FSU Biology - Current Grad Students

Kristen Abreu Neuroscience Major Prof: Feng	Sara Akram Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Bass	Fatima Alcantara Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr.Underwood
Penelope Ales Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Nora Underwood	Alicia Allen Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr.Winn	Carlie Anderson Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Lemmon 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.
Laura Anthony Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Brooke I am interested in the ecophysiology of habitat-forming deep-sea corals. My dissertation research focuses on the environmental drivers that affect the reproductive biology of several reef-forming deep-sea corals around the globe.	Sona Antonyan Neuroscience	Lorea Arambarri Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. Jonathan Dennis Investigating the consequences of Traumatic Brain Injury on chromatin features
Erica Atkins Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Burgess	Danielle Barnes Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Burgess	Marena Bass Neuroscience Major Prof: Dr. Houpt
Donavan Baughman Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr.Shantz	Curissa Beatty Neuroscience	Shahin Behrouz Sharif Cell and Molecular Biology
Tracey Bell Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Lenhert	Jane Benoit Cell and Molecular Biology I am interested in the relationships between chromatin architecture, gene expression, and cellular processes. My projects include characterizing chromatin remodeling events during viral infection, innate immune stimulation, and cancer progression.	Amber Bernstein Neuroscience
Rachael Best Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Levitan	Katherine Bilodeau Cell and Molecular Biology	Rachel Biton Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Breithaupt/Miller My research interests focus on mangroveÂ ecosystems acrossÂ Apalachicola Bay. I aim to examine the recent population growth rates of two resident species (Black and Red) across a regional latitudinal gradient. As well as determine what resources (e.g. nutrients, water) and regulators (freezing temperatures) are correlation with mangrove populations.Â This information will help to better understand how various environmentalÂ factorsÂ influence mangrove species and their shift in distribution patterns to helpÂ future management strategies and predict dispersal responses to environmental changes in an ecosystem.Â
Allie Blanchette Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Rassweiler I am interested in studying how species interactions and human activities play into the resilience of marine ecosystems. There's also a special place in my heart for farmer damselfish.	Annais Bonilla-Johnson Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr.Grubbs	Cecilia Bouaichi Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Vincis
Randi Bowman Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: McCoy I am broadly interested in studying how biodiversity affects ecosystem functioning in coral reef ecosystems. My dissertation research focuses on identifying and predicting spatial and temporal shifts in coral functional diversity in response to anthropogenic stressors, and determining which aspects of functional diversity are key to maintaining high levels of ecosystem functioning in the face of regular disturbance regimes. (Pronouns: she/her/hers)	Emilie Broussard Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Rokyta	Christopher Carroll Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dennis
Lauren Carson Cell and Molecular Biology	Javed Chitaman Neuroscience Major Prof: Dr. Feng	Jason Cote Neuroscience Major Prof: Dr. Houpt
Ishwaree Datta Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. Bangi	Danielle Davis Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Miller	Ashley Dawdy Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Grubbs I am primarily interested in the behavioral ecology of elasmobranchs, particularly species of conservation concern. My past research used active and passive acoustic telemetry to investigate movement and habitat use patterns in coastal sharks. I am currently investigating social and mating behavior in the critically endangered smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) in the Florida Keys, and the habitat use of cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) in Apalachicola Bay, FL. This work contributes to the delineation of essential fish habitat and informs the building of successful species conservation plans.
Jessica Dehn Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Grubbs	Grayson DeLong Neuroscience Major Prof: Tom Houpt	Jacob Dilliplane Neuroscience Major Prof: Dr.J. Fadool
Abigail Dittmar Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Nora Underwood 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.	Alexandra Dubel Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Rassweiler	Mysia Dye Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Lemmon
Francis Ebuara Cell and Molecular Biology	Schyler Ellsworth Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Rokyta	Laurel Field Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Lester 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.
