MICHELLE E. AFKHAMI
University of Toronto
25 Willcocks St
Toronto, ON
Canada M5S 3B2
University of Toronto
Dept. of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
michelleafkhami.wordpress.com
michelle.afkhami@gmail.com
Phone: 416-946-5986 (lab)
713-417-4102 (mobile)
Positions and Education
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Departmental Research Fellow, Nov 2013 - Present
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Supervisor: John Stinchcombe
Ph.D. – Population Biology, completed 2013.
University of California, Davis, CA (GPA: 4.0/4.0)
Ph.D. Committee: Sharon Strauss (advisor), Kevin Rice, Jennifer Rudgers, and John Stachowicz
M.A. – Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (thesis-based), completed 2007, conferred Jan 2008.
Rice University, Houston, TX. (GPA: 4.0/4.0)
Thesis Committee: Jennifer Rudgers (advisor), Kenneth Whitney, and Julian N. Holland
B.S. – Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, completed 2006.
Rice University, Houston, TX. (GPA: 3.973/4.0, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa)
Honors Thesis advisors: Joan Strassmann and David Queller
Publications and Completed Manuscripts
*undergraduate coauthor
(A) Published, In Press, and Accepted
Afkhami, M.E., P.J. McIntyre, S.Y. Strauss. (Accepted) Mutualist-mediated effects on species’ range
limits across large geographic scales. Ecology Letters.
Afkhami, M.E., J.A. Rudgers, and J.J. Stachowicz. (2014) Multiple Mutualist Effects: Conflict and synergy
in multispecies mutualisms. Ecology. 95: 833-844.
Gorischek, A.M.*, M.E. Afkhami, E.K. Seifert, and J.A. Rudgers. (2013) Fungal symbionts as
manipulators of reproductive biology. The American Naturalist. 181: 562-570.
**Science News article on this paper: Pennisi, E. (March 2013) available at
http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2013/03/fungus-get-off-my-lawn.html
Afkhami, M. E. (2012) Fungal endophyte-grass symbioses are rare in the California floristic province and
other regions with Mediterranean-influenced climates. Fungal Ecology special issue. 5: 345-352.
Afkhami, M. E. and J. A Rudgers. (2009) Endophyte-mediated resistance to herbivores depends on
herbivore identity in the wild grass, Festuca subverticillata. Environ. Entomology. 38: 1086-1095.
(~20 citations)
Rudgers, J.A., M. E. Afkhami, M. A. Rúa, A. J. Davitt, S. Hammer, and V. M. Huguet. (2009) A fungus
among us: broad patterns of endophyte distribution in the grasses. Ecology. 90(6): 1531-1539.
(>40 citations)
Afkhami, M. E. and J. A. Rudgers. (2008) Symbiosis Lost: Imperfect vertical transmission of fungal
endophytes in grasses. The American Naturalist. 172(3): 405-416. (~60 citations)
Afkhami, M. E. and J. E. Strassmann. (2007) Adult Yellow-crowned Night-herons face in opposite
directions at the nest. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology. 119(4):747–749.
(B) In Revision, Review, and Completed
Charlton, N.D., K.D. Craven, M.E. Afkhami, G.A. Swoboda, B.A. Hall, S.R. Ghimire, and C.A. Young. (In
revision) Genetic diversity in epichloid endophytes of Bromus laevipes provides evidence for
independent hybridization events. FEMS Microbiology Ecology
Afkhami, M.E., M. Mateo*, and S.Y. Strauss. (Completed manuscript) Native fungal endophytes act as
keystone species affecting plant and arthropod community diversity. Ecology Letters.
Manuscripts In Prep
*undergraduate coauthor
Afkhami, M.E., D.L. Mahler, J.H. Burns, M.F., Wojciechowski, and S.Y. Strauss. (In prep) Nodulation with
N-fixing bacteria increases diversification of legumes.
Afkhami, M.E. and S.Y. Strauss. (In prep) Range-wide experimental test of mutualist-mediated effects on
the niche in a grass-fungal endophyte symbiosis.
