PAPERS

Cowden, C.C. and C.J. Peterson. 2009. A multi-mutualist simulation:
applying biological market models to diverse mycorrhizal communities.
Ecological Modelling 220: 1522-1533.


POSITIONS

Post-doctoral research associate. University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia,
USA, 2009-.

EDUCATION

Ph.D. Plant Biology, University of Georgia, 2008
M.S. Biology, University of Central Florida, 2002
B.S. Biology, The College of William and Mary, 2000


RECENT FELLOWSHIPS, GRANTS, AWARDS, AND HONORS

Outstanding Teaching Assistant, University of Georgia, 2004.
UGA Plant Biology Small Grant, University of Georgia, 2004.
Outstanding Graduate Student, University of Central Florida, 2001.
Copyright 2010 Richard P. Shefferson.  All rights reserved.
Dr. Charles C. Cowden
RESEARCH INTERESTS

I joined the Shefferson lab in the spring of 2009. My primary focus is on
ectomycorrhizal fungi and modeling the role of partner  choice in maintaining
diverse fungal symbiont communities.  I utilize a combination of computer based
modeling, greenhouse/field experimentation, and DNA techniques in my research.
For my dissertation, I developed a economics-based symbiont simulation model,
and now I am perfoming experiments to test the predictions of that model.  I am
also interested in the evolutionary history of host specificity in mycorrhizal
relationships, developing models of group selection, as well as the ecological and
evolutionary roles of common mycorrhizal networks.  I also work with terrestrial
orchids and their fungal symbionts.