Graduate Students
Each graduate student belongs to one of three administrative areas:
Abotsi, Alberta
Email: ama23e@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Scott Stagg
Adedibu, Peter
Email: paa24b@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Hank Bass
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Ajayi, Benjamin
I research how plant variation reflects evolutionary diversification and the reconstruction of plant genes' evolutionary histories using molecular systematics and morpho-anatomy
Office: 4055 KIN Building
Email: baa23a@fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Austin R. Mast
Alcantara, Fatima
Email: falcantara@fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Nora Underwood
Second Major Professor: Dr. Brian D. Inouye
Ales, Penelope
Email: pales@bio.fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Nora Underwood
Second Major Professor: Dr. Brian D. Inouye
Anthony, Laura
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.
Office: 2024 King Building (4295)
Email: lanthony@bio.fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Sandra D. Brooke
Second Major Professor: Dr. Don R. Levitan
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Antonyan, Sona
Email: antonyan@psy.fsu.edu
Area: Neuroscience
Major Professor: Dr. Qian Yin
Second Major Professor: Dr. Wen Zhu
Arnold, Zachary
Office: King Life Science Building (4295)
Email: zta20@fsu.edu
Area: Neuroscience
Major Professor: Dr. Debra Fadool
Atkins, Erica
Office: 4023 King Building (4295)
Email: eatkins@bio.fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Darin Rokyta
Awiaga, Collins
Office: 4055 KIN Building
Email: cawiaga@bio.fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Darin R. Rokyta
Baran, Matthew
Email: mtb22a@fsu.edu
Homepage: https://www.bio.fsu.edu/faculty.php?faculty-id=rassweiler
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Andrew Rassweiler
Baughman, Donaven
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.
Email: dbaughman@fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Joel Trexler
Second Major Professor: Dr. Daniel Okamoto
Behrouz Sharif, Shahin
Email: ssharif@bio.fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Jonathan H. Dennis
Bell, Tracey
Email: tbell@bio.fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Steven Lenhert
Bilodeau, Katherine
Email: kbilodeau@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Kathryn M. Jones
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Blanchette, Allie
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.
Email: ablanchette@bio.fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Andrew Rassweiler
Boglaev, Annastassia
Email: aab21n@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Jonathan H. Dennis
Bongiovi, Isabella
My research aims to uncover how chemotherapeutic drugs exert their effects at the molecular level. Using gene editing and the GeCKO system, I investigate the pathways activated by Oxaliplatin, the primary treatment for colorectal cancer. I am particularly interested in how drug–gene interactions shape treatment response, with the goal of identifying new therapeutic targets and improving cancer therapy.
Email: imb21b@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Jonathan H. Dennis
Broussard, Emilie
Email: ebroussard@bio.fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Darin R. Rokyta
Calderon, Cristian
Email: cc21bj@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Jonathan H. Dennis
Carson, Lauren
Email: lacarson@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Hong-Guo Yu
Chandrashekhar, Sanjana
Email: sc24bc@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. James Jordan
Charles, Tiyanna
Email: tc23bf@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Qian Yin
Cherniak, Sophia
Email: spc22a@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Jonathan H. Dennis
Collver, Makayla
Email: mdc21c@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Jonathan H. Dennis
Dawdy, Ashley
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.
Email: adawdy@bio.fsu.edu
Homepage: https://marinelab.fsu.edu/people/students/gradcurrent/
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Dean Grubbs
DePeri, Madison
Email: med23e@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Amy Webster
Dilliplane, Jacob
Email: jdilliplane@fsu.edu
Area: Neuroscience
Major Professor: Dr. James M. Fadool
Dittmar, Abigail
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.
Email: adittmar@fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Nora Underwood
Second Major Professor: Dr. Brian D. Inouye
Domen, Adin
I have a general interest in marine ecology, however my current work consists of identifying oyster-based habitat preference in economically important fishes and crustacean species in Apalachicola Bay, FL.
