andrew’s quantitative research interests include efficient dimension reduction, reinforcement learning, and network modeling. In his spare time, he is an avid drummer and an aspiring keyboardist!