Ecology & Evolution

Benjamin Ajayi

Room: 4055
KIN

I research how plant variation reflects evolutionary diversification and the reconstruction of plant genes' evolutionary histories using molecular systematics and morpho-anatomy

• Major Professor: Dr. Austin R. Mast
• baa23a@fsu.edu

Penelope Ales

• Major Professor: Dr. Nora Underwood
• pales@bio.fsu.edu

Erica Atkins

Room: 4023
King
Mailcode: 4295

• Major Professor: Dr. Darin Rokyta
• eatkins@bio.fsu.edu

Donaven Baughman

My research focuses on the impacts of predators and environmental factors on the physiological processes and allocation of energy to various important life history characteristics (e.g., growth, predation defense, and reproduction) of eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica). The goal of my work is to inform the future management  of wild oysters and improve aquaculture outcomes by understanding the impacts of biotic (predators) and abiotic (environmental) factors on individual oysters and how these impacts may scale-up to alter population dynamics and oyster harvest outcomes. 

• Major Professor: Dr. Joel Trexler
• dbaughman@fsu.edu

Jacob Beretta

• Major Professor: Dr. Dean Grubbs
• jhb24h@fsu.edu

Emilie Broussard

• Major Professor: Dr. Darin R. Rokyta
• ebroussard@bio.fsu.edu

Abigail Dittmar

I use a combination of mathematical models and field-based experiments to study mechanisms of plant resistance to insect herbivory. I am especially interested in how individual-level interactions scale up to affect the spatial structures of populations and communities and how spatiotemporal variability can shape population and community dynamics. My research lies at the intersection of basic and applied science and I work in both natural and agricultural systems. 

• Major Professor: Dr. Nora Underwood
• adittmar@fsu.edu

Laurel Field

Room: 4004
KIN

Laurel’s research focuses on the implementation, tracking, management, and socio-ecological aspects of area-based marine conservation tools. She is also interested in the development of sustainable marine food systems and the compatibility of marine conservation and mariculture goals in ocean spaces.

• Major Professor: Dr. Sarah Lester
• lcf22a@fsu.edu

Juan Felipe Gomez Quijano

• Major Professor: Dr. Emily H. DuVal
• jg26bl@fsu.edu

Daniel Gutierrez

Room: 4004
King Life Science Building

I am interested in the evolution of complex social behavior. I study cooperative behavior in Lance-tail Manakins aiming to understand the drivers of behavioral variation in male-male displaying partnerships. 

• Major Professor: Dr. Emily H. DuVal
• dag23@fsu.edu

Emma Jackson

• Major Professor: Dr. Dean Grubbs
• esj19@fsu.edu

Marilla Lippert

• Major Professor: Dr. Sarah Lester
• mrl24d@fsu.edu

Bentley Mercer

• Major Professor: Dr. Joel Trexler
• Home Page
• brm20@fsu.edu

Carlie Ochoa

Room: 242
BRF

I study the proximate mechanisms of speciation in North American chorus frogs. I'm broadly interested in the neural and genomic basis for population-level differences in mating traits that drive macroevolutionary processes. 

• Major Professor: Dr. Emily C. Lemmon
• cba21@fsu.edu

Irini Psomas

• Major Professor: Dr. Emily Lemmon
• iep20b@fsu.edu

Signe Renstrom

• Major Professor: Dr. Joel Trexler
• ser25a@fsu.edu

Miles Robertson

I am interested in the mechanisms that drive epidemics. I use mathematical models and computer simulations to analyze such disease systems.

• Major Professor: Dr. Michael Cortez
• Home Page
• mrobertson@bio.fsu.edu

Simone Schuster

Room: 4079
King

Simone studies nutrient cycling in coastal wetlands. Biogeochemical processes are very active in coastal wetlands, especially their soils.  She is specifically interested in nutrient stocks and burial rates in wetland soils throughout the coast of Florida. She also focuses on organic and inorganic nitrogen ratios in wetland soils and how nutrient limitation affects this ratio.  

• Major Professor: Dr. Josh Breithaupt
• ses24d@fsu.edu

Grace Soltis

• Major Professor: Dr. Nora Underwood
• gs22n@fsu.edu

Kathleen Torrence

• Major Professor: Dr. Scott J. Steppan
• kgt14@fsu.edu

Rowan Wyss

• Major Professor: Dr. Austin Mast
• rhw25@fsu.edu