Explorations in Chemical Signaling

Welcome to the Lab!
We are pleased to welcome Maria Branch who is joining our lab while working on her M.S. in Bioinformatics here at Georgia Tech. Maria completed her B.S. at the University of Miami in Marine Sciences and Biochemistry, and will be futhering our investigation into the chemistry of fear while here at Tech.
The Kubanek lab has a history of promoting inclusivity and celebrating diversity; this group exemplifies that practice. Welcome to the Kubanek lab!
Congratulations, Dr. Marisa Cepeda, for publishing your recent paper in Oecologia and for graduating from Georgia Tech with a Ph.D. in Chemistry. You have contributed greatly to the Kubanek lab, and we are excited to see your accomplishment. Best of luck and keep in touch!
Graduation Season
Several members of the Kubanek lab have recently graduated from various graduate programs!
Benton Jaco graduated in the Fall of 2024 with his Masters in Biology with a thesis entitled “Metabolomic Analysis of Predator Urine for Enhancing Oyster Shell Strength and Ecological Implications. Marisa Cepeda graduated from Georgia Tech with her Ph.D. in Chemistry with a thesis entitled “An exploration of chemical cues as mediators of marine predator-prey interactions”. Both studens have truley been an asset to the lab and excellent colleagues. We are sad to them see go, but we are proud to see them move on to the next chapter of their lived. Congratulations to Marisa on her position as a postdoctoral researcher as BASF!
Additionally, our newest postdoctoral researcher, Dr. Henry Adewole, completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry last year at the University of Pretoria and had his official graduation ceremony in early September. Finally, Gretchen Johnson joined our lab immediately after completing her M.S. in Marine Biosciences at the University of Delaware.
These accomplishments are no small matter. A STEM graduate degree represents dedication, hard work, and the rigorous application of keen intellect. We are proud to work alongside scientists such as these four. Congratulations, Benton, Marisa, Henry, and Gretchen. Each of you has committed yourself to academic excellence and the continual pursuit of scientific discovery!


Marisa Cepeda was recently featured for her contributions to the defense of algal biofuel ponds from predators in the 2019 Sandia Labs Academic Alliance Collaboration Report. The full report can be found here with Marisa’s piece on page 18.
