Monica Donegan

My research focuses on the evolutionary ecology of a bacterial plant pathogen. Using both computational genomics and large-scale field studies, I am investigating the mechanisms and effects of local adaptation to temperature in bacterial populations across California. 

Admittance Semester/Year and Program

Fall 2020, PhD in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management

Designated Emphasis in Computational Biology 

Education

BA, Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 2016 

MES, Environmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 2017 

Research Lab

Almeida Lab 

Selected Publications

• Liu, R., … Donegan, M.A., … De La Fuente, L. 2025. Natural competence in the bacterial pathogen Xylella fastidiosa varies across genotype and is associated with adhesins. PLoS Pathogens 21(12), e1013757.DOI

• Donegan, M.A*., Kahn, A.K.*, Becker, N.* et al. 2025. Century-old herbarium specimen provides insights into Pierce’s disease of grapevines emergence in the Americas. CurrentBiology 35, 1-9.DOI. *co-authors with equal contributions

• Abdelrazek, S., … Donegan, M.A., … Vinatzer, B.A. 2024. A survey of Xylella fastidiosa in the US state of Virginia reveals wide distribution of both subspecies fastidiosa and multiplex in grapevine. Phytopathology 114, 35-46.DOI

• Kahn, A.K., Sicard, A., Cooper, M., Daugherty, M., Donegan, M.A., & Almeida, R.P.P. 2023. Progression of Xylella fastidiosa infection in grapevines under field conditions. Phytopathology 113, 1465-1473.DOI

• Donegan, M.A., Coletta-Filho, H. & Almeida, R.P.P. 2023. Parallel Host Shifts in a Bacterial Plant Pathogen suggest Independent Genetic Solutions. Molecular Plant Pathology 24, 527-535.DOI

Selected Presentations

• 2025, Invited Talk, North Coast Integrated Pest Management Seminar. “How grape varietal and pathogen genotypes shape Pierce’s Disease outcomes in California.” Online.

• 2025, Poster Presentation,American Phytopathological Society Plant Health Conference “Gene flow   contributes to local adaptation to temperatures in a Plant Pathogen.” O’ahu, HI.

• 2025, Invited Talk, BeXyl (Beyond Xylella) Seminar. “Using herbarium sampling to understand Pierce’s disease of grapevines emergence in the Americas.” [Youtube Link]. Online.

• 2024, Poster Presentation, International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria & Biocontrol. “Winter tolerance in distinct Xylella fastidiosa populations indicates local adaptation to climate.” Blacksburg, VA.

• 2023, Poster Presentation, Gordon Research Conference, Microbial Population Biology. “Local adaptation of a bacterial plant pathogen across California: Genomics and insights from the Field.” Andover, NH.

• 2022, Invited Talk, Current Issues in Vineyard Health Conference. “Field Progression of X. fastidiosa infection and Pierce’s Disease symptom development.” Davis, CA.

• 2022, Contributed TalkBay Area Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease Conference. “Genetic Evolution of a Convergent Host Shift in Xylella fastidiosa.” Online.

• 2021, Invited Talk, UC Berkeley Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease Seminar. “Genetic Evolution of a Plant Pathogen Host Shift.” Berkeley, CA.

• 2021,Poster Presentation, Biology of Genomes Conference, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. “Gene Gain and   Loss is Linked to Host Jumps in a Plant Pathogen.” Online.

Selected Honors and Awards

• NIFA Predoctoral Fellowship, USDA, 2023-2026

• Best Student Paper, Molecular Plant Pathology, 2023

• Viticulture and Enology Fellowship, Nat. Restaurant Assoc. Educational Foundation, 2022

• Berkeley Graduate Assembly, Professional Development Award, 2022

• ESPMContinuing Fellowship, UC Berkeley, 2022

• D-Lab Data Science Fellowship, UC Berkeley, 2022-2023

• ESPM William Carroll Smith Fellowship, UC Berkeley, 2021

• Walker Endowment Grant, University of Pennsylvania, 2017

• The Neysa Cristol Adams Prize in Biology (Honorable Mention), 2016