Undergraduate Research & Scholarships

Kore Lum

Experimental evolution and coevolution of the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae under phage selection

My summer research will focus on understanding how selection from two different bacteriophages impacts the evolution of a bacterial population. I will use experimental evolution, microbiological assays, and genome sequencing to determine whether the plant pathogen, Pseudomonas syringae, is able to evolve resistance against each of two bacteriophages either in isolation or when applied as a cocktail. I will perform this in vitro and measure how multiple selection pressures alter the evolutionary potential of the bacterium.

Message To Sponsor

Working in the Koskella lab has been one of the most rewarding experiences at Cal, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to continue conducting research in the summer. I have always been interested in research involving bacteria and phages, so spending time in the Koskella lab has been an invaluabable learning experience for me. I am very thankful to URAP and the generous donor for providing me this opportunity to not only grow as a researcher but to also fulfill my interests and passions. This experience has brought me closer to the life of a researcher, and has positively influenced my plans on continuing research.