Office: Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory Building
Email: and18h@fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Sandra D. Brooke
Second Major Professor: Dr. Joel Trexler
Douglas, AidanDarian
Email: awd20@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Ashwanth Francis
Dubel, Alexandra
Email: adubel@bio.fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Andrew Rassweiler
Duncan, Anna
Email: ajd22n@fsu.edu
Homepage: https://www.bio.fsu.edu/faculty.php?faculty-id=dennis
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Jonathan H. Dennis
Ebuara, Francis
Office: KIN3004 King Building
Email: fuebuara@bio.fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Darin R. Rokyta
Field, Laurel
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.
Office: 4004 KIN Building
Email: lcf22a@fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Sarah Lester
Fisher, Gabrielle
Email: gtf17@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Kathryn M. Jones
Fuqua, Emily
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 organism’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
Email: efuqua@fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Sandra D. Brooke
Second Major Professor: Dr. Don R. Levitan
Gebreab, Yacob
Email: ybg16@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Karen McGinnis
Gheith, Yazeed
Email: yg23c@fsu.edu
Homepage: https://www.bio.fsu.edu/faculty.php?faculty-id=dennis
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Jonathan H. Dennis
Giaccone, Alyssa
Email: ajg22i@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Jonathan H. Dennis
Goodman, Adam
Email: ag24bc@fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Andrew Rassweiler
Gramathil, Anuvind Kalpetta
I am investigating the mechanism and functional significance of telomere tethering to the nuclear periphery in budding yeast. Currently, I study the interplay between the LINC complex and Sir complex during meiosis. Yeast is not just used for baking, but to do science as well! :)
Office: 308 Biology Unit 1 Building
Email: ak22bi@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Hong-Guo Yu
Guha Roy, Rimil
Office: 3004 KING Life Sciences Building
Email: rg23d@fsu.edu
Area: Neuroscience
Major Professor: Dr. Debra A. Fadool
Gutierrez, Daniel
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.
Office: 4004 King Life Science Building Building
Email: dag23@fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Emily H. DuVal
Hawkins, Morgan
My research focuses on the morphological and behavioral differences that exist between cultured and wild sourced bivalves. These differences lead to large post-release mortalities, effecting the success of restoration aquaculture. My work helps to identify and correct those differences at the FSUCML Shellfish Restoration and Research hatchery, helping to optimize restoration aquaculture for the Florida bay scallop.
Email: mehawkins@fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Sandra D. Brooke
Second Major Professor: Dr. Janie L. Wulff
Hiott, Daniel
Email: deh23@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. David Thoms
Holcomb, Jared
I am interested in identifying the gene products that are critical in the pathways of poorly characterized cytotoxic drugs.
Office: 2024 KIN Building
Email: jh24e@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Jonathan H. Dennis
Horacek, Joseph
Email: hhoracek@bio.fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Jeroen Ingels
Second Major Professor: Dr. Scott J. Steppan
No grad students
Kallam, Yaswanth
Email: yrk23@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Guangxia Miao
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Khadem, Mahdi
Email: mkhadem@bio.fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Jonathan H. Dennis
Khan, Auroni
How does fatty liver come to be!
Office: 3004 King Life Sciences Building
Email: ask24e@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. James Jordan
Koirtyohann, Kathryn
My research is focused on the molecular biology of plants, primarily maize and peanut. I study regulation of gene expression by RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM), transcription factor binding, and noncoding RNAs. The regulatory landscape of plants is extremely complex, and my goal is to uncover some of these networks of regulatory molecules and genes, particularly those involved in response to abiotic stress.
Office: 2024 King Building
Email: kmk20cn@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Karen M. McGinnis
Mackey, Calvin
Email: cmackey@bio.fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Kathryn M. Jones
Martinez-Mackay, Rylee
Email: rmm22b@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Amy Webster
Menlove, Bridger
My research interests lie in understanding the relationship between physiology and odor processing. I'm currently investigating how satiety signals influence olfactory input to investigate the role of the olfactory bulb as a metabolic sensor.
Office: 3014 King Life Sciences Building
Email: bm23b@fsu.edu
Area: Neuroscience
Major Professor: Dr. Debra A. Fadool
Mercer, Bentley
Email: brm20@fsu.edu
Homepage: https://www.bio.fsu.edu/faculty.php?faculty-id=trexler
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Joel Trexler
Muschett-Bonilla, Annais
My research investigates reproductive strategies in elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, rays, and sawfish). My goal is to understand variation in maternal investment between closely and distantly related species, along with variation at an individual level. The physiological mechanisms that drive the mode of embryonic nourishment in these species are being investigated, along with studies attempting to highlight the biochemical content and nutrient composition of fluids used to nourish embryos in various species. Finally, after attempting to understand how and to what extent mothers nourish their embryos, my research aims to determine the effects of maternal investment on the mother and assess potential costs of large maternal investment in these species.
