Dr. Wagner received her PhD from the University of Cincinnati in 2017. Her graduate work focused on development of the gastrointestinal system, specifically looking at mTOR signaling in endocrine pancreatic development. She completed her post-doctoral research in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied vertebrate eye development in zebrafish. Dr. Wagner joined the Biological Sciences Department in 2019, where she currently develops and implements the foundations authentic research-based laboratory courses.
BIOSC 0157 Duckweed Survivor
Duckweed Survivor explores the world of eco-evolutionary interactions involving duckweed, a common aquatic bio-remediation plant. Students research the benefits and limitations of polyploidy, using stress to uncover who "wins" in various environmental conditions. Students explore real-world ecological interactions, pitting different duckweed against each other to truly determine which duckweed is the ultimate "survivor."
BIOSC 0157 Flower Microbiome
Flower Microbiome explores the microbial composition of flowers. Students grow genetic variants of Brassica rapa plants to identify factors influencing flower microbiomes and determine genotype/phenotype relationships.