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Dr. Michelle Momany

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Ph.D Fungal Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas - Austin

B.A. Microbiology, University of Texas - Austin

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I joined the Plant Biology Department at the University of Georgia as an assistant professor and have been here ever since. One of the best parts of being at UGA is my incredible colleagues in the Fungal Biology Group. Having so many outstanding fungal groups in one place means that there are lots of fungal seminars and courses offered, plus there is always someone around to bounce ideas off of or discuss the latest papers with.

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Current research in the Momany lab focuses on two areas:

Polarity and the septin cytoskeleton in the model system Aspergillus nidulans. I cloned the first septin from a filamentous fungus as a postdoc and later my own lab was among the first to show commonalities in septins from animals and fungi.  My group discovered the first noncore septin, the prototype for many septins not found in budding yeast or animals. Recently my lab has focused on evolution of the septins and interactions among septins.

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Basic biology and antifungal resistance in the pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Momany lab was one of the first groups to characterize early development in A. fumigatus. Recently the lab has focused on understanding dormancy and germination of A. fumigatus spores and on antifungal-resistant A. fumigatus in the environment.

Brent Shuman

Plant Biology Ph.D. Candidate

ILS Matriculate, 2018

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I started my Ph.D. in the Momany Lab in 2018 after receiving my bachelor's degree in biology from Winthrop University. I am an active member of UGA's Fungal Group. My research interest is in how cytoskeletal proteins interact to enable filamentous fungal growth. My current project focuses on how septins are involved in lateral branching in Aspergillus nidulans.

Justina Stanislaw

Plant Biology Ph.D. Candidate

ILS Matriculate, 2020

 

I became a member of the Momany lab in 2020 after receiving my master's degree in biology from Youngstown State University. I am currently the president of the Mycology Student Organization and organizer of the UGA fungal group. My research aims to understand the development of Aspergillus fumigatus, specifically investigating the mechanisms of dormancy and germination of asexual spores.

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