Leslie Fillmore Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr.Winn	Gabrielle Fisher Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. Jones	Emily Fuqua Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Brooke My research interests are based in applied ecophysiology. I am interested in how anthropogenic changes to the environment, such as increasing ocean temperature and increasing anoxic zones, affect an organismâ€™s physiology, and in turn, how physiological changes affect ecology and population dynamics. My PhD research will focus on Eastern oyster health in the Apalachicola Bay system, and my goal is to assist fisheries managers and conservationists in restoring and preserving a healthy oyster population in Apalachicola Bay.Â
Yashika Garg Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Stroupe	Destinee Gatlin Neuroscience Major Prof: Fadool	Yacob Gebreab Cell and Molecular Biology
Alexa Guerrera Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Hughes I am interested in social behavior and how interactions among conspecifics can drive evolutionary processes. Currently, I am studying the effects of male-male competition and female preference on the maintenance of genetic diversity in Trinidadian guppies. Pronouns: she/her/hers	Gabrielle Harris Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr.Winn	Morgan Hawkins Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr.Brooke
Michael Hogan Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Rokyta	Rubel Hoq Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. Jonathan Dennis	Joseph Horacek Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Ingels
Tyler Hunt Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Erickson	Benton Jaco Ecology & Evolution My studies focus on marine algae. Algae are ubiquitous throughout the oceans and their impacts are just as far reaching. Currently, I am studying how allelopathic interactions impact the development and proliferation of the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis - the species responsible for Florida's 'Red Tides'. These harmful blooms release toxins which kill hundreds of tons of marine life annually and negatively impact human health. By studying allelopathic interactions between K. brevis and other algal species I hope to uncover novel means to alleviate this damage. In the future, I would like to investigate marine drug discovery, HAB monitoring, algae biofuel production and algae based material production in an academic or industrial setting.	Nicholas Johnson Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Steppan
Luke Jones Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Houle In the Houle lab, I use experimental evolution/artificial selection and whole-genome resequencing, to research parallel genetic evolution between evolved populations of D. melanogaster and D. simulans. These two closely related species offer the ability to evaluate the predictability of genetic evolution in response to an identical selection pressure.	Anuvind Kalpetta Gramathil Cell and Molecular Biology In the Yu lab, I work on understanding how chromosome tethering to the nuclear periphery works. Yeast is not just used for baking, but to do science as well! :)	Graham Kaplan Neuroscience Major Prof: Dr. Feng
Sarah Kettelkamp Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Travis I am interested in evolutionary genetics, specifically in the context of sexual conflict. My dissertation is focused on understanding the genetics of female resistance to male harm in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Pronouns: she/her	Mahdi Khadem Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. Jonathan Dennis	Kathryn Koirtyohann Cell and Molecular Biology Major Professor: McGinnis
Kylie Lawrence Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Rokyta	Ashley Loeven Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. Debi Fadool My research interests lie in understanding intracellular signaling that mediates dietary fat-induced inflammation and irreversible loss of olfactory sensory neurons in mouse models.	Calvin Mackey Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. Jones
Faezeh Maleki Cell and Molecular Biology	Joshua Manning Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. McCoy I am broadly interested in community ecology and the effects of anthropogenic stressors on organismal physiology and ecology. To date, my research has focused on ecological interactions of organisms on coral reefs and the effects of ocean acidification on algal ecology and physiology. My current PhD dissertation research focuses on the role of parrotfish behavior in driving spatial variation in benthic community structure and bioerosion on the fringing coral reefs of Bonaire, Netherlands.	Mariela Marques Neuroscience Major Prof: Dr.Vincis
Mardeliz (Marty) Martinez Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr.Burgess	Sean McCollum Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: McCoy	Angelica Medina Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. Tang
Melanie Medina Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Levitan I'm interested in reproduction and mate choice of simulataneous hermaphrodites and how this reproductive strategy is a potential mechanism for the maintenance of variation in marine gastropods such as sea slugs.	Anna Daniela Metzler Cell and Molecular Biology	Scott Miller Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Rassweiler
Brian Moe Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Cotton	Patience Moseley Neuroscience Major Prof: Fadool	Maya Munstermann Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Okamoto My research currently focuses on the effects of climate change, such as increasing sea surface temperatures and marine heat waves, on a key marine herbivore, the purple sea urchin (Stongylocentrotus purpuratus) in California kelp forest ecosystems. More specifically, I focus on responses to thermal stressors during both larval and adult life history stages, which can provide important information on the population dynamics of this species, and ultimately the dynamics of kelp forests.
Isanze Nudalo Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr.Winn	Gunnar Nystrom Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Rokyta	Ryan Ochoa Neuroscience Major Prof: Dr. D. Fadool
Jared Osland Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Steppan	Monica Paniagua Montoya Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Underwood I am interested in how differences among conspecific individuals impact interactions, population dynamics and community level processes. In particular, I am interested in the tritrophic interactions of plants, herbivores, and enemies of herbivores.	Fritz Pichardo Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Mast
Benjamin Pluer Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Travis I am broadly interested in better understanding the evolution and ecology of microbial symbionts in the digestive system of fish. In particular, I'm interested in identifying the role of digestive system microbial symbionts in alleviating the nutrient loading stress in local freshwater systems, using metagenomic and metaproteomic analysis of key microbial species, to determine contribution to adaptation.	Jackson Powell Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Burgess My research focuses on the potential for evolutionary rescue in marine invertebrates with complex life cycles. I take a quantitative genetics approach to estimate additive genetic variance in, and genetic correlations between, traits in larval and adult life stages. To estimate these variances and correlations, I conduct breeding designs and environmental manipulations using Molgula occidentalis and Bugula neritina, two invertebrates found in nearby shallow subtidal waters.	Meizhu Qi Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. Debra Fadool
Maria Quintero Rodriquez Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Bangi	Hosna Rastegarpouyani Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: FYAC	Bryce Redfern Cell and Molecular Biology
Colton Remedies Neuroscience Major Prof: Feng	Bobbie Renfro Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Wulff I am generally interested in conducting research, teaching, and public outreach related to tropical marine ecology and anthropogenic disturbance. Specifically, my dissertation research explores the effects of nutrient enrichment on Caribbean reef sponges.	Aaron Ridall Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Ingels I am broadly interested in understanding how anthropogenic pollution is affecting marine environments. I am particularly interested in how the presence of microplastics changes ecosystem function in subtidal sediments. My current research focuses on quantifying the effects of microplastics on bioturbation and biochemistry, specifically oxygen availability and nitrogen cycling, in the subtidal sediments of the northeastern Gulf of Mexico.
