Mike Grillo
@mikegrillo.bsky.social
Associate Professor at Loyola University Chicago. Plant evolutionary genetics, plant-microbe interactions, evolutionary ecology. https://grillolab.weebly.com
I wish invasive species came with warning labels. This is Birds Foot Trefoil, which I need for research. Unknowing customers might think this species might be a welcome addition in a native garden. But local land managers are at their wits end dealing with this species in restored prairies.
October 28, 2025 at 2:30 PM
I wish invasive species came with warning labels. This is Birds Foot Trefoil, which I need for research. Unknowing customers might think this species might be a welcome addition in a native garden. But local land managers are at their wits end dealing with this species in restored prairies.
We had lots of Midwest fall fun this weekend at a mega corn maze in southwest Michigan with tons of awesome signage on the history/diversity of life!
October 27, 2025 at 1:22 PM
We had lots of Midwest fall fun this weekend at a mega corn maze in southwest Michigan with tons of awesome signage on the history/diversity of life!
Amazing talk today by Andrea Case @andreacase.bsky.social on her fascinating work to understand how closely related Lobelia co-occur.
October 8, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Amazing talk today by Andrea Case @andreacase.bsky.social on her fascinating work to understand how closely related Lobelia co-occur.
I had a hot (91F) morning trying to navigate through the tall grass prairie at Nachusa Geasslands in search of Illinois Bundleflower. It was so cool exploring this incredibly rare habitat in its final glory at the end of the growing season.
September 30, 2025 at 2:18 AM
I had a hot (91F) morning trying to navigate through the tall grass prairie at Nachusa Geasslands in search of Illinois Bundleflower. It was so cool exploring this incredibly rare habitat in its final glory at the end of the growing season.
This is the second "Professor Oppressor" postcard that I have received. They aren't overtly threatening, but it's unsettling that "they" have my home address. Many faculty at Loyola have been receiving them. We live in interesting times...
September 29, 2025 at 1:23 AM
This is the second "Professor Oppressor" postcard that I have received. They aren't overtly threatening, but it's unsettling that "they" have my home address. Many faculty at Loyola have been receiving them. We live in interesting times...
It's that time of year...oh boy.
August 11, 2025 at 4:24 PM
It's that time of year...oh boy.
#PlantBio2025 has been an awesome conference! So much awesome plant-microbe work! It's been so nice meeting new colleagues and catching up with old friends. I gave a talk and 3 of my labbies from @loyolachicago.bsky.social presented posters.
July 29, 2025 at 10:57 PM
#PlantBio2025 has been an awesome conference! So much awesome plant-microbe work! It's been so nice meeting new colleagues and catching up with old friends. I gave a talk and 3 of my labbies from @loyolachicago.bsky.social presented posters.
That's a wrap on year 4 of our NSF and Walder Foundation funded summer research program for pre-service STEM teachers. We finished with a bang and a great poster session. What an inspiring group of future educators! @loyolachicago.bsky.social
July 27, 2025 at 8:48 PM
That's a wrap on year 4 of our NSF and Walder Foundation funded summer research program for pre-service STEM teachers. We finished with a bang and a great poster session. What an inspiring group of future educators! @loyolachicago.bsky.social
Field work in Midwest Oak Savannas includes fruit snacks this time of year! Blueberries and black raspberries for days.
July 3, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Field work in Midwest Oak Savannas includes fruit snacks this time of year! Blueberries and black raspberries for days.
We had a wonderful day yesterday sampling native and invasive legumes at Nachusa grasslands. Such a special place. Huge shout out to @s0il0rgmatters.bsky.social for spending the day with us!
June 28, 2025 at 1:51 PM
We had a wonderful day yesterday sampling native and invasive legumes at Nachusa grasslands. Such a special place. Huge shout out to @s0il0rgmatters.bsky.social for spending the day with us!
Big week for my lab. I presented at #Evol2025 and 2 MS students defended. Congrats Cian (microbiomes and plant soil feedbacks) and Josh (coevolution of Astragalus and rhizobia)!! The whole lab crew celebrated with drinks on the Lakeshore (5 min walk from lab).
June 26, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Big week for my lab. I presented at #Evol2025 and 2 MS students defended. Congrats Cian (microbiomes and plant soil feedbacks) and Josh (coevolution of Astragalus and rhizobia)!! The whole lab crew celebrated with drinks on the Lakeshore (5 min walk from lab).