M.L. Friesen, E.I. Jones, Afkhami, M.E., E. Akcay, J.L. Bronstein, R. Bshary, M.E. Frederickson, K.D.
Heath, J. Hoeksema, J. Ness, S. Pankey, S.S. Porter, J.L. Sachs, K. Scharnagl, J. Stachowicz.
(In prep) Cheaters must prosper: a critical analysis of the concept of cheating in mutualism.
Quarterly Review of Biology.
Honors, Awards, and Fellowships
Total Raised ≈ $885,000
2014 – National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, Plant Genome Init. ($207,000)
NSERC Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship ($140,000)
2013 – National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, Plant Genome Init. ($207,000, Declined)
Ecology and Evol. Biology Departmental Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Toronto ($80,000)
2012 -- Mrs. George F. Jewett, Jr. Scholar, Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Award ($10,000)
Dean’s Mentorship Award, College of Biological Sciences ($5,000)
Hardman Foundation Research Award ($2,100)
Max Planck Institute Integral Projection Modeling Course Accommodations Scholarship
American Association of University Women Dissertation Fellowship Alternate
2011 -- ARCS Scholar, Achievement Rewards for College Scientists Award ($10,000)
Hardman Foundation Research Award ($2,500)
Center for Population Biology Travel Grant ($500)
2010 -- National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant ($14,991)
Center for Population Biology Research Grant ($2,100)
Center for Population Biology Travel Grant ($800)
2009 -- Mildred E. Mathias Graduate Student Research Grant ($1,729)
Center for Population Biology Research Grant ($1,500)
2008 -- Center for Population Biology Research Grant ($1,700)
Golden Key International Honour Society
2007 -- National Science Foundation Graduate Student Fellowship ($121,500)
UC Davis Graduate Student Match Fellowship ($40,500)
Bodega Marine Laboratory Travel Grant Award ($975)
2006 -- Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Endowed Fellowship ($35,033)
The Julian Huxley Best Thesis Award, Dept. of Ecology and Evol. Biology, Rice University ($100)
Teaching and Mentoring Experience
(A) Undergraduate Teaching Assistant
2011-2
Introduction to Biology: Principles of Ecology and Evolution
2007
Insect Biology: (1) Lecture, (2) Lab, and (3) Field Courses
2004-5
Organic Chemistry (Readership)
UC Davis
Rice University
Rice University
(B) Other Teaching
Kids into Discovering Science (KiDS) Field Trip (2011, 2012, 2013) Co-designed/ran ecology
modules for annual field trip to McLaughlin research reserve for 5th graders from a low income, rural
school. 2011 module: Disturbance and Diversity; 2012 module: Predator-Prey Interactions in
Serpentine vs. Non-Serpentine Communities. 2013: Trained other grad students on module.
(C) Mentoring
Dean’s Mentorship Award for outstanding mentor of UC Davis College of Bio Sciences undergrads
Total Mentored = 34 Undergraduate and 2 High School Students
(Included 18 women, 6 under-represented minority students, and 3 students with disabilities)
*indicates student went on to hold a research job (Total = 17)
**indicates student also went on (or plans to go on) to graduate school in ecology, evolution, or
related field (Total = 9)
University of Toronto: Gloria Cho (Awarded: NSERC Undergrad Research Support Award, ~$6,000)
UC Davis: Sharleen Agvateesiri, Aaron Alokozai*, Mitchell Bamford**, Audrey Duong, Desalegn
Ejigu*, Dai Fukumoto, Naisha Gaines*, Kyle Garrone (SUREE Intern), Lindsey Hack**, Sergei
Horowitz, Michael Hower, Caprice Lee** (Awarded: Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology
Symposium’s Best Oral Presentation, 2011), Christopher Liao, Kristina Mardinian, Megan Mateo**,
Kristin Matsumoto*, Melissa Moore**, Dayna Napolillo*, Scott Peacock, Achille Peiris, Tran
Phan*, Grant Reed*, Nicholas Sou, Thuy Tran**, Kathryn Weldon, Travis Winter
Rice University: Olivia Bartlett**, Carina Baskett**, John Land*, William Valencia, (Awarded: Paul
Wheeler and Joy Gooch Undergraduate Research Award, $200)
Howard University: Brittany Stallworth** (Evolution and Ecology Graduate Admissions Pathway
Program; see us at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ9hB0nLCyc&feature=youtu.be)
Young Scholars High School Students: Nicholas Meyer, Jorge Vargas
Service, Professional Societies, and Workshops
(A) Service
Population Biology Graduate Group Admissions Committee (2011-2012) The graduate student
representative on committee that determines admittance to the Population Biology Graduate Group.
