Erin Michel

Erin joined the Tilmon and Michel labs in 2023, where she provides expertise in molecular biology and genetics of insect pests as well as manages the Michel Laboratory. Previously, she studied the genetics of abdominal pigmentation adaptation in Neotropical Drosophila at the University of Notre Dame. She received her MS and BS from the University of Guelph (Canada) studying the phylogeography of Daphnia and the molecular evolution of its transposable element, Pokey. After her degrees, she worked with Dr. Paul Hebert to pioneer techniques for molecular species barcoding in arthropods at the Canadian Center for DNA barcoding. 

Publications:

1. Hebert PDN, Penton EH, Burns JM, Janzen DH, Hallwachs W (2004) Ten species in one: DNA barcoding reveals cryptic species in the neotropical skipper butterfly Astraptes fulgerator. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 101: 14812-14817
2. Penton EH, Hebert PDN, Crease TJ (2004) Mitochondrial DNA variation in North American populations of Daphnia obtusa: continentalism or cryptic endemism? Molecular Ecology 13: 97-107
3. Penton EH, Crease TJ (2004) Evolution of the transposable element Pokey in the ribosomal DNA of species in the subgenus Daphnia (Crustacea: Cladocera). Molecular Biology and Evolution. 21:1727-39
4. Penton EH, Sullender BW, Crease TJ (2002) Pokey, a new DNA transposon in Daphnia (Cladocera: Crustacea). Journal of Molecular Evolution 55: 664-673
5. Penton EH (2002) The classification and evolution of Pokey, a DNA transposon in Daphnia. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Zoology, University of Guelph