Dr. Monica M. Sheffer
Doctoral researcher
Zoological Institute and Museum
General and Systematic Zoology
Loitzer Str. 26
Building 3.3, Room 0.48
17489 Greifswald
Tel.: +49 (0)3834 420-4245
msheffer(at)berkeley(dot)edu
monica.sheffer(at)uni-greifswald(dot)de
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Research Interests
I am interested in using and developing molecular techniques to answer questions about animals’ ecology, especially - but not exclusively - in the context of global climate change and adaptation to extreme conditions.
Current Projects
- Microbiome of Argiope bruennichi
- Population genomics and the role of introgression in local adaptation
- Physiological limits, energy use, and cold tolerance strategy of Argiope bruennichi
Past Projects
My work at UC Berkeley made use of Next Generation Sequencing paired with field observations to describe and quantify the dynamics of dietary and spatial niche partitioning in three web-sharing Hawaiian spider genera.
| 2021 |
| Sheffer, M.M.; Hoppe, A.; Krehenwinkel, H.; Uhl, G.; Kuss, A.W.; Jensen, L.; Jensen, C.; Gillespie, R.G.; Hoff, K. & Prost, S. 2021. Chromosome-level reference genome of the European wasp spider Argiope bruennichi: a resource for studies on range expansion and evolutionary adaptation. GigaScience. DOI: doi.org/10.1093/gigascience/giaa148 PDF We sequenced, assembled, and annotated the first chromosome-level genome for a spider. |
| 2020 |
|
Winter, S.; Prost, S.; de Raad, J.; Coimbra, R.; Wolf, M.; Nebenfuehr, M.; Held, A.; Kurzawe, M.; Papapostolou, R.; Tessien, J.; Bludau, J.; Kelch, A.; Gronefeld, S.; Schoeneberg, Y.; Zeitz, C.; Zapf, K.; Prochotta, D.; Murphy, M.; Sheffer, M.M.; Sonnewald, M.; Nilsson, M.; Janke, A. 2020. Chromosome-level genome assembly of a benthic associated syngnathiformes species: the common dragonet, Callionymus lyra. GigaByte 1. DOI: doi.org/10.46471/gigabyte.6 PDF A masters course generated a chromosome-level genome of a fish species. I contributed to this work by generating proximity-ligation Hi-C data, scaffolding with which allowed the genome to reach chromosome level. |
| Sheffer, M.M.; Uhl, G.; Prost, S.; Lueders, T.; Urich, T.; Bengtsson, M.M. 2020. Tissue- and population-level microbiome analysis of the wasp spider Argiope bruennichi identified a novel dominant bacterial symbiont. Microorganisms 8: 8. DOI: doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8010008 PDF We describe the microbiome of different tissue types in Argiope bruennichi and discover a new-to-science bacterial symbiont which is vertically transmitted. |
| April 2018 - Present | University of Greifswald; PhD candidate |
| February 2018 | Awarded Masters Equivalency certification from the University of Greifswald |
| August 2017 - February 2018 | University of Greifswald; visiting researcher |
| May 2017 | Awarded Bachelor of Science degree from UC Berkeley with Honors and Distinction in Molecular Environmental Biology with a concentration in Insect Biology |
| August 2013 - May 2017 | University of California, Berkeley; Bachelors student |
| 2020 |
| California Conservation Genomics Project, research funding (see website) |
| 2019 |
| RISE Germany Fellowship (for student research internship) |
| UC Berkeley Institute of European Studies Berkeley-Greifswald Scholarship (for student research internship) |
| 2018 |
| Nikon Poster Prize at the German Zoological Society Meeting: 1st place |
| Conference-wide Poster Competition at the German Zoological Society Meeting: 3rd place |
| 2017 |
| RESPONSE Exchange Grant for Research on Biological Responses to Novel and Changing Environments |
| UC Berkeley Institute of European Studies Berkeley-Greifswald Scholarship |
| UC Berkeley Institute of International Studies: Undergraduate Merit Scholarship |
| UC Berkeley Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Sustainability: Sustainability Award Winner |
| UC Berkeley Institute of International Studies: Best Research Summary |
| 2016 |
| Margaret C. Walker Fund for Teaching and Research in Systematic Entomology |
| UC Berkeley College of Natural Resources Travel Grant |
| Hopland BioBlitz Photography Competition: First Place |
| UC Berkeley Sponsored Projects for Undergraduate Research (Student-Initiated Project) |
| UC Berkeley Academic Opportunity Fund |
| Society for Experimental Biology |
| European Society of Arachnology |
| Pacific Coast Entomological Society |
| UC Berkeley Entomology Club, President and Founder |
| Bay Area Ant Group |
| Organization for Tropical Studies |
| Entomology Students Organization |
| Institute of International Studies Junior Scholars Program |
| June 2015 – May 2017 | Dr. Rosemary Gillespie’s lab; research assistant and coordinator for Dimensions of Biodiversity project |
| June 2015 – December 2015 | Dr. Kent Daane’s lab; research assistant for project on the biological control of Drosophila suzukii |
| January 2017 | Two-week field course on the ecology and evolution of arachnids at La Selva Biological Research Station in Costa Rica |
| January 2016 - May 2017 | Collected Habronattus formosus jumping spiders in Northern California for Dr. Damian Elias’ lab |
| August 2016 | Collected Formica aserva slave-making ants at Blodgett Forest Research Station in Northern California for Dr. Neil Tsutsui’s lab |
| May 2016 – July 2016 | Honors thesis fieldwork; collected and observed Orsonwelles, Ariamnes, and Argyrodes spiders on the Hawaiian islands of Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai |
| May 2016 – July 2016 | Field assistant collecting Tetragnatha spiders and native parasitoid wasps on the Hawaiian Islands |
| April 2016 | Hopland Bioblitz; collected, and photographed insects and spiders, helped teach community members about local biodiversity |
| January 2016 | Collected whole arthropod community samples using non-attractive sampling methods for Dr. Rosemary Gillespie’s Dimensions of Biodiversity project |
| 2017 | Spider Biology: Undergraduate Student Instructor; helped students identify and preserve arachnids, planned and led collecting field trips |
| 2016 | General Entomology: Undergraduate Student Instructor; helped students identify and preserve insects, planned and led collecting field trips, held exam review sessions |