Graduate Faculty Research Interests
Amphibian Biology
Dr. Christopher Beachy
Faculty Bio
We work on two related areas: (1) life history biology and (2) metamorphosis. 80% of animal species have a life history that includes a metamorphosis. We use surveys and experiments with amphibians that allow us to understand the relationship between metamorphosis and life history evolution. We perform several kinds of studies but in particular we use (1) time-series collections of animals that allow us to elucidate life history parameters like growth rate, size/age at metamorphosis, and size/age at sexual maturation and (2) laboratory growth experiment with amphibian larvae wherein environmental variables that affect growth are manipulated and the outcome on timing and size at metamorphosis are observed.
Insect Evolutionary Ecology
Dr. Janice Bossart
Faculty Bio
Determinants and dynamics of community composition in habitat islands; Biodiversity conservation, especially traits related to species persistence versus extinction; Evolutionary ecology of insect life-history traits relating to host plant and habitat use; Integration of local genetic pattern at the scale of landscapes and species; Historical and contemporary determinants of spatial genetic structure (both molecular and quantitative variation).
Environmental Microbiology
Dr. Gary Childers
Faculty Bio
Bacterial source tracking, enhancement of methanogens in coalbeds, and anaerobic microbial nutrient transformations using classical and molecular analyses.
Phylogenetic Systematics and Herpetology
Dr. Brian Crother
Faculty Bio
Evolution from a phylogenetic perspective; historical biogeography, historical ecology, patterns of gene evolution, patterns of species evolution, methodology and philosophy of phylogenetic analysis. In addition, engaged in survey work for the accumulation of long term data for amphibian and reptile populations in local wetlands.
Animal Morphology
Dr. Raul Diaz
Faculty Bio
Theme: Body plan evolution
Tetrapod limb development and evolution, Reptile Neural Crest Cells, Ectodermal-mesenchymal interactions, Dermal/Epidermal and skeletal patterning, Somitogenesis, Craniofacial divergence and its relation to biomechanical use in ecology, Conservation of reptiles and amphibians, Body size evolution (gigantism/dwarfism), and Classic B-Movies & Punk/Metal
Ecological Parasitology
Dr. William Font
Faculty Bio
My research is focused on the ecology, evolution, and biodiversity of parasites. Among my 75 peer reviewed publications are descriptions of new genera and species of trematode parasites. For over 10 years, funded by the Hawai’i Division of Aquatic Resources, I conducted pioneering studies on parasites of native Hawaiian stream fishes. More recently, my research on the trematode genus Alloglossidium was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation. Currently, I am conducting biodiversity studies on the parasites of freshwater and estuarine fishes in southeastern Louisiana.
Herpetology
Dr. Cliff Fontenot
Faculty Bio
My research interests include the behavioral and evolutionary ecology of amphibians and reptiles. My work focuses on salamander reproduction, alligator nesting and foraging ecology, turtle conservation, and garter snake ecology. In addition, my studies on the evolutionary ecology of garter snakes (Thamnophis) have led me in unexpected directions, e.g., how California paleogeology has influenced the evolution of amphibians and reptiles. My studies of garter snake foraging behavior developed into addressing how animals that have independently evolved eyes on land, have adapted to foraging underwater (because of the difference in refractive index). In addition, I am presently involved in a long-term study monitoring amphibian and reptile community assemblages in relationship to swamp degradation, focusing on the Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain ecosystems (in collaboration with Brian Crother).
Environmental Microbiology
Dr. Gary Howard
Faculty Bio
Molecular genetics and enzymology of polyurethane degradation. Microbial ecology of anaerobes involved in polyaromatic hydrocarbon degradation.
Cell Biology
Dr. Nick Norton
Faculty Bio
Scanning Electron Microscopy as an investigative tool supporting various interdisciplinary projects.
Neurophysiology
Dr. John O'Reilly
Faculty Bio
Relationship between molecular structure and electrophysiological function in voltage-gated Na+ channels. Role of ion channels from excitable membranes in health & disease.
Ichthyology
Dr. Kyle Piller
Faculty Bio
Systematics, evolution, ecology, and conservation genetics of North American freshwater fishes. Recent work includes systematic and taxonomic studies of darters ( Etheostoma) and suckers ( Ictiobus and Carpiodes) and conservation genetics of lake trout.
Herpetology
Dr. David Sever
Faculty Bio
Dr. Sever is well-known for over thirty years of work on the secondary sexual characters of salamanders, including the anatomy, function, and evolution of their skin glands and cloacal glands. Other studies done by Dr. Sever have involved ecology and behavior, and he also discovered and named the species Eurycea junaluska, a salamander restricted to the southern Appalachian Mountains. His most recent work has involved the morphology and phylogeny of sperm storage and other aspects of the urogenital systems of Chondrichthyes, amphibians, and reptiles.
Wetlands Science and Statistical Ecology
Dr. Gary Schaffer
Faculty Bio
Isolating the mechanisms responsible for wetland health and habitat-state change through mesocosm and field studies. Landscape-scale restoration of swamps and marshes, bioremediation of small-scale oil spills, statistical modeling of ecosystem dynamics.
Molecular and Developmental Immunology
Dr. Penny Shockett
Faculty Bio
Lymphocyte development and differentiation, generation of antigen receptor diversity, DNA recombination and repair.
Vertebrate Physiology
Dr. Roldan Valverde
Faculty Bio
My main research interests are the comparative endocrinology of stress response, with
emphasis in freshwater and marine turtles, and the nesting ecology of sea turtles.
Currently, my lab is focused on three different projects:
Impact of salinity on the endocrine stress response of the freshwater turtle in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, the development of a quantitative assay to detect endocrine disruption in the red-eared freshwater turtle, and the global estimate of mass nesting olive ridley sea turtles.
Forensic Entomology
Dr. Erin Horzelski
Faculty Bio
My research focuses on forensic entomology, carrion ecology, and the use of insects in determining postmortem intervals (or time since death) of human homicides and poached wildlife. Research interests include the carrion habitat, community structure, faunal succession, and development rates of necrophilous insects, animal and human myiasis, and interactions between Calliphoridae, microbes, and decaying remains.
Molecular Systematics and Evolution of Development
Dr. Mary White
Faculty Bio
Systematics of squamates using multiple nuclear genes. Evolution of mechanisms of germ cell determination in vertebrates.
Statistical Phylogenetics
Dr. April Wright
Faculty Bio
The Wright lab is interested in statistical phylogenetics, particularly the integration of molecular and morphological information to answer evolutionary questions. For more information, including opportunities for joining the lab, please visit the Wright Lab website.
