January 2023 Spotlight

Yamikani Ng’ona: First Year Masters Student in Wooster

About: My name is Yamikani Ng’ona, I am from Malawi. I am in Dr. Andrew Michel’s Lab as a first-year master’s student.

Research: This Spring I will be conducting experiments to understand the resistance of European Corn borer on Bt corn.

Get to know!

1. What is your biggest inspiration?

   Nature and travelling inspires me. I love to travel. It challenges me and creates new experiences that I learn from.

2. What’s the most interesting place you’ve been?

   The Makuzi Big Five Village in Zambia

3. If money was no object, what would you do for the day?

   Travel

4. What was the first concert you ever went to?

   Hillsong United

Lucy Guarnieri: Second Year PhD Student in Columbus

About: I'm in the Entomology PhD program advised by Dr. Mary Gardiner. I’m from Belgrade, Maine. Belgrade is a rural town with about 3,000 residents that’s known for its beautiful lakes.

Research: I study how landscape and land management affect the quality of a habitat for insects. I’m currently working with Columbus Metro Parks and Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed to investigate how landscape context influences the diversity of moth communities in Franklin County.

Get to know!

1. Favorite quote from book/TV/movie?
   This is such a fun question! I couldn’t choose just one:
   “Perfection and Power are overrated. I think you were very wise to choose happiness and love.” -Uncle Iroh, Avatar the Last Airbender
   “She is tolerable, I suppose. But not handsome enough to tempt me.” -Mr. Darcy, Pride and Prejudice
   “When you marooned me on that godforsaken spit of land, you forgot one very important thing, mate. I’m Captain Jack Sparrow.” -Jack Sparrow, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

2. Would you rather visit your ancestors in the past or meet your descendants in the future?
   I would travel to the future.

3. Which superpower would you want to have?
   My superpower would be the ability to control plants. I would travel around the world and restore life to degraded environments.

4. What is the meaning or inspiration behind your name?
   My full name is Lucia Diana Guarnieri, and I go by Lucy. My parents named me after Lucy Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia and Princess Diana.

Luis Martinez: Postdoctoral Scholar in Columbus

About: My name is Luis Martinez, and I am from Guatemala. Research, and a couple of life twists, have allowed me to call Brazil, Sweden, and now Columbus OH home. I work at Dr. Sarah Short's laboratory.

Research: Along with her and my lab mates we study the role microbes play in several aspects of mosquito (and other vectors) biology ranging from nutrition to longevity. I rely particularly on computational tools to study the potential functions of microbial communities within, or outside, their vector host. Though I enjoy analyzing data, I have been fortunate to do field work as well during these past 2 years (that helps to know the city better). 

Get to know!

1. What accomplishment are you most proud of? Doesn't have to be work related!
   I am a very proud uncle. I have enjoyed seeing my nieces and nephews growing up knowing that I have influenced / inspired them in some ways.  I also worked as a forensic geneticist back in Guatemala. It was very meaningful as it was related to the civil war and bringing closure to people searching for their missing. I am still very proud of the first solved case.

2. Is there anything people often misunderstand about you at first?
   I'd say it is related to being a very chatty introvert.

3. What did you want to be when you grew up? 
   Indiana Jones! or a scientist exploring the Amazon jungle. I was convinced I would either dig up ancient artifacts, or study ants and mosquitos (both abundant in the neighborhood).