Dr. Mia Howard

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Mia Howard received her Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from Wellesley College, where she worked in Dr. Martina Königer's lab. Upon graduation, she continued to develop her love for plants while working with Dr. Kristina Jones at the Wellesley College Botanic Garden. She earned her Ph.D. from Cornell University, working in Dr. André Kessler's lab. After completing her doctorate, she conducted postdoctoral research under Dr. Jen Lau at Indiana University. Her research interests focus on plant defense mechanisms, herbivory, mutualism, and plant-microbe interactions. She studies how plants, as masters of chemical defense, protect themselves from herbivores and how soil-dwelling microbes influence these interactions. Currently, she explores ecology and evolution in plant-herbivore-microbe relationships using common white clover as a focal system, particularly investigating the interdependence of clovers and nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia) and how these interactions affect plant defenses.

Research Interests

Experience

Assistant Professor

— Present

University of Michigan • Ann Arbor, MI

Teaches and conducts research in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

Requirements for University of Michigan

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
TOEFL
Total
Required:84
GRE General
Verbal
Required:155
Verbal Percentile
Required:50
Quantitative
Required:168
Quantitative Percentile
Required:50
Analytical Writing
Required:3.6
Writing Percentile
Required:50
Prerequisites
Bachelor degree in engineering, physics, or mathematics Calculus Physics
Application Checklist
  • Rackham Graduate School Application
  • Official Transcripts
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation
  • Academic Statement of Purpose
  • Personal Statement
  • CV/Resume
Specialization Notes

Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science