I am fascinated by the interactions between eukaryotic hosts and their microbial symbionts. These relationships span the entire spectrum from mutualism to pathogenesis, and they can drive the evolution of new species and the resilience of existing ones to our changing environments. My research aims at characterizing these interactions and their diverse evolutionary routes. I completed my PhD at the University of Queensland in Brisbane Australia, and then moved to Helsinki, followed by a couple of years at the University of Lund on a Marie Curie Fellowship (2018-2020). I am now a University Lecturer in Evolutionary Biology at the University of Helsinki, and the leader of the Insect Symbiosis Ecology and Evolution (ISEE) research group.
email: anne.duplouy( at )helsinki.fi
I developed a fascination and love for bee health research during my PhD, where I worked with honey bees to test novel biocontrol treatments for their parasites. I joined the ISEE group in June 2025 and my research now focuses on understanding the impact of bumble bee symbiotic microbiota on bee health. To answer my research questions, I use laboratory experiments to investigate whether specific microbes or communities of microbes protect their hosts against pathogen infection, especially in Finnish bee communities. Beyond my current research, I also have a strong interest in bee associated mites and the interaction between mites, bees and their associated microbes.
email: zoe.smeele( @ )helsinki.fi
I joined the ISEE lab as a doctoral researcher in November 2023, funded by the 'MiSSA' project funded by the Research Council of Finland. I have a keen interest in bioinformatics and data mining. Currently, I am conducting research on the microbiome of various common pollinators from the Baltic region, using amplicon and metagenomics sequencing methods. I thoroughly enjoy the work I am doing and hope to significantly contribute to this field. I am co-supervised by
email: linyang.sun( @ )helsinki.fi
I hold a BSc in Ecology from the University of Calgary and a MSc in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Helsinki. My research interests lie in insect ecology and evolution, with a focus on host-symbiont relationships and phylogenetics. In 2025, I received funded by a fellowship from my doctral school, and a research grant from the Olvi Foundation, Finland. In the next 4 years, I will continue the work I started during my master's thesis. I investigate speciation in Cotesia wasps and the role of Wolbachia in species radiation under the supervision of Dr. Anne Duplouy, Dr. Federica Valerio and Dr. Victoria Twort.
email: julian.schach(@ )helsinki.fi
I joined the ISEE lab as a grant-funded researcher in 2025. I am interested in studying the host-associated microbiota of hoverflies, and how the microbes help the hoverflies resist pesticides and other environmental stressors. My work is supported by the OLVI Foundation. I earned my master's degree in Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, and my bachelor's degree in Zoology at the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
email: kaushalya.nagahawatte( @ )helsinki.fi
I hold a BSc in Biology from the University of Helsinki, Finland. My research investigate the competitive effect of Wolbachia infections and latitude on the melanisation of butterfly wings. My study system is the Melitaea butterfly clade.
Hi! My interest in bumblebee cognition and behaviour started during my BA degree in Psychology at TOBB Economy & Technology University in Türkiye. During an internship with Dr. Olli Loukola at Oulu University, and a second with Dr. Matheu Lihoreau at the CNRS in Toulouse, France, I investigated bumblebees' cognitive abilities and sense of magnetic waves. In Helsinki, I will explore the effects of the gut microbiome on bumblebee behaviours, especially kin recognition.
Resilience
Wolbachia diversity
Ecology, Genetics and Genomics of Melitaea cinxia butterfly
Ecology and Genomics of a Male-killer Wolbachia
Other fields