Team - The Vollmer Lab

Principal Investigator

Dr. Steve Vollmer
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Dr. Steve Vollmer

PhD, Harvard University

Evolutionary biologist specializing in the genomics of non-model, marine organisms. Research focuses on coral disease resistance, immunology, and coral-pathogen interactions at the molecular and organismal level. Uses field and tank experiments combined with genomics to unravel the complex interactions between the coral animal host, its algal symbionts and numerous microbes.

Current Position: Director, School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability & Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University

Links: Google Scholar | GitHub

Current Graduate Students

Emily Trytten
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Emily Trytten

BS, University of California, San Diego

Research focuses on identifying coral pathogens and mutualists using coral-microbial filtration, manipulation and metagenomic techniques. Joined the Vollmer lab as a PhD student in 2022.
@ Northeastern University

Kai Galvan-Dubois
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Kai Galvan-Dubois

BS, Cornell University

Research focuses on characterizing the pathogens associated with Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease. Joined the Vollmer lab as a PhD student in 2023.
@ Northeastern University

Jen Polinski
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Jen Polinski

MS, Florida Atlantic University

Researches the genomics of coral thermal tolerance, speciation and hybridization.
@ Northeastern University AND @ Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute

Recent Alumni

Dr. Jason Selwyn

PhD, Texas A&M Corpus Christi

Former NSF Postdoctoral Researcher. Computational biologist and statistician whose research focused on the genomic signatures of coral disease resistance and statistical analyses of genomic and ecological data.

Links: Google Scholar | GitHub

Dr. Brecia Despard (2020 – 2025)

PhD, Northeastern University

Thesis: "Characterization of small RNAs, miRNA targets, miRNA-mediated gene silencing pathways and their interaction with White Band Disease resistance in Staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis"

Links: Google Scholar

Former PhD Students

Dr. David Combosch (2007 - 2014)

PhD, Northeastern University

Thesis: "Evolution in isolation - the genetic basis of the Tropical Eastern Pacific's ecologically dominant reef builder Pocillopora damicornis"
Currently: Associate Professor, University of Guam (2016 - present)

Dr. Silvia Libro (2007 - 2014)

PhD, Northeastern University

Thesis: "Genetic bases of immunity and disease resistance to White Band Disease in the staghorn coral Acropora cervicornis"
Currently: Laboratory Manager, Northeastern University (2019-present)

Dr. Elizabeth Hemond (2008 - 2014)

PhD, Northeastern University

Thesis: "The genetic architecture of Caribbean Acroporid corals"
Currently: Assistant Professor, Behashir University, Istanbul, Turkey (2014 - present)

Dr. Sarah Gignoux-Wolfsohn (2011 - 2016)

PhD, Northeastern University

Thesis: "Towards A Better Understanding of White Band Disease: Transmission, Causes, and Effects"
Currently: Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Lowell (2023 – present)

Dr. Rebecca Certner (2012 - 2017)

PhD, Northeastern University

Thesis: "Microbial Ecology and Genetic Mechanisms of Virulence and Pathogenicity in White Band Disease Infected Staghorn Corals"
Currently: Management and Program Analyst, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (2019 - present)

Dr. Charles Roesel (2013 - 2018)

PhD, Northeastern University

Thesis: "NGS Profiling of Invertebrate Immune Systems"
Currently: Senior Application Scientist, Dotmatics

Dr. Stefan Kaluziak (2011 - 2020)

PhD, Northeastern University

Thesis: "A Genomics Perspective on the Evolution of Caribbean Acroporid Corals"
Currently: Research Scientist, Massachusetts General Hospital (2020 – present)

Former Master's Students

MS in Marine Biology

Gaylord Noblitt (2008-2009) • Carmel Norman (2008-2009) • Allison Kerwin (2009-2010) • Christopher Marks (2009-2010) • Steve Doo (2009-2010) • Courtney Rudd (2009-2010) • Jennifer Davidson (2012-2014) • Steven Heck (2012-2014) • Michelle Chen (2017-2018) • Colleen Shortal (2022-2023) • Allison Shupp (2024-2025)

MS in Bioinformatics

Melisa Brown (2015-2016) • Josh Bohannan (2015-2016) • Verena Chung (2015-2016) • Umesh Kathad (2015-2016) • Patrick Choi (2015-2017) • Dillon Hawley (2015-2017) • Himanshu Chintalapudi (2016-2017) • Paulmar Joseph (2015-2017) • Sia Charan Penikalapati (2016-2017) • Sherry Williford (2015-2017) • Sachin Lohar (2017-2019)

Former Undergraduate Students

Amanda Ciardi (2007-2008) • Bailey Clear (2007-2008) • Christopher Camara (2008-2009) • Cathy Roney (2008-2009) • Kevin Greene (2009-2010, Matz Fellow) • Lisa Wolff (2009-2010) • Steven Munnelly (2010-2011) • Kara Wiggins (2012-2014) • Sam Csik (2013-2015) • Allison Shupp (2021-2022) • Miles Vollmer (2021-2022) • Caileigh Pierce (2022-2023) • Veronica Rajotte (2023, Barrett Fellow) • Anna Eaton (2023, Barrett Fellow) • Sonia Cho (2024, Barrett Fellow) • Zachary Anderson (2024, Barrett Fellow) • Natalie Dudko (2025, Barrett Fellow) • Maithili Ubgade (2025, Barrett Fellow)