MICHAEL CONNELLY
My Ph.D. research is focused on understanding interactions between corals and their associated bacteria communities, with an emphasis on identifying immune genes involved in coral-bacteria interactions.
Research focus: My Ph.D. research is focused on understanding interactions between corals and their associated bacteria communities, with an emphasis on identifying immune genes involved in coral-bacteria interactions. I use corals in the genus Pocillopora as a model system to examine the effects of antibiotics treatments on coral physiology, gene expression, and bacteria community composition. By researching how antibiotics treatments disturb coral bacteria communities and affect immune gene expression, we can better understand how the coral immune system and symbiotic bacteria contribute to coral holobiont stability.
Hobbies: Visiting public aquariums, running, cycling, hiking and bird watching
Favorite animal (besides coral): Leopard Shark / Swallow-tailed Kite
Twitter: @MikeT_Connelly