Kids into Discovering Science (KiDS) Field Trip (2011, 2012, 2013) See teaching section.
Quail Ridge Reserve Advisory Committee (2009-2011) The graduate student representative on
committee that oversees the maintenance and future direction of Quail Ridge Reserve.
Picnic Day Community Outreach: Native Grass and Wildflower Booth (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
Organized/ran a booth each year that provides information, seeds, and plants to teach the general
public about native plants and native gardening.
Reviewer for: African J. of Agriculture, American Naturalist, Ecological Entomology, Ecological
Research, Ecology (2), Evolution, Fungal Ecology (2), J. of Ecology (2), J. of Medicinal Plant
Research, Oecologica, Plant and Soil, IIASA Peccei and Mikhalevich Awards
Additional Service:
2014 -Braun/Bell Award for Best Poster/Talk at the ESA Conference Judge
2013 -Center for Population Biology Seminar Speaker Host for Megan Frederickson
2012 --
Evolution and Ecology Faculty Search Graduate Student Panel Member
Center for Population Biology Postdoc Search Graduate Student Panel Member
Picnic Day Community Outreach Organizational Committee
Graduate Student Recruitment Field Trip to Quail Ridge Reserve Organizer
Evol. and Ecology Seminar Speaker Nominator/Host for Jennifer Rudgers
2011 --
Chancellor’s Ambassador for University of California, Davis
Center Population Biology Workshop on Hierarchical Models Co-organizer
Graduate Student Recruitment Field Trip to Quail Ridge Reserve Co-Organizer
2010 --
Evolution of Mutualism Seminar Class Co-Organizer
Evol. and Ecology Seminar Speaker Nominator/Host for Judith Bronstein
2009 --
Symbiosis Discussion Group Co-organizer
(B) Professional Societies (within last 5 years)
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Botanical Society of America (BSA),
Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution (CSEE), Ecological Society of America (ESA), Center for
Population Biology (CPB), Mycological Society of America (MSA), Society for Ecological Restoration
(SER) International
(C) Workshops and Working Groups
Python Methods Workshop, NCEAS Working Group on Cheating in Mutualisms (2012-13), AMF
Methods Workshop (2013), Max Planck Institute’s Integral Projection Modeling Course (2012),
Ecological Society of America’s Integral Projection Modeling Workshop (2012), Center for Population
Biology Workshops on: Phylogenetics Methods (2013), Hierarchical Models (2011), R Tools (2008),
and Coevolution (2008)
(D) In the News
Interviewed for an article on fungal endophytes in the popular magazine Organic Gardening (2014).
Profiled by the U of Toronto School of Graduate Studies (2014).
Select Presentations (Total = 24)
*undergraduate coauthor
Afkhami, M.E. (upcoming) Biotic interactions as determinants of range limits: Linking species
distribution models with field experiments shows mutualist-mediated range expansion. York
University. Ontario, Canada. (Invited Seminar)
Afkhami, M.E., M.B. Mateo*, and S.Y. Strauss (upcoming) Fungal endophytes in the native grass
Bromus laevipes increase plant community diversity by suppressing an invasive congener, B.
diandrus. Terrestial Invasive Plant Species Conference. Ontario, Canada. (Invited, Symposium on
Microbial Interactions).
Afkhami, M.E., M.B. Mateo*, and S.Y. Strauss (upcoming) Keystone interaction: Mutualistic fungal
endophytes in a non-dominant grass cause large changes in community diversity at range-wide
scales. Ecological Society of America. Sacramento, CA.
