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Alex C. C. Wilson
Assistant Professor
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253 Cox Science Center, Dept. of Biology
1301 Memorial Drive, Coral Gables, FL 33146
(305) 284-2003
fax (305) 284-3039
laboratory website |
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| Education and professional experience |
- Ph.D. 2001 Biology, Macquarie University, Australia
- Visiting fellow, 1998-2000, The Australian National University, Australia
- Postdoctoral Fellow, 2000-2003, University of California, Davis
- PERT Postdoctoral Fellow, 2003-2006, University of Arizona
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| Grants, Awards and Fellowships |
- The American Genetic Association Special Event Award, Pea Aphid Genome Annotation Workshop I, 2007-2008 ($9,000)
- USDA Tools, Resources and Genomics for Arthropods and Nematodes, Pea Aphid Genome Annotation Workshop I, 2008 ($10,000)
- Paul and Maxine Frohring Foundation ($3,000)
- University of Miami General Research Support Award in the Natural Sciences and Engineering, 2007 ($4,919)
- University of Miami Summer Award in the Sciences and Engineering, 2007, ($9,300)
- USDA Functional Genomics of Agriculturally Important Organisms (2005-200, $900 000; PD: Jander, Co-PDs: Moran, Wilson & Gray, Microarray analysis of agriculturally relevant gene expression in the peach-potato aphid, Myzus persicae
- PERT Postdoctoral Fellowship (Sept 2003 – August 2006), $190,000
- Center for Population Biology, Postdoctoral Travel Award (2003) PI:Wilson, $1000
- Australian Postgraduate Award (tuition and stipend) (March 1997 – May 2000), $88,000
- Vice Chancellor’s Commendation for outstanding doctoral research, 2001
- Milthorpe Memorial Prize for excellence in undergraduate plant biology, 1993
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| Areas of Focus |
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| Research Interests |
| Employing a range of modern molecular techniques and traditional assessments of animal fitness, my research explores how genome evolution is shaped by alternate reproductive modes and by the intimate interactions of symbiotic partners. In my lab we use aphids as a model system to address both these questions. This is because aphids, small sap-sucking insects of the order Hemiptera, are both nutritionally dependent on a 150 million year old symbiosis with the bacterium, Buchnera aphidicola and capable of an extraordinary array of reproductive strategies even within a single species. Elucidation of processes that underlie both the mechanistic nature of aphid symbiosis and assess the evolutionary potential of aphids will increase both our understanding of these fundamental evolutionary processes and contribute to the sustainable management of pest aphid populations globally. |
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| Teaching Interests |
| My teaching is focused in the areas of genetics and the use of genetic tools to address ecological and evolutionary questions. Specifically, I teach BIL250 – Genetics for majors and a graduate level class in Molecular Ecology, which is also open to upper division undergraduates. My primary goal as a teacher is to engage my students to think actively and critically in class about the material being presented so as to push at the boundaries of their understanding and world-view. |
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| Publications (five most recent) |
- Ramsey, J. S., A. C. C. Wilson, M. De Vos, Q. Sun, C. Tamborindeguy, A. Winfield, G. Malloch, D. M. Smith, B. Fenton, S. M. Gray and G. Jander, 2007 Genomic resources for Myzus persicae: EST sequencing, SNP identification, and microarray design. BMC Genomics 8: 423
- Dunbar, H. E., A. C. C. Wilson, N. R. Ferguson, and N. A. Moran, 2007 Aphid thermal tolerance is governed by a point mutation in bacterial symbionts. PLoS Biology 5:e96
- Wilson, A. C. C., and P. Sunnucks, 2006 The genetic outcomes of sex and recombination in long-term functionally parthenogenetic lineages of Australian Sitobion aphids. Genetical Research, Cambridge 87:175-185
- Wilson, A. C. C., H. E. Dunbar, G. K. Davis, W. B. Hunter, D. L. Stern and N. A. Moran, 2006 A dual-genome microarray for the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, and its obligate symbiont, Buchnera aphidicola. BMC Genomics, 7:50
- Wilson, A. C. C., P. Sunnucks, D. G. Bedo and J. S. F. Barker, 2006 Microsatellites reveal male recombination and neo-Y formation in Scaptodrosophila hibisci (Drosophilidae). Genetical Research, Cambridge 87:33-43.
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