Email: amuschettbonilla@fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Dean Grubbs
Nabi, Soheila
Email: sn23h@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Thomas A. Houpt
Ochoa, Carlie
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.
Office: 242 BRF Building
Email: cba21@fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Emily C. Lemmon
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Osei, Linda
Email: Lao23d@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. James Jordan
Second Major Professor: Dr. Amy Webster
Osuya, Innocent
Office: 519 Kasha Laboratory Building
Email: ioo23a@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Scott Stagg
Panahidizjikan, Zohre
Email: zp23@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Liz Brown
Paniagua Montoya, Monica
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.
Email: mpaniagua@bio.fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Nora Underwood
Second Major Professor: Dr. Brian D. Inouye
Redfern, Bryce
Email: bredfern@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Kathryn M. Jones
Remedies, Colton
Email: colton.remedies@med.fsu.edu
Area: Neuroscience
Major Professor: Dr. Lisa Lyons
Ribeiro Alves, Camilla
Email: cra24c@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. James Jordan
Robertson, Miles
I am interested in the mechanisms that drive epidemics. I use mathematical models and computer simulations to analyze such disease systems.
Email: mrobertson@bio.fsu.edu
Homepage: https://www.codingetc.com
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Michael Cortez
Schuster, Simone
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.
Office: 4079 King Building
Email: ses24d@fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Josh Breithaupt
Second Major Professor: Dr. Austin Mast
Shakeshaft, Morgan
Email: mshakeshaft@bio.fsu.edu
Area: Neuroscience
Major Professor: Dr. Roberto Vincis
Sheridan, Bianca
Email: bs20dp@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Hank Bass
Second Major Professor: Dr. Ashwanth Francis
Soltis, Grace
Email: gs22n@fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Nora Underwood
Second Major Professor: Dr. Brian D. Inouye
Streleckis, Aiden
Email: as25bc@fsu.edu
Area: Neuroscience
Major Professor: Dr. Douglas Storace
Second Major Professor: Dr. Adam Dewan
Sullivan, Jessica
Email: jrs22ba@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Thomas A. Houpt (cbMS)
Tocci, Vincent
Email: vmt19@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Steven Lenhert
Torrence, Kathleen
Email: kgt14@fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Scott J. Steppan
Torres, Hannah
BSC2011L TA | MS Thesis Student
Office: 2024 King Building
Email: hst21@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Jonathan H. Dennis
Turner, Caileen
I am interested in the immune system interactions between bacteria and plants, specifically involving Pattern-Triggered Immunity (PTI) and Effector-Triggered Immunity (ETI). My experience in the lab involves molecular techniques, aseptic principles, DNA isolation, and more. Currently interested in expanding my knowledge in molecular techniques and programming for scientific applications.
Office: 307 Bio Unit 1 Building
Email: cat22@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. David Thoms
Tyagi, Manisha
Email: mt22m@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Ashwanth Francis
Second Major Professor: Dr. Qian Yin
Uddin, Syed Mohammed Ashfaque
Email: su25d@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor:
No grad students
Waddell, Nick
Email: nwaddell@bio.fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Jian Feng
Whalen, Niall
Email: nwhalen@bio.fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Gregory M. Erickson
Second Major Professor: Dr. Jonathan H. Dennis
Williams, Brittney
Email: bcw21b@fsu.edu
Area: Cell and Molecular Biology
Major Professor: Dr. Jonathan H. Dennis
No grad students
Young, Alaina
Tom Miller, Tara Stewart Merrill, and R. Dean Grubbs labs: Evolution and Ecology Area Master's Thesis Student studying Elasmobrach Parasitology
Office: 4055 King Building
Email: aayoung@fsu.edu
Area: Ecology & Evolution
Major Professor: Dr. Tom Miller
Second Major Professor: Dr. Tara Stewart-Merrill
