Fungal endophyte communities across environmental gradients, Fungal endophytes of pines and related conifers, Population genetics of fungal endophyte species

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Hello! My name is Jake Sarver and I am a first year master's student in Dr. Ryoko Oono's lab. I got my BS in Botany and Plant Pathology at Purdue University even though I am originally from California's Central Coast. Now I'm closer to home exploring my interest in fungi. In particular I study fungi that grow inside of plant leaves called foliar fungal endophytes (FFE's). These are a hyper diverse and relatively unexplored group of fungi that appear to play important roles in how plants grow. My project is mainly evolutionary and descriptive in nature. I am trying to work out host specificity of a genus of FFE (Lophodermium) that is found primarily in pines (Pinaceae). 

Outside of my work I love to read books, see and critique movies, bake boxed cake mixes, garden with mainly ornamentals, travel, and attend various community gatherings. 

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jake.sarver@lifesci.ucsb.edu