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Eric Whisnant
Ph.D. Student
Department of Biology
Duke University eric.whisnant@duke.edu
Education
B.S., Biology, 2024
B.S., Marketing and Finance, 2021
University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC
Research Interests
I am fascinated by fungal symbioses and the intricate biology behind their existence. Lichens can survive in the most extreme environments globally, including the hottest, driest, and coldest places on Earth. Lichens have evolved unique abilities to withstand even the harshest conditions. My interest lies in how lichens survive in such highly variable environments through a molecular, organismal, ecological, and evolutionary lens. By studying the stress physiology of lichens, we can gain insights into their fundamental functions and begin to uncover how these symbiotic relationships may have initially formed. |