Donovan Odelug

I am currently researching if cockroaches migrate to different areas or stay in the same place, carrying bacteria with them. I am interested in finding out whether roaches interact differently on different floors of an apartment building, whether their bacteria are localized in these habitats or moving across buildings, cities and, in our geographic areas, across state lines (i.e., crossing Hudson River!). To answer these questions, I use genetic techniques such as PCR, DNA sequencing, and data analysis. I  like to doing research on cockroaches because they inhabit our area in great numbers. Roaches are a leading cause of asthma and allergic reaction, especially in urban environments, and they habour bacteria on their exoskeletons; I am interested in learning more about their populations, and the populations of the things living upon them because this is of interest to human health.