Arielle Woznica

Arielle Woznica is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences at The University of Texas at Austin, affiliated with the College of Natural Sciences. Her research focuses on understanding molecular mechanisms of choanoflagellates' interactions with bacteria and viruses, particularly their immune responses and the evolutionary origins of animal immune pathways. Her work bridges molecular biology, genetics, and evolutionary biology to explore symbiotic relationships and microbial influences on development.

Key research areas include:

• Mechanisms of choanoflagellate immunity
• Evolutionary transitions to multicellularity
• Bacterial regulation of eukaryotic development

Her lab investigates how microbial interactions shaped early animal evolution, with recent studies on STING signaling pathways and bacterial cues influencing colony formation. Despite no explicitly listed awards or grants in the provided text, her publications reflect impactful contributions to microbial symbiosis and immune system origins. She leads the Woznica Lab, dedicated to interdisciplinary research in microbial eukaryote biology.