Benjamin Parker

Benjamin Parker is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), part of the College of Arts & Sciences. His research focuses on the evolution and ecology of animal-microbe interactions, particularly using pea aphids as a model system. The Parker Lab investigates symbiont coevolution, viral symbionts, immune system mechanisms, and pest biocontrol strategies through genomic, genetic, and experimental approaches. The lab is supported by NIH/NIGMS and NSF grants, including a NIH R35 MIRA award for host-symbiont coevolution studies.

Research interests include host-symbiont coevolution, heritable viruses, pathogen evolution, and molecular pest control. Techniques employed include genomic sequencing, microbiological analysis, and controlled experiments with insect models. Recent work explores how symbionts modulate host immunity and phenotypes, such as wing development, while addressing applied questions in biocontrol.

Key collaborations and funding include the NIH/NIGMS MIRA Grant (2021) and NSF Postdoctoral Fellowships. The lab has moved to UNC in 2025 and includes PhD candidates (e.g., Keertana Tallapragada), postdocs (e.g., Paula Rozo-Lopez), and undergraduate researchers. Notable lab milestones include publishing genomic analyses of aphids and fireflies, as well as studies on symbiont-driven phenotypic changes.

Awards and recognition include Paula Rozo-Lopez’s NSF Postdoc Fellowship and Meaghan Adler’s DoD SMART Fellowship. The lab maintains an active presence in conferences like the Animal-Microbe Symbiosis Gordon Conference and regularly publishes in journals like *Applied and Environmental Microbiology* and *BMC Genomics*.