During my PhD and postdoc life at UFZ and iDiv, my research has mainly focused on the importance of species interactions, especially predator-prey interactions, and how they are shaped by the nature of perturbations.

Many organisms survive long-term environmental stress and energy limitation by reducing metabolic activity at a dormant state. Microbial dormancy, for instance, by forming resistant spores, stores genetic, phenotypic, and taxonomic diversity, contributing to longevity and long-term stability of individuals and populations.

Abiotic and biotic interactions may constrain the evolution of traits. More specifically, we observe host bacterial species co-evolving with their predator bacteriophage, competitors, and different selection pressures over generations. We especially simulate noisy antibiotic exposure or resource levels to understand the effect of environmental stochasticity on the population dynamics and the trait shifts.

Obligate mutualistic interactions, for instance metabolically dependent pairs, are widespread in nature. Although they play fundamental roles in many ecosystems, they might be fragile to changing environmental conditions. One reason is the costs of beneficial components provided to the pair.

Sometimes it is difficult to tell about your science to scientists. Here is a fun ignite talk on antibiotic resistance that I gave at iDiv Conference to a broad scientific audience.

Past years I participated in Science Fest at IU. It is a public event to encourage tne Bloomington community to come on campus and learn about research. Lennon Lab has hosted a “Bacterial Viruses” table where we explained what a bacteriophage infection is with illustrations, 3D models and lab samples.

I am mentorig high school students for Science Olympiad for Experimental Design section at the Bloomington South High School. Founded in 1984, Science Olympiad is the premier team STEM competition in the nation, providing standards-based challenges to 6000 teams at 425 tournaments in all 50 states.

An ant that I drew for a great colleague and friend Adam.

“Nothing is easier than to admit in words the truth of the universal struggle for life, or more difficult - at least I have found it so - than constantly to bear this conclusion in mind” -On Natural Selection.

You can adopt symbolic species to support WWF’s global efforts to protect wild animals and their habitats. Conservation status of Darwin’s fox is endangered, and the most important conservation concerns are forest fragmentation, threats posed by feral dogs either by spreading diseases or directly attacking.

I drew this for the lab of a collage classmate.

Almost all the world’s oceans are damaged by human impact. Only 13% left untouched.

Two inspiring living beings that I see in Bloomington often. Fern symbolizes good luck and new beginnings in some cultures.

Rejections hurt. Because the pain of heartbreak activates the same part of the brain as physical pain.

Stop for a minute and think how has the world changed since the pandemic.

I drew this as a birthday present for a marine scientist friend. Seahorses mate for life, romance is real in their world, and the male can have babies. Fascinating.

Illustration of Pachnoda marginata larvae and adult for a friend’s thesis project. Adults have a nice yellow-broun color.

Pomegranate was known as the “fruit of the dead” arose from the blood of Adonis in Greek mythology.

My surname means black ram. This was one of the moments that I was worried and anxious and wanted to reflect on myself.

One month after I started my postdoc in Lennon Lab, 17-year cicadas (Brood X) emerged. It was the most fascinating natural event I’ve seen. They were loud, everywhere, and I remember that once I biked 10 of them on me.