Afkhami, M.E., P.J. McIntyre, and S.Y. Strauss (2014) Mutualist-mediated range expansion in a grassfungal endophyte symbiosis: linking field and greenhouse tests of drought tolerance to range-wide
species distribution models. Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution’s Genomes to Biomes.
Quebec, Canada.
Afkhami, M.E. (2014) Biotic interactions as determinants of range limits: Linking species distribution
models with field experiments shows mutualist-mediated range expansion. University of Toronto
St. George. Ontario, Canada. (Invited Seminar)
Afkhami, M.E. (2014) Mutualistic interaction expands species range limits. University of Toronto
Mississauga. Ontario, Canada. (Invited Seminar)
Afkhami, M.E. (2013) Mutualistic interaction expands species range limits across large geographic
scales. Center for Population Biology, Davis, CA. (Invited Seminar)
Afkhami, M.E. and S.Y. Strauss (2012) Mutualism’s effects on niche theory and community ecology in a
grass-fungal endophyte symbiosis. Dept. of Plant Pathology. Davis, CA. (Invited Seminar)
Afkhami, M.E. and S.Y. Strauss (2012) Mutualist-mediated niche expansion and differentiation in a
grass-fungal endophyte symbiosis: Linking an experimental test of drought tolerance to rangewide
patterns of mutualist-mediated niche effects. Ecological Society of America. Portland, OR.
Young, C.A., N.D. Charlton, J.E. Takach, G.A. Swoboda, B. Hall, J. Pan, C.L. Schardl, K.D. Craven and
M.E. Afkhami (2012) Genotypic and chemotypic diversity of epichloid endophytes. 7th International
Symposium on the Molecular Breeding of Forage and Turf. Salt Lake City, UT. (Invited).
Afkhami, M.E. (2012) Mutualist-mediated niche expansion and differentiation in a newly discovered
grass-fungal endophyte symbiosis. Mathias Symposium. Bodega Bay, CA. (Invited)
Afkhami, M.E. and S.Y. Strauss (2012) Mutualist-mediated niche expansion and differentiation in a wild
grass-fungal endophyte symbiosis at a rangewide scale. Symbiosis. Yosemite National Park, CA.
Afkhami, M.E. and S.Y. Strauss (2011) Mutualistic endophyte may confer resistance to enemies resulting
in niche expansion of its grass host. Ecological Society of America. Austin, TX.
Afkhami, M.E. and P.J. McIntyre (2010) Niche expansion and partitioning mediated by mutualism in a
native grass-fungal endophyte symbiosis. Ecological Society of America. Pittsburgh, PA.
Afkhami, M.E. and P.J. McIntyre (2010) Mutualist-mediated niche expansion and partitioning in a newlydiscovered native grass fungal endophyte symbiosis. International Symposium on Fungal Endophyte
of Grasses (ISFEG) – Mycological Society of America (MSA) Joint Meeting. Lexington, KY.
Afkhami, M.E. and J.A. Rudgers (2010) Symbiosis Lost: Imperfect vertical transmission of fungal
endophytes in native grasses. ISFEG – MSA Joint Meeting. Lexington, KY.
Afkhami, M. E. and J. A. Rudgers (2009) Context-dependency of a symbiotic mutualism: Benefits of
fungal endophytes to the native, wild grass Festuca subverticillata depend on herbivore identity.
Ecological Society of America. Albuquerque, NM.
Afkhami, M. E. and J. A. Rudgers (2007) Impact of herbivory and drought on imperfect vertical
transmission of fungal endophytes in native grass species. Gordon Conference. Ventura, CA
Afkhami, M. E. and J. A. Rudgers (2007) Imperfect vertical transmission of fungal endophytes in native
grass species. Ecological Society of America – Society for Ecological Restoration Joint
Conference. San Jose, CA.
Afkhami, M.E. Imperfect vertical transmission of fungal endophytes in native grasses. (2007) Rice
University. Houston, TX. (Invited Seminar)
Afkhami, M. E. and J. A. Rudgers (2006) Imperfect vertical transmission in grass-endophyte symbioses.
Syracuse University. Syracuse, NY. (Invited)