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EEB Graduate Students
This is a listing of the current graduate students in the EEB Department. Please contact Kathy Tebo to report inaccuracies or omissions.
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Allen, Jenica (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 225
Phone: 860-486-4157
E-mail: jenica.allen@uconn.edu
Silander Lab
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Global change ecology and application of Bayesian methods, with an emphasis on invasive species distributions, plant phenology, climate change impacts, and land use/land cover change. |
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Borowske, Alyssa (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 310A
Phone: (860) 486-3005
E-mail: alyssa.borowske@uconn.edu
Elphick Lab
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Ecology, behavior, and conservation of migratory songbirds; influences of life history characteristics and seasonality on causes and consequences of habitat selection and use; saltmarsh (Ammodramus caudacutus) and seaside (Ammodramus maritimus) sparrows on their breeding and wintering grounds |
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Boukili, Vanessa (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 219
Phone: (860) 486-0805
E-mail: vanessa.boukili@uconn.edu
Chazdon Lab
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Secondary forest regeneration; Neotropical forests; Plant physiology and functional traits; Community ecology. My research will explore the link between plant functional traits and community composition in the neotropics. |
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Brown, Holly (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 402
Phone: (860) 486-0309
E-mail: holly.k.brown@uconn.edu
Rubega Lab
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Ecology of long-legged wading birds, especially in urban areas; conservation biology; urban science education |
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Bueno, Veronica (Doctoral Student)
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Office: TLS 478
Phone: (860) 486-1882
E-mail: veronica.m.bueno@uconn.edu
Caira Lab
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Taxonomy, Systematics and Biogeography of Eucestoda parasites and their elasmobranch hosts. Investigation of co-evolutionary patterns using both morphological and molecular data |
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Burgio, Kevin (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 402
Phone: (860) 486-3839
E-mail: kevin.burgio@uconn.edu
Rubega Lab
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Evidence-based conservation biology; avian behavior, especially the Psitticidae family; invasive species; human/wildlife interactions; ecological modeling. |
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Cisneros, Laura (Doctoral Student)
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Office: CESE 187 Bldg 4 Annex
Phone: (860) 486-1772
E-mail: laura.cisneros@uconn.edu
Willig Lab
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Community Ecology; Metacommunity Ecology; Landscape Ecology; Animal-Plant Interactions; Impacts of Anthropogenic Disturbance on Wildlife; Neotropical Mammals. |
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Divino, Jeffrey (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 210A
Phone: (860) 486-4694
E-mail: jeffrey.divino@uconn.edu
Schultz Lab
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Ecophysiology of threespine sticklebacks: patterns and mechanisms of divergence in osmoregulatory capacity among populations living in different salinities. |
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Field, Christopher (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 310
Phone: (860) 486-3005
E-mail: christopher.field@huskymail.uconn.edu
Elphick Lab
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Population biology of salt marsh birds; evidence-based conservation biology; systematic reserve design; ecological modeling, especially using Bayesian methods; evidence-based science communication. |
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Goemans, Geert (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 323
Phone: (860) 486-3947
E-mail: geert.goemans@uconn.edu
Simon Lab
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Taxonomy, Systematics, Phylogeny, Biodiversity and Biogeography of the cicada tribe Zammarini. My dissertation research aims to combine morphological, molecular, behavioral, acoustic and biogeographic data to make a monograph of the Neotropical tribe Zammarini. I will also produce (digital) identification keys for male and female specimens that should work both for experts and "amateurs" |
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Golden, Heidi (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 211
Phone: (860) 486-6154
E-mail: heidi.golden@uconn.edu
Urban Lab
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Metapopulation dynamics, population genetics and trophic interactions of Arctic freshwater fish. |
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Gould, Marilyn (BS/MS Student)
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Office: TLS 471
Phone: (860) 486-5503
E-mail: marilyn.r.gould@uconn.edu
Wagner Lab
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I am interested in invertebrate conservation, ecosystem services,
community-based conservation and natural resource management, and
sustainable development. |
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Goyes Vallejos, Johana (Doctoral Student)
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Office: TLS 379
Phone: (860) 486-5434
E-mail: johana.goyes-vallejos@uconn.edu
K. Wells Lab
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Behavioral ecology and evolution: sexual selection, animal communication,
mate choice and predation risk in vertebrates, particularly amphibians. |
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Herrick, Susan (Doctoral Student and Instructor in Residence)
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Office: TLS 470
Phone: (860) 486-5662
E-mail: susan.herrick@uconn.edu
K. Wells Lab
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Behavioral ecology and herpetology, particularly interested in social behavior and interspecific interactions. Currently working on spatial and acoustic interactions between breeding ranid frogs |
