Team – conflict genomics

Katja Kasimatis is an assistant professor in Biology. She received her PhD in Biology from the University of Oregon and was a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto. Katja studies the evolutionary consequences of selection for sexual differentiation. Her research takes integrative approaches to study foundational questions from a new perspective. Outside of work Katja enjoys baking, reading, ballet, and playing with her son. She also loves traveling and has lived in four countries outside her home state of California.
kasimatis@virginia.edu

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dharani Matharage is a postdoctoral fellow in the lab. She received her PhD from Mississippi State University working with Dr. Amy Dapper. Dharani is interested in how mating system evolution and sexual selection drive the evolution of recombination rate. She is also leading our work investigating the ecological relevance of male-induced harm to hermaphrodites.
nar7kh@virginia.edu

Graduate Students

Andy Grieve is a graduate student in the lab. He received his BA in Psychology from the University of Kansas and his MS in Biology from the University of Louisiana Monroe. Andy is interested in the genetic mechanisms underlying sexual conflict resolution. His research integrates genetic engineering, experimental evolution, genomics, and mathematical modeling. When Andy is away from the lab, he enjoys trail running, hiking, and reading.
xyb9pb@virginia.edu

Kuankuan Hu is a graduate student in the lab. She received her BA in Biology from Bryn Mawr College. Kuankuan is interested in the maintenance of intralocus sexual conflict and the evolution of sex-biased gene networks. Her research integrates evolutionary modeling with empirical data. When Kuankuan is away from the lab, she enjoys dancing.
ugw2aa@virginia.edu

Kevun Willis is a graduate student in the lab. He received his BS in Microbiology from the University of California San Diego. Kevun is interested in the impact of the microbiome on reproductive fitness in C. elegans. His research integrates experimental evolution, wild isolate sampling, and theoretical modeling.
xua9dg@virginia.edu

Technician

Wystan Byers is the lab technician. He is leading our work on the evolution of egg-laying variation and the transition to viviparity in C. drosophilae. He also keeps our lab organized and worms happy!
zpp4hm@virginia.edu