Current Lab Members

Elizabeth L. Jockusch Professor Biology / Pharmacy 305B 860-486-4452 (office) elizabeth.jockusch	Nick Van Gilder PhD Student (2020-) Conservation genetics of Batrachoseps campi Biology/Pharmacy 318 nicholas.van_gilder
Baaqeyah Muhammad PhD Student (2022-) Evolution of direct development in plethodontid salamanders Biology/Pharmacy 322 baaqeyah	Mandy Game PhD Student (2023-) Evolution of visual systems in tardigrades and other panarthropods Biology/Pharmacy 318 amanda.game
Savanna Brown PhD Student (2023-) Developmental regulation and evolution of brochosomes Biology/Pharmacy 322 savanna.brown	Alyssa Pendergast MS Student, Biodiversity (2023-) Biology/Pharmacy 322 alyssa.pendergast
Hailey Baranowski RaMP Scholar (2024-2025) Identification and function of novel genes in Coleoptera Biology/Pharmacy 322 hailey.baranowski	Ruiwen Lin Undergraduate Researcher, EEB Fellowship, SURF (summer 2024) 2023-
Leslie Rendon-Hernandez McNair Scholar, LSAMP, EEB fellowship (summer 2023); SURF (summer 2024) 2023-

Lab Alumni

Graduate Student, RaMP and Postdoctoral Alumni

David Askew Technician/Research Scientist Extraordinaire Jockusch/Caira labs 2022-2024	Abigail Hayes NSF Postdoctoral Fellow 2021-2023 website 2023: Postdoc at UVa
Meridia Jane Bryant RaMP Postbac Scholar (2023-2024) Computational pipeline for identification and validation of taxon-restricted genes 2024: PhD student, Cornell	Asher Coello RaMP Postbac Scholar (2023-2024) Testing the function of novel hemipteran genes in the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fastciatus
Brendan Enochs MS, 2023 2024: PhD student, University of Dayton	Amanda Pastore MS, 2023 2024: AVS Bio Quality Control Technician
Justin Kratovil Postdoc (2019-2022) 2022: Assistant Professsor, in Residence MCB, UConn justin.kratovil	Liz Clifton Ph.D., 2022 Termite Weapons and Warfare: Insights from Behavioral, Experimental, and Evolutionary Analyses Fulbright Fellow, Czech Republic 2023: Postdoc, U. New Hampshire
Annette Evans Ph.D., 2020 Dissertation Abstract Postdoc: UMass 2024: Assistant Professor, University of St. Joseph	Hannah Ralicki Technician Extraordinaire (2015-2021) Caira / Jockusch labs
Andrew Frank M.S., 2018 2022: Bioinformatician, US Department of Defense	Cera Fisher Ph.D. 2019 Dissertation Abstract Postdocs: UConn, Cornell 2022: Bioinformatician, Velsera
Frank Smith Ph.D., 2013 Dissertation abstract Associate Professor, U. North Florida	Elizabeth Timpe M.S., 2012 2024: Adult Education Programs, Connecticut Forest and Park Association
Roberta Engel Ph.D., 2011 Dissertation abstract Assistant Professor, Notre Dame of Maryland	Ińigo Martinez-Solano Postdoc, 2007-2008 Tenured Scientist, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid
David R. Angelini Postdoc, 2005-2008 Associate Professor, Colby College	Moto Kikuchi Technician, 2006-2008
Brigid C. O’Donnell Ph.D., 2007 Dissertation abstract Associate Professor, Plymouth State University	Jonathan Q. Richmond Ph.D., 2005 Dissertation abstract Herpetological Geneticist, USGS San Diego Field Station
Karen Ober Postdoc, 2001-2004 Professor, College of the Holy Cross	Tobias Landberg Schlichting/Schwenk labs Ph.D., 2010 Dissertation Abstract 2022: Director of Research, The Amphibian Foundation

Undergraduate Thesis Students

Debbie Heaslip (2021-2024) University Scholar, McNair Scholar, SURF (summer 2023) Thesis: Investigation of tail bifurcation in Ambystoma maculatum 2024: Veterinary School, Long Island University
Sarah Anderson (2018-2021) Undergraduate Researcher with Liz Thesis: Effects of battle size on termite aggressiveness 2022: Medical School, UConn	Ariana Rