Self-organization is a process in which patterns emerge at a global level as a result of the interactions of local-level components lacking global knowledge. Self-organization is found in a wide variety of circumstances, and is particularly important for social insect decision-making. When two self-organized groups engage in aggressive behavior toward one another, emergent patterns can be referred to as self-organized conflicts. The emergence and resolution of conflicts between colonies of social insects is not clearly understood, especially from the level of the individual.

     The goal of my research is to understand the central components of territoriality as a self-organizing conflict between neighboring colonies. In addition to understanding the behavioral mechanisms behind Tetramorium caespitum battles and how these mechanisms relate to colony level responses, this research will also provide a numerical model describing the dynamics of two self-organizing groups of individuals in conflict. This generalized model of self-organizing conflict will be of interest to a broad range of disciplines, from neurology to military operations research.

Fire Ant biocontrol (The University of Texas at Austin )

  Solenopsis invicta is in an invasive species from South America . In South America there are at least 18 species of Phorid flies in the genus Pseudacteon that are known to parasitize fire ants. Research in Dr. L. Gilbert's lab concentrated primarily on one species P. tricuspis, which is species-specific for S. invicta. Field work and lab experiments investigated the life histories and complex interactions of Phorids, S. invicta and the native ant community. The first experimentally released Phorids have now successfully established in Florida and Central Texas.

  In 1999 I performed a survey of the ant fauna in 13 Texas counties in collaboration with the Texas Department of Agriculture. Specimens collected from surveys and fieldwork were identified. I made field guide to the common ants of Texas. In collaboration with Dr. U. Mueller at UT Austin, a web version of the key was constructed for public use. (Texas Ant Key)

Signal transduction involving Neuregulin ( Yale University )

  Current methods in ecology and evolutionary biology increasingly use molecular tools. The opportunity to work on the Neuregulin system has allowed me dedicated learning of valuable molecular techniques, which I will apply to organismal biology.

  Neuregulins (NRGs) are epidermal growth factors that cause cell proliferation and differentiation in mammals and Drosophila . I conducted research for a leading cardiologist, Dr. K. Russell to examine the control of NRG synthesis and secretion in vivo (Russell, Plowes & Bender 2001). Experimental procedures that I have mastered include: protein analysis by immunoassay, tissue culture and analysis by histochemistry and nucleic acid analysis using PCR.