Day 2 of our Walder Foundation and NSF sponsored Data Nuggets @datanuggets.bsky.social workshop was also a big success! We had preservice, middle, and high school teachers from throughout Chicago and from several other states. Huge thank you to @eschultheis.bsky.social @kjelvikm.bsky.social and Sam.
June 19, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Day 2 of our Walder Foundation and NSF sponsored Data Nuggets @datanuggets.bsky.social workshop was also a big success! We had preservice, middle, and high school teachers from throughout Chicago and from several other states. Huge thank you to @eschultheis.bsky.social @kjelvikm.bsky.social and Sam.
Day 1 of our Walder Foundation sponsored Data Nuggets @datanuggets.bsky.social workshop was a big success! Scientists from Loyola, the Field Museum and Chicago State built new Data Nuggets on prairie restoration, Anolis lizards, plant microbiomes, and endangered mice..and we caught a Cubs game!
June 18, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Day 1 of our Walder Foundation sponsored Data Nuggets @datanuggets.bsky.social workshop was a big success! Scientists from Loyola, the Field Museum and Chicago State built new Data Nuggets on prairie restoration, Anolis lizards, plant microbiomes, and endangered mice..and we caught a Cubs game!
Fun night of comedy and science focused on sex/gender. Thom Sanger @thomsanger.bsky.social and Greg Matthews @statsinthewild.bsky.social rocked it!
June 13, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Fun night of comedy and science focused on sex/gender. Thom Sanger @thomsanger.bsky.social and Greg Matthews @statsinthewild.bsky.social rocked it!
Last Lupinus perennis inflorescence and first Tephrosia virginiana flower in this remnant sand prairie in central Illinois. (Plus lots of ticks).
June 12, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Last Lupinus perennis inflorescence and first Tephrosia virginiana flower in this remnant sand prairie in central Illinois. (Plus lots of ticks).
Students in my lab have been busy measuring AMF root colonization this week. We are asking if remnant prairie soil inoculation improves plant establishment for native species with low success in restoration sites. @loyolachicago.bsky.social
June 12, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Students in my lab have been busy measuring AMF root colonization this week. We are asking if remnant prairie soil inoculation improves plant establishment for native species with low success in restoration sites. @loyolachicago.bsky.social
The preRETs (REUs going into teaching) in our NSF funded program had a great time today at the Museum of Science and Industry @msichicago.bsky.social exploring the exhibits and learning about opportunities for teachers. Here they are in a real submarine captured from the Nazis 81 years ago today
June 4, 2025 at 11:14 PM
The preRETs (REUs going into teaching) in our NSF funded program had a great time today at the Museum of Science and Industry @msichicago.bsky.social exploring the exhibits and learning about opportunities for teachers. Here they are in a real submarine captured from the Nazis 81 years ago today
Love my summer bike commute to lab! Golden Alexander, Ohio Spiderwort, and Columbines are in full bloom in the restored prairie patches along the North Channel Trail in Chicago.
May 30, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Love my summer bike commute to lab! Golden Alexander, Ohio Spiderwort, and Columbines are in full bloom in the restored prairie patches along the North Channel Trail in Chicago.
Had a great Memorial day family hike in northern Michigan.
May 26, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Had a great Memorial day family hike in northern Michigan.
Was able to find some late Morels Northern Michigan.
May 24, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Was able to find some late Morels Northern Michigan.
On my way back to Chicago after a successful week chasing locoweeds (Astragalus) in California. This was my first time collecting out west since 2020. Looking forward to getting rhizobia out of these guys.
May 15, 2025 at 10:50 PM
On my way back to Chicago after a successful week chasing locoweeds (Astragalus) in California. This was my first time collecting out west since 2020. Looking forward to getting rhizobia out of these guys.
Congrats to our lab graduates from @loyolachicago.bsky.social . Cian and Josh will be defending their Masters this summer. Zoe and Edie have been long time undergrads in the lab. You will be missed!
May 10, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Congrats to our lab graduates from @loyolachicago.bsky.social . Cian and Josh will be defending their Masters this summer. Zoe and Edie have been long time undergrads in the lab. You will be missed!
Some of the native plants I saw blooming during my bike commute this morning along the North Channel Trail in Chicago.
May 8, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Some of the native plants I saw blooming during my bike commute this morning along the North Channel Trail in Chicago.