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Kilroy Mollmann, Hayley (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 223
Phone: (860) 486-4157
E-mail: hayley.kilroy@uconn.edu
Silander Lab
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Plant community ecology, functional ecology, and landscape ecology. Specifically, I am interested in species' distribution/abundance patterns in response to shifting and dynamic climate patterns and human alterations of the landscape. I am currently working on functional traits and dispersal models of plants in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. |
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Klingbeil, Brian (Doctoral Student)
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Office: CESE 187 Bldg 4 Annex
Phone: (860) 486-1772
E-mail: brian.klingbeil@uconn.edu
Willig Lab
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Landscape ecology, biodiversity monitoring and conservation, effects of landscape structure on population, community, and metacommunity dynamics of bats and birds. |
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Kuhn, Kellie (Doctoral Student)
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Office: TLS 375
Phone: (860) 486-0858
E-mail: kellie.kuhn@uconn.edu
Colwell Lab
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Plant-animal interactions, coevolution, metacommunity dynamics - specifically, I am interested in how positive species interactions (e.g., mutualistic interactions) influence community structure and dynamics. Currently, I am investigating the interaction between the ant Myrmelachista flavocotea and its obligate host plants Ocotea atirrensis and O. dendrodaphne. |
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Lewis, Lily (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 312A
Phone: (860) 486-6306
E-mail: lily.lewis@uconn.edu
Goffinet Lab
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Population genetics and phylogeny of the dung moss genus Tetraplodon |
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Meister, Russell (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 323
Phone: (860) 486-3947
E-mail: russell.meister@uconn.edu
Simon Lab
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Phylogeny, Systematics, and Coevolution of cicadas and their gut endosymbionts. Also I will also focus on the isolation of bacterial proteins from these symbionts in order to study their function. I also am interested in DNA barcoding. |
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Mickley, James (Doctoral Student)
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Office: TLS 363
Phone: (860) 486-4638
E-mail: james.mickley@uconn.edu
Schlichting Lab
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Botany, fire ecology, invasion dynamics, seed banks, modeling, databases and information management, floral selection and the evolutionary significance of merosity in angiosperms. |
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Mocko, Kerri (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 400A
Phone: (860) 486-4027
E-mail: kerri.mocko@uconn.edu
Jones Lab
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Evolution of form and function in vascular plants; leaf traits; South African plants and specifically the genus Pelargonium (Geraniaceae) |
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Moore, Tim (Doctoral Student)
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Office: TLS 363A
Phone: (860) 486-4638
E-mail: timothy.e.moore@uconn.edu
Schlichting Lab
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Plant molecular systematics; primarily in its application to questions of adaptation and understanding of the processes that drive inter- and intraspecific variation in functional attributes, as well as the implications these processes may have for ecology and evolution. Focusing on the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. |
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Olsen, Benjamin (Masters Student)
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Office: TLS 471
Phone: (860) 486-5503
E-mail: benjamin.olsen@uconn.edu
Wagner Lab
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I am interested in a broad range of topics including behavioral ecology of insects; insect conservation, and multi-trophic interactions in the neotropics |
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Owen, Christopher (Doctoral Student)
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Office: TLS 461
Phone: (860) 486-6650
E-mail: christopher.l.owen@uconn.edu
Simon Lab
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Phylogenetics/Phylogenomics; Systematics; Transcriptomics; Diversification; Biogeography; Speciation. My dissertation research aims to combine molecular, morphological, spatial, and climate data to explore the processes that contribute to the radiation of the Australian cicada genus Pauropsalta throughout Australia to become one of the most diverse and successful groups of Australian cicadas. |
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Payne, Summer (BS/MS Student)
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Office:
Phone: (860) 486-1811
E-mail: summer.payne@uconn.edu
Jones Lab
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Overall, my focus is in renewable energy as a means to a sustainable future. With the help of Dr. Louise Lewis, I’m researching how to culture green algae to use as a source for renewable fuel. And my internship is with a coal-powered utility that is undergoing changes to be powered by municipal solid waste instead. |
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Rack, Jessica (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 211
Phone: (860) 486-6154
E-mail: jessica.rack@uconn.edu
Urban Lab
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Predator-prey chemical signaling in amphibians; coevolution; differences in behavioral responses to chemical cues on a spatial scale. |
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Razyfard, Hamid (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 319
Phone: (860) 486-3937
E-mail: hamid.razyfard@uconn.edu
Les Lab
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Angiosperm systematics, phylogeny, and population genetics; particularly
in Elatine L. (Elatinaceae), a genus of aquatic herbs. |
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Redmond, Sarah (Doctoral Student)
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Office:
