Sharmila Pathikonda
Department of Biology,
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
300 E St. Mary’s Blvd, Billeaud Hall,
Lafayette, LA 70503
Phone: 337-482-6527,
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Expected 2008
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, USA, Academic Adviser: Dr. Susan Mopper
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M.Sc., Biochemistry 2000-2002; Bangalore University (BU), Bangalore, India
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B.Sc., Microbiology, Botany, Chemistry 1997-2000; BU, Bangalore, India
RESEARCH INTERESTS
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Population and community ecology
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Mathematical models of population and species dynamics
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Insect-plant interactions
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Eco-physiology and chemical ecology
TEACHING ASSISTANSHIPS and GUEST LECTURES
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TA - Entomology Lab (Biol 321) – Spring ’04, ‘08
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TA - Introductory Biology Labs (Biol 103,104) – Fall ’04, ‘05, Spring ’05, ‘07
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TA - Biomathematics (Math 451(G)) – Spring ‘06
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TA - Honors Biology Lab (Biol 142) – Fall ’06, ‘07
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Lecture - Entomology (Biol 321), Spring ‘04
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Lecture - Introductory Biology (Biol 121), Fall ‘04
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Lecture - Evolutionary Biology Group, Fall ‘03
MENTORING EXPERIENCE
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Undergraduate Student Project: ‘Comparative Anatomy of Native and Invasive Irises under Salt Stress.’ First prize poster, Undergraduate Biology Student Competition. Fall ‘07
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Undergraduate Student Project: ‘Effects of calcium on the salt stressed native and invasive iris.’ Poster, Biology Dept. Graduate Student Symposium. Fall ‘07
PUBLICATIONS
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Pathikonda S, AS Ackleh, KH Hasenstein, and S Mopper. 2008. Invasion, disturbance, and competition: modeling the fate of coastal plant populations. Conservation Biology, in press.
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Pathikonda S, S Mopper, and KH Hasenstein. In Preparation. Impacts of salinity stress on floral volatiles in native and invasive wetland plants. For submission to Journal of Chemical Ecology.
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Pathikonda S, and S Mopper. In Preparation. Influence of natal habitats on plant responses to environmental stress. For submission to Ecology.
PRESENTATIONS
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Pathikonda S, AS Ackleh, and S Mopper: “Invasion, disturbance, and competition: modeling the fate of coastal plant populations.” Oral presentation, Ecological Society of America (ESA), Milwaukee, WI, August ‘08.
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Pathikonda S, AS Ackleh, KH Hasenstein, and S Mopper: “Invasion, disturbance, and competition: modeling the fate of coastal plant populations.” Oral presentation, South Eastern Ecology and Evolution Conference (SEEC), Tallahassee FL, March ‘08.
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Begnaud L, J Castille, B Dejean, G Guidry, R Tesch, C Williams, S Pathikonda, and S Mopper: “Responses of native and invasive wetland plants to salinity.” Poster, SEEC, Tallahassee FL, March ‘08. First prize.
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Pathikonda S, AS Ackleh, KH Hasenstein, and S Mopper: “Modeling population dynamics of native and invasive iris to abiotic and biotic stress.” Oral presentation, Coastal Restoration and Enhancement through Science and Technology (CREST), New Orleans LA, March ‘08.
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Pathikonda S, and S Mopper: “Responses to salinity in the freshwater marsh plant, Iris hexagona: Local adaptation or plasticity?” Oral presentation, Ecological Society of America (ESA), San Jose CA, August ‘07.
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Pathikonda S, AS Ackleh, KH Hasenstein, and S Mopper: “Modeling the effects of abiotic and biotic factors on native iris.” Oral presentation, SEEC, Orlando FL, March ‘07. Second prize.
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Cole L, C Pettit, J Monte, T Nguyen, S Pathikonda, and S Mopper “Effects of natal habitat and salinity on Iris hexagona populations.” Poster, SEEC, Tallahassee FL, March ‘07. Second prize.
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Pathikonda S, AS Ackleh, KH Hasenstein, and S Mopper: “Modeling the effects of abiotic and biotic factors on native iris.” Oral presentation, Biology Dept. Graduate Student Symposium, UL Lafayette (ULL), October ‘06. First prize.
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Pathikonda S, AS Ackleh, KH Hasenstein, and S Mopper: “Can models reveal the life stages that determine population persistence in Iris hexagona?” Oral presentation, Louisiana Association of Professional Biologists, Lafayette LA, Fall ‘06.
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Pathikonda S, AS Ackleh, KH Hasenstein, and S Mopper: “Modeling population dynamics of native and invasive iris under abiotic and biotic stress.” Oral presentation, ESA, Memphis TN, August ‘06.
GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
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SERDP travel award to ESA, Summer 2008, $500
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Student Government Association (SGA) International Student Scholarship, ULL, Spring 2008, $1000.
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SGA Travel Grant, ULL, Spring 2008, $420.
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Louisiana Garden Society Grant, Fall 2007, $500.
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Louisiana Garden Society Grant, Fall 2007, $1000.
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SGA Travel Grant, ULL, Spring 2007, $275.
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SGA American Scholarship, ULL, Spring 2007, $500.
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Louisiana Garden Society Grant, Fall 2006, $1000.
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Sigma Xi Grant in Aid of Research, Fall 2006, $400
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CREST Research Grant, Fall 2006, $2500.
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Graduate Student Organization (GSO) Travel Grants, ULL, Total = $2275 (2004-present).
AWARDS
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SERDP travel award to ESA, Summer 2008
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First place poster, SEEC, Tallahassee FL, Spring 2008
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Second place oral presentation, SEEC, Orlando FL, Spring 2007
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Second place poster, SEEC, Orlando FL, Spring 2007
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First place oral presentation, Graduate Student Symposium, ULL, Fall 2006
SYNERGISTIC ACTIVITIES
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Member and graduate student representative, Graduate Council, ULL, Spring 2008-present
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Member, Deans Advisory Council, ULL, Spring 2008–present
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Member and graduate student representative, Graduate Appeals Committee, ULL, Spring 2008–present
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Vice President, GSO, ULL, 2005-2007
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Biology Department Representative, GSO, ULL, Spring 2005-Fall 2007
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
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Moderator, Contributed Paper Session, ESA, Milwaukee WI, Summer ‘08
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Host, Upward Bound Math Science High School Program, Summer ‘08
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Judge, Regional Science Fair, Spring ‘04, ‘05, ‘07, ‘08
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Judge and examiner, Science Olympiad, Spring ‘07, ‘08
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Volunteer worker, ESA, San Jose CA, Summer ‘07
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Moderator, Contributed Paper Session, ESA, San Jose CA, Summer ‘07
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Member, Welcome Committee for Prospective Graduate Students, Fall ’05, Spring ‘07.
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Volunteer worker, ESA, Memphis TN, Fall ’06.
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Moderator, two Contributed Paper Sessions, ESA, Memphis TN, Fall ‘06.
