Weaver Lab · Iowa State University
The researchers behind the work.
Principal investigator
Assistant Professor
Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
Ryan studies how mitochondrial physiology connects with ecology and evolution. His work spans alternative respiratory pathways, the coevolution of mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, and the physiological basis of animal color signals.
PhD student · Microbiology
Puja studies alternative oxidase in Fusarium oxysporum, a fungal pathogen of tomatoes. Her project examines how AOX contributes to low-oxygen adaptation, mitochondrial respiration, oxidative stress regulation, and host infection.
Fungal pathogen researchPhD student
Genetics and Genomics
Israt studies alternative oxidase pathways in fungi associated with amphibians and reptiles. Her work asks how AOX affects fungal metabolism, stress responses, and interactions with hosts.
Fungal pathogen researchStudents develop projects in mitochondrial physiology and evolutionary biology, using experimental and comparative approaches. Training includes project design, reproducible analysis, scientific writing, and collaboration.
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