Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Arizona
Joint Associate Professor, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona

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WEBSITE: http://ag.arizona.edu/ENTO/faculty/stock.htm

My research interest is biodiversity of insect-parasitic and pathogenic nematodes and their role in ecosystem function. I am actively engaged in biotic survey and inventory projects in different geographic regions of the world, which allow me to make significant contributions toward the discovery of new species, the understanding of the ecology and behavior of insect-parasitic nematodes and their consideration in biological control and integrated pest management programs.

Additionally, I am interested in studying the ecology and genetics of nematode populations from agricultural and natural ecosystems, particularly the study of host-parasite relationships and interactions (including plant and insect-parasitic nematodes), such as phoresis, facultative, obligate parasitism, and pathogenesis.

A new research area in our program focuses on the study of Steinernema nematodes and their bacterial symbionts (Xenorahbdus spp.) as models for understanding mutualistic interactions between animals and microbes. Current research relates to the study of structural and developmental features of the bacterial receptacle in the nematode hosts to better understand the colonization process.

We are also interested in recognizing the chemical signals and physical interactions that occur between the nematode and their symbionts and how these interactions might affect each organism. Furthermore, my laboratory also investigate evolutionary histories of both nematode and bacterial symbionts considering a multigene repertoire and study co-evolutionary histories and diversification of these two partners.