Phone: (203) 251-8530
E-mail: sarah.redmond@uconn.edu
Yarish Lab
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Ecophysiology of marine macroalgae, development of mariculture techniques for native seaweed species |
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Rico Guevara, Alejandro (Doctoral Student)
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Office: Pharmacy/Biology 404
Phone: (860) 486-0309
E-mail: a.rico@uconn.edu
Rubega Lab
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My investigation is aimed at solving questions pertaining to the link between feeding mechanisms and social systems of tropical nectarivores. Currently I have three research lines: sexually-dimorphic weapons, biophysical modeling of nectar intake, and evolutionary convergences on nectarivorous birds' feeding mechanisms including related morphological traits. |
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Roehm, Robert (BS/MS Student)
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Office: BioPharm 211
Phone: (860) 486-6154
E-mail: robert.roehm@uconn.edu
Urban Lab
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Conservation biology with interests in herpetology and entomology. Researching amphibian conservation, looking at the effects of the spatial configuration of land development on species richness in temporary pools. |
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Ryerson, William (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 412
Phone: (860) 486-4158
E-mail: william.ryerson@uconn.edu
Schwenk Lab
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Vertebrate morphology, physiology and biomechanics, particularly the form and function of animal movement, and how these principles change through ontgony and evolution. |
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Sandor, Manette (Masters Student)
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Office: BioPharm 219A
Phone: (860) 486-7955
E-mail: manette.sandor@uconn.edu
Chazdon Lab
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Community ecology of tropical tree communities; secondary forest regeneration; Neotropical forests; biodiversity. |
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Shaw, Katherine (Doctoral Student)
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Office: TLS 364
Phone: (860) 486-4638
E-mail: katherine.shaw@uconn.edu
Schlichting Lab
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Phenotypic plasticity, behavioral ecology and mating systems -- more specifically, behavioral and color plasticity related to alternative mating tactics and geographic variation in behavior of the Threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). |
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Smith, Frank (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 322A
Phone: (860) 486-6215
E-mail: frank.smith@uconn.edu
Jockusch Lab
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The evolution and development of appendages and other body plan components of the super-phylum Panarthropoda. I have adopted a comparative approach using the flour beetles Tribolium castaneum, T. confusum, T. brevicornis, and Latheticus oryzae, and the tardigrade Hypsibius dujardini for my investigations |
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Sustaita, Diego (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 402
Phone: (860) 486-0309
E-mail: diego.sustaita@uconn.edu
Rubega Lab
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Functional morphology and biomechanics of feeding in predatory birds -
specifically raptors and shrikes - and the role of performance in linking
morphology to feeding ecology. |
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Tardif, Kelly (BS/MS Student)
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Office: BioPharm 402
Phone: (860) 486-3839
E-mail: kelly.tardif@uconn.edu
Rubega Lab
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Animal behavior in captive environments, particularly mammals, and the use of research and captive breeding to manage endangered species. |
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Timpe, Elizabeth (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 322A
Phone: (860) 486-6215
E-mail: elizabeth.timpe@uconn.edu
Jockusch Lab
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Herpetology; Speciation; Phylogeography/Phylogenetics; Biogeography; Systematics; Animal Behavior. Specifically, I am investigating the evolutionary, ecological, and behavioral factors that promote the divergence of populations and diversification of species of plethodontid salamanders in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. |
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Velotta, Jonathan (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 210
Phone: (860) 486-4694
E-mail: jonathan.velotta@uconn.edu
Schultz Lab
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Microevolution and ontogeny of the osmoregulatory system in an anadromous shad known as the alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus). |
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Wade, Elizabeth (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 323A
Phone: (860) 486-3947
E-mail: elizabeth.wade@uconn.edu
Simon Lab
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Speciation, adaptive radiation and hybridization in the New Zealand cicada genus Kikihia. |
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Xie, Yingying (Doctoral Student)
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Office: BioPharm 223A
Phone: (860) 486-4157
E-mail: yingying.xie@uconn.edu
Silander Lab
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Global change ecology and plant phenology. Now I am working on comparison of phenological responses to climate change between New England and East Asia, and using cameras to
monitor plant canopy phenological events. |
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Zacharczenko, Brigette (Doctoral Student)
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Office: TLS 471
Phone: (860) 486-5503
E-mail: brigette.zacharczenko@uconn.edu
Wagner Lab
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Invertebrate systematics, speciation, and developmental biology. Evolutionary biology of the noctuid moth genus Acronicta with a focus on larval mimicry complexes, and changes in morphology and behavior between instars. |
57 people total
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University of Connecticut | 
