Student receives research grant

Jarod Armenta ’15 has been awarded a research grant from the Beta Beta Beta Research Foundation for his project, “Assessment of host-associated differentiation and molecular phylogenetics of North American sunflower flies in genus Strauzia (Diptera: Tephritidae),” and will present his findings at a future TriBeta convention.

Armenta, working under the supervision of Professor of Biology Marty Condon, plans to gather sunflower flies and compare DNA sequences of flies found in different areas of sunflowers. He is testing two different hypotheses about sister species (two different species that were recently the same species). One hypothesis is that sister species of sunflower flies will live in two different species of plants. Another is that sister species of sunflower flies can live in the same species of plant, but use different parts of the plant. By studying these sunflower flies, Armenta seeks to gain a greater understanding of how one species diverges into several different species.

The Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society works to “improve the understanding and appreciation of biological study and extending boundaries of human knowledge through scientific research.”  Their research awards are intended to support undergraduate students.