Bio
April Armes joined the Biological and Environmental Systems Science Directorate at ORNL as a Postdoctoral Researcher in February 2023. Prior to her appointment at ORNL, April worked on developing phytosensors that respond to ecological and biological threats at the Center for Agricultural Synthetic Biology at UTIA. In 2021, April received her PhD in Microbiology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her dissertation research explored microbial interactions within a microbial community. Currently, her research at ORNL focuses on microbially produced secondary metabolites' impact on Eastern Cottonwood. Beyond her research, April is committed to science communication and outreach. She currently serves as Outreach Chair for the ORNL Postdoctoral Association (ORPA). April is actively involved in nonprofit organizations like 500 Women Scientists and the Society for Creative Anachronism. She also participates in events such as Dragoncon and education initiatives at UTK and East Tennessee Freedom schools.