The Fungal Ecology Research Lab is directed by Dr. Teddy Garcia-Aroca, an assistant professor, quantitative fungal ecologist, and instructor in the Department of Plant Pathology at UNL. Our lab's research intersects the multidisciplinary fields of biological sciences, microbiology, and bioinformatics, with a focus on fungal plant pathogens.
Our research spans multiple dimensions, including the evolution of pathogen populations, host range, ecological niche adaptation, and human-driven factors such as pathogen resistance to agricultural chemicals. We also explore the diversity of pathogens across ecosystems, the variety of secondary metabolites they produce, lifestyle transitions, survival strategies, pathogen-pathogen interactions, and their roles in community ecology.
We are always looking for motivated candidates to join our lab as graduate and undergraduate students, postdocs, and visiting scholars or staff.
To join our lab, please make formal inquiries by visiting the Join Us section and filling out the form (priority will be given to these inquiries).
September 28th, 2026
Kristen delivered her first seminar entitled: "Contrasting fungal lifestyles, metabolites, and subtle phenotypic changes in the plant" in the Fall 2026 seminar series at the Department of Plant Pathology at UNL. Congratulations, Kristen!!!
September 14th, 2026
Kincer delivered his first seminar entitled: "Genomic Biosurveillance of Global Fungicide Resistance" in the Fall 2026 seminar series at the Department of Plant Pathology at UNL. Congratulations, Kincer!!!
September 1st, 2026
Xin Zhi Khoo's manuscript on the host transitions in Rhizoctonia solani was recently published in Wiley Ecology and Evolution. Congratulations, Xin Zhi!!!
August 21th, 2026
Lucas joined the FEL at the end of the summer, 2026. Lucas is doing a BSc in Biochemistry at UNL and has developed an interest in fungi. Welcome, Lucas!!
July 29th, 2026
Emmalee Wong joined the FEL at the end of the summer, 2026. Emmalee is doing a BSc in Biology and working on a project related to fungal colonization of Black Soldier Fly substrate. Welcome, Emmalee!!
July 27th, 2026
Kelvin successfully defended his MS thesis titled: "Diversity, geographical distribution, and pathogenicity of root-associated Fusarium spp. in Nebraska Soybeans." Congratulations, Kelvin!!!
July 13th, 2026
Riley delivered an oral presentation on her work with
Colletotrichum coccodes genomics at the annual Mycological Society
of America meeting in Portland, OR. Congratulations, Riley!!!
July 13th, 2026
Kristen presented a poster on her work with
Clonotachys' secondary metabolism at the annual Mycological
Society of America meeting in Portland, OR. Congratulations, Kristen!!!
July 12th, 2026
Kincer presented a poster on his work related to global fungicide
resistance at the annual Mycological Society of America meeting in
Portland, OR. Congratulations, Kincer!!!
