Alecia Septer, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
asepter@email.unc.edu

My research interests focus on social interactions of both host-associated and free-living marine bacteria. I employ genetic, molecular, and bioinformatic techniques to characterize the genetic determinants of social interactions and how these genes influence cooperative and competitive behaviors. The goal is to understand how bacterial interactions create selective pressures that shape the evolution, community composition, and ecology of marine microorganisms.

CURRENT LAB MEMBERS

  • Aundre Jackson

    PhD Student

    Aundre is interested in investigating interbacterial warfare in our squid host model, as well as in culture. He hopes to understand how Vibrio fischeri use molecular weapons (Type VI Secretion System) to invade and defend their niche space within their natural squid host.

  • Dani Zarate

    LAB TECHNICIAN

    Dani is currently quantifying interbacterial competition in culture-based assays as well as in our squid host model. They have worked with multiple bacterial species, quickly adapting to account for the physiological and metabolic differences between isolates. Dani has also developed new assays to quantify competition using image analysis to determine the amount of spatial territory that each competing strain occupies.

  • Morgan Pavelsky

    LAB MANAGER & RESEARCH SCIENTIST

    As the dedicated "squid midwife" for the lab, Morgan facilitates studies of the symbiotic relationship between Euprymna spp. and their microbial partners: Vibrio fischeri. Morgan also has a passion for all things Microscopy, and has been working on visualizing the molecular weapons (Type VI Secretion System) in Vibrio fischeri as well as assisting other lab members on various aspects of their research.

  • Klodia Badal

    Klodia Badal

    B.S. Biology

    Human Development, Sustainability,
    and Rights in Africa and the African Diaspora Minor

  • Zoe Schubert

    Environmental Sciences BS

PAST LAB MEMBERS

  • Bhavyaa Tyagi

    Graduate Student (August 2021 - May 2024)

  • Rikki Shook

    Graduate Student (August 2021 - May 2024)

  • Andrea Suria

    UNC CH-IRACDA (SPIRE) Postdoctoral Scholar (September 2019 - July 2023)

    Current Position: Assistant Professor of Microbiology, Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan University

  • Garrett Sharpe

    Graduate Student (August 2016 - July 2023)

    Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher at NC State University

  • Steph Smith

    Graduate Student (August 2013 - May 2023)

    Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher at UNC's Institute of Marine Sciences

  • Sarah Andrew

    Graduate Student ( August 2018 - April 2022)

    Current Position: Lab Manager and Arc Center of Excellence Administrator, Australian National University

  • Lauren Speare

    Graduate Student (August 2016 - May 2021)

    Current Position: Assistant Professor at Georgia Tech

  • Travis Wilson

    Graduate Student (August 2018 - December 2021)

    Current Position: Industrial Hygienist and Occupational Safety Specialist, EPA

  • Tara Williams

    Undergraduate Researcher (January 2016 - May 2016)

    Current position: Graduate student at University of South Alabama

  • Adam Spaulding

    Postdoctoral Researcher (July 2015 - December 2015)

    Current position: Microbiologist, Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

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