Paul Akwettey Ayayee, Ph.D.
- He/Him
- Biology, Assistant Professor
General Information
Biography
Paul Ayayee arrived at the University of Nebraska, Omaha, in 2020, after graduating with a Ph.D. in Entomology from the Pennsylvania State University in 2014, and postdoctoral positions at the Ohio State University, Kent State University, and the University of Wyoming.
Teaching Interests
Introductions to Biology, Entomology, Microbial EcologyCourses taught: BIOL 1750
Research Interests
My research interests encompass the fields of Entomology, Ecology, Environmental Microbiology, and Evolution. Areas of special interest to me at the moment include, insect-microbe symbioses, plant-insect-microbe interactions, the origins, nature and functions of these interactions, and functions of free-living microbial assemblages ( bacteria, fungi, and phages) in a variety of ecosystems (pristine, degraded, and restored), with regards to nutrient-cycling, biogeochemical processes with the aim of generating quantifiable ecosystem functions.
Service Summary
Since arriving at UNO, I have carried out several service duties internally and in the greater Omaha and Nebraska communities.I am currently the faculty mentor for the African Students Association. I have been serving in this capacity since 2021, when the organization's administrative body requested it.I have also organized and carried out several outreach presentations and lab sessions with organizations in the metropolitan area and Western Nebraska. I enjoy talking about my work and how my research ( either in insects or environmental microbiology) relates to people's understanding of the natural world around them.
Education
BS, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana, Zoology and Biochemistry, 2004
MS, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, Entomology, 2009
Ph D, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, Entomology, 2014
Professional Development
Community of Practice: Teaching, Teaching Analysis By Students (TABS), 03/05/2024 - 05/05/2024
Workshop, Intergroup Dialogue Faculty Experience , 08/01/2024 - 08/05/2024
Scholarship/Research/Creative Activity
Selected Publications
Ayayee, Paul. 2024. Unveiling salinity-driven shifts in microbial community composition across compartments of naturally saline inland streams, Hydrobiologia, 851, 2627–2639.
Ayayee, Paul, Ikuze, Edith, Cromwell, Stephanie, Louis, Joe. 2024. Influence of Microbes in Mediating Sorghum Resistance to Sugarcane Aphids, MDPI, 16, 85, 1-10.
Ayayee, Paul, Petersen, Nick, Riusch, Jennifer , Rauter, Claudia, Larsen, Thomas. 2024. Enhanced gut microbiome supplementation of essential amino acids in Diploptera punctata fed low-protein plant-based diet, Frontiers in Insect Science, 4, 1-10.
Ayayee, Paul, Wong, Ryan. 2024. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) behavioral phenotypes not underscored by different gut microbiota, Ecology and Evolution, 14, 9, 1-10.
Ayayee, Paul, Gray, Jonathon. 2024. Examining the impacts of salt specificity on freshwater microbial community and functional potential following salinization, Environmental Micorbiology, 26, 5, 1-15.
Externally Funded Research
Linking the riverine microbiome and process rates to ecosystem function in two Nebraska river systems, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, State Agencies, 02/07/2023 - 02/06/2026
Nitrate loading and legacy effects on nitrogen and carbon cycling in the playa wetlands of the High Plains, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, State Agencies, 02/07/2023 - 02/06/2026
Directed Student Learning
Master's Thesis Committee Chair, Comparative Analysis of Microbial Profiles and Trade-offs in Sorghum Cultivars (SC1345 and SC265) Under Drought and Salinity Stresses, Completed
Master's Thesis Committee Member, Isolation and characterization of anaerobic gut bacteria from marmosets, In-Process
Service
Department, College, and University
Budget committee, Committee Member, As a standing committee member, we evaluate requests from faculty members for use of department funds, as per the guidelines established by the budget committee., 01/01/2022 - present
Participating in the University's Faculty Mentoring Program, Other, Participating in the UNO Faculty Mentoring Program , new faculty are paired with older faculty to provide mentorship. I am currently paired with Dr. Derrick Nero. This is our second year paired together under the program, 01/01/2022 - present
Professional
PeerJ, Editor, Associate Editor, Serve as the subject editor for the plant-insect-microbe subject category under PeerJ. Have been assigned 7 submission and have overseen the process for three so far. Currently overseeing 4 in various stages of review or resubmission., 03/14/2022 - present
Frontiers , Other, As a review editor, i am responsible for reviewing or assigning submitted manuscripts to selected reviewers for assessments, 04/02/2024 - present
Community
Baldwin Wildlife Rehab center, Guest Speaker, 10/01/2024 - present
UNO, Other, 10/01/2022 - present
Media Contributions
Radio, RADIOLAB, Served as a consultant on the podcast and provided samples for a subject matter. The links for the episodes and the vidoes with my contributions are here: https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab-kids/articles/terrestrials-guardian-tsetse-fly , and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmUBUS7MrjM , 09/09/2022
Additional Information
Research Interests
My research interests encompass the fields of Entomology, Ecology, Environmental Microbiology, and Evolution. Areas of special interest to me at the moment include, insect-microbe symbioses, plant-insect-microbe interactions, the origins, nature and functions of these interactions. I am interested in demonstrating function and showing biological relevance of symbiotic associations in insect-microbial symbioses within an insect-diet-microbe framework. I use classic molecular and biochemical approaches to investigate in vitro, speculated/proposed microbial functions of relevance to an insect host. I subsequently investigate/confirm this function in situ within the insect host, using functional assays and stable isotope approaches to demonstrate the link between microbial processes and insect physiology/biochemistry/metabolism.I am also interested in investigating the structure and functions of free-living microbial assemblages ( bacteria, fungi, and phages) in a variety of ecosystems (pristine, degraded, and restored), with regards to nutrient-cycling, biogeochemical processes with the aim of generating quantifiable ecosystem functions.
Teaching
Introductions to Biology, Entomology, Microbial Ecology
Courses taught: BIOL 1450, BIOL 1750
Additional Information
Research Interests
My research interests encompass the fields of Entomology, Ecology, Environmental Microbiology, and Evolution. Areas of special interest to me at the moment include, insect-microbe symbioses, plant-insect-microbe interactions, the origins, nature and functions of these interactions. I am interested in demonstrating function and showing biological relevance of symbiotic associations in insect-microbial symbioses within an insect-diet-microbe framework. I use classic molecular and biochemical approaches to investigate in vitro, speculated/proposed microbial functions of relevance to an insect host. I subsequently investigate/confirm this function in situ within the insect host, using functional assays and stable isotope approaches to demonstrate the link between microbial processes and insect physiology/biochemistry/metabolism.I am also interested in investigating the structure and functions of free-living microbial assemblages ( bacteria, fungi, and phages) in a variety of ecosystems (pristine, degraded, and restored), with regards to nutrient-cycling, biogeochemical processes with the aim of generating quantifiable ecosystem functions.
Teaching
Introductions to Biology, Entomology, Microbial Ecology
Courses taught: BIOL 1450, BIOL 1750