Virology 

Dr. Justin Anderson

Faculty Bio

My lab is broadly interested in viruses and how they behave. In particular, we are
currently building a library of bacteriophages that infect the bacteria Microbacterium foliorum and Gordonia rubripertincta with the goal of understanding which virus genes contribute to virulence and host
preference. I am also interested in understanding how environmental contaminants affect
the ability of mosquitoes to transmit viral pathogens

 

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.

 

Molecular Microbiology

Dr. Pradip Panta
Faculty Bio

Antimicrobial resistance is now considered as a third leading global cause of death
after stroke and heart disease. My lab is broadly interested in understanding the
molecular mechanism(s) of antimicrobial resistance. In particular, we are interested
in understanding the role of environmental factors, such as pH and oxygen in developing
bacterial resistance against cationic antimicrobial peptides, such as polymyxins.

 

Comparative Morphology

Dr. Chris Murray
Faculty Bio

I am focused on the comparative morphology and physiological ecology of vertebrates
in temperate, Neotropical and subtropical coastal wetlands. My questions address how
the physiology of individuals alters relevant morphology, population or community
ecology. Recent research addresses the interactions among aquaculture practices, crocodile
sex ratio biases, and endocrine disrupting compounds in Costa Rica.  Research themes
include physiological ecology that tends to incorporate population ecology, endocrinology,
sex determination, stress physiology, and reproductive ecology. Further, I am interested in diagnostic and functional morphology, utilizing geometric
morphometrics to identify diagnostic characters of undescribed and/or newly described
species and assessing phenotypic plasticity in an ecological context. Lastly, I strive
to contribute to biogeographic and evolutionary ontology and operation and novel metaphysical
thinking regarding the existence and appropriate use of biological units.

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

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.