Pearl Rivers Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. DuVal My dissertation research investigates the causes and consequences of variability in mate choice in a tropical lekking passerine bird. By examining variation within and between mate choice bouts in relation to neglected signaling modes and across long temporal scales, I hope to better understand the axes of variation in mate choice and their effects on the evolutionary outcomes of sexual selection.	Miles Robertson Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr.Cortez I am interested in the mechanisms that drive epidemics. I use mathematical models and computer simulations to analyze such disease systems.	Noel Robinson Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Trexler
Sayantan Roy Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. Yin	Sarah Ruckman Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Hughes	Sadia Sayed Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. Jonathan Dennis
Shania Schull Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Wulff Interactions between organisms that share space are complex; this is especially true for coral reefs which boast unparallel biodiversity and whose benthic communities are composed of many taxa. Among these taxa, coral reef sponges and stony corals have unique and critical ecosystem functions; while the corals create reef structure and substrate, the sponges promote water clarity and act as a glue holding the reef together. Relationships between sessile reef organisms are often considered competitive, but a closer look tells us that mutualisms and commensalisms also exist between corals and sponges and may be more common than previously expected. By closely examining the point of contact between corals and sponges in addition to their overall growth and health one can interpret how these important functional groups work together to create some of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the Caribbean. Following many pairings of corals and sponge species through time has revealed that coral-sponge interactions can be temporally dynamic and, in some cases, inter- and intra-specifically variable. Consideration for the metrics used to classify interactions as competitive, mutualistic, and commensal and attention to the unique behaviors of coral and sponge species may call for incorporation of multiple taxa (corals and reef sponges) in efficient restoration and conservation efforts in the Caribbean.	Matthew Schumm Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Okamoto My interests include population dynamics, distributions and evolution of (mostly marine and aquatic) organisms, along with development of new quantitative modeling approaches. A current focus of research is eco-evolutionary impacts of harvest on populations.	Morgan Shakeshaft Neuroscience Major Prof: Vincis
Yun Shi Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. P. Bryant Chase My research mainly focuses on Ca2+-dependent thin filament regulation of contraction and cooperative interactions among myofilament proteins in striated muscle, including both skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle. As the Ca2+ sensor of the thin filament, troponin is the major protein that I am particularly interested in. For the projects I am currently involved in, experimental, statistical and computational methods are combined to reveal the characteristics of this protein in both physiological and pathological process, e.g., cardiomyopathy.	Samantha Skrob-Martin Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr.Travis	Grace Soltis Ecology & Evolution
Sixian Song Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Fadool	Nathan Spindel Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Okamoto My goal is to advance our understanding of how trophic dynamics and environmental change affect the metabolic ecology of size-structured populations. I currently study marine invertebrates in temperate kelp forest and tropical coral reef ecosystems as model organisms for understanding these dynamics.	Selma Squafi Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Trexler
Divyaa Srinivasan Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. Fraser	Natalie Storch Neuroscience	Kathleen Torrence Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Steppan
Jesse Turner Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. Bass I am interested in the 3D organization of chromatin within the nucleus and how that relates to other nuclear functions, such as transcription and DNA replication. My current project in the lab is investigating early replication control elements (ERCEs), a discrete class of cis-regulatory elements that act as "enhancers of early replication," but also have roles in maintaining sub-nuclear compartmentalization, transcription, and TAD structure. (he/him/his)	Zachary Turpin Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. Bass	Manisha Tyagi Cell and Molecular Biology
Paola Urlich Cell and Molecular Biology	Athanasios Vouzas Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. Bass	Nick Waddell Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. Feng
Nidhi Walia Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Stroupe	Barry Walton Ecology & Evolution	Miao Wang Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. Zhu
Matthew Ward-Moses Neuroscience Major Prof: Lyons	Austin Werner Neuroscience Major Prof: Dr. J. Fadool	Grace Westphal Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Stewart Merrill/Okamoto
Niall Whalen Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Erickson	Courtney Whitcher Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr. Lemmon I am broadly interested in the evolution of visual and auditory signals in anuran communication and sexual selection. My current project focuses on examining the role of biofluorescence in mate choice and predation of frogs.	Michael Wintermantel Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: Dr.Brooke
Brandon Witmer Ecology & Evolution Major Prof: McCoy	Rui Yang Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Yin	Chris Zelinka Neuroscience
Yijing Zhao Cell and Molecular Biology Major Prof: Dr. Tang I am interested in studying the impact of Zika virus on cell cycle progression.