PEOPLE

Howdy! My name is Jayda Arriaga, and I’m currently working towards a Master’s in the Department of Entomology focusing on honey bee gut microbiota and the impact xenobiotics have on their internal environment. It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do as an undergraduate student. I started off at Texas A&M University as a Biochemistry major, which I then switched out of my junior year. I ended up getting a degree in Biomedical Science and found my interest in entomology while taking elective courses for this major. I was lucky enough to perform research for a few years under Dr. Anjel Helms and my graduate mentor, Morgan Thompson, in the Entomology Research Lab on campus. I was a part of an Aggie Research Program Team that conducted chemical ecology research, and it was with this team that I was able to publish my first manuscript in Plant, Cell & Environment. Afterwards, I went on to work for Dr. Charles Suh and Dr. Lindsey Perkin’s lab at the USDA as a biological science aide, where I gained a number of skills and learned a lot about different techniques and equipment used for DNA extractions and PCR sequencing. I was also lucky enough to work with Xanthe Shirley at the USDA, who taught me invaluable information about identification, pinning and point mounting of insects. I’m so excited to have the opportunity to work with honey bees and am looking forward to what this research could lead to in the future. When I’m not in the lab, you’ll find me out and about on walks or relaxing in my room, either reading or gaming on my xbox, cuddling with my chocolate lab, Charlie, and my husky mix, Indi.

You can contact me at:

jay_arri2442 at tamu dot edu