The Red and Black

Issue date: 2/21/07 Section: News

Media Credit: JULIA NORMAN Sonia Altizer, an assistant professor in the Institute of Ecology, received an award to study migration and infectious disease patterns in Monarch butterflies.

Media Credit: JULIA NORMAN Ecologist Sonia Altizer displays a Monarch butterfly used in her research on infectious disease patterns in these insects. Altizer will receive a grant of $679,942 over the next five years to fund her research.

Sonia Altizer has come a long way since receiving her first grow-your-own-butterfly kit at age 12.

An assistant professor in the Institute of Ecology, Altizer received the National Science Foundation Faculty Early Development Career award to study migration and infectious disease patterns in Monarch butterflies.

The project's objective is to discover how long-distance migration in animals affects the spread and impact of infectious diseases, and, according to Altizer, monarchs provide the perfect case study because of their diverse migration patterns.

The National Science Foundation gives the award to promising scientists and engineers who show potential to become academic leaders in their fields early in their careers.

"Sonia is one of our brightest young ecologists," said John Gittleman, the director of the University's Institute of Ecology.

"The award is well deserved and UGA should feel very fortunate," he said.

The $679,492 that Altizer will receive during the next five years will fund her research, primarily paying graduate and undergraduate research assistants.

"All work in the lab is collaborative," Altizer said. "It's not all done by myself. There are many people who help."

The rest of the money will go toward supporting experiments and travel, she said.

Altizer said she encourages undergraduate research and has many students participate in the collection of data and the communication of research results. Her lab also takes part in local education programs.

"I have enjoyed working for her for the past year," said Natalie Kolleda, a senior from Lawrenceville majoring in ecology.

"I have had the opportunity to work one-on-one with her," she said.

The project's education and outreach portion includes a citizen science project, "Monarch Health," in which people across the United States collect parasite samples from Monarchs and send them back to Altizer's lab.

Altizer said her research is tied into teaching and outreach programs are a way for people to get involved.

Altizer hopes her research will help with conservation. She wants to know how migration keeps Monarchs healthy.

"People tend to love Monarchs to death," Altizer said. Keeping humans from disrupting the butterflies' migration will help keep them healthy.

Altizer said she hopes to continue to educate the public through outreach programs and teaching.

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