Lutzoni Lab – Evolution, Ecology, and Genomics of Fungal Symbioses

Welcome to the Lutzoni Lab

NSF - Arctic fungi

Learn more about our NSF project on endophytic and endolichenic fungi of the Arctic

NSF - GoLife

Learn more about our NSF, GoLife, project on the largest group of unknown fungi.

Factors shaping lichen networks

Learn more about our NSF BEE project on lichen networks.

Research interests in the Lutzoni lab are centered on symbiotic systems involving fungi and photoautotrophic organisms. Lichens, including their microbiomes, have been our principal focus, but since 2005 our research program has expanded to include endophytic fungi found in all lineages of land plants and endolichenic fungi found in lichen thalli. We have been studying these symbioses primarily from a macroevolutionary perspective, but since 2003 we have adopted an interdisciplinary approach bridging evolutionary biology, ecology, and genomics. Research in the Lutzoni lab spans the full spectrum of activities, from intensive fieldwork-based surveys to experimental laboratory work, across broad spatio-temporal scales.

2026-04-30: Congratulations, Arielle and Amber!

By Diego Garfiasgallegos May 8, 2026 May 8, 2026 News

Celebrating the graduation of two of the undergraduate students in the Lutzoni lab. Arielle Kim will soon start her training in genetic counseling, and Amber White is graduating with distinction and will be pursuing a premed post-baccalaureate training program. Both will be included as co-authors in upcoming publications. Congratulations to both. We will miss you!

From left to right: Jolanta Miadlikowska, Amber White, Amanda Wilson, Arielle Kim, and François Lutzoni)

2025-02: Congratulations Dr. Carlos Pardo de la Hoz!

By Diego Garfiasgallegos March 20, 2025 March 20, 2025 News

Congratulations to Carlos Pardo de la Hoz for successfully defending his Ph.D. dissertation!
Carlos is now a Research Scholar in the lab of Joao Xavier at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center where he is pursuing his postdoctoral research on microbial interactions in the human gut.