Jacoby Robinson

While my scientific interests started with understanding host-parasite coevolution, fungi captured my stole me away with their immense diversity, adaptability, and capacity as biochemists. As a graudate student, my work used a combination of phylo/comparative genomics, microbiology, and metabolomics to investigate the fungi associated with fungus-growing ant system (yes, ants that grow fungus for food). Part of this work is now in-press at G3!

Now, as a postdoctoral researcher at Virginia State University, I am working in the Center for Biotechnology, Genomics, & Bioinformatics studying the genetic and genomic basis for the loss of bioluminescence in Panellus stipticus and Armillaria mellea. In the long-term we aim to optimize the biochemical process that produces bioluminescence with the goal of developing novel biotechnologies.

As a treat, I collaborate with the bioDIGS initiative to characterize microbial ‘dark matter’ in soils across the United States to understand how abiotic factors structure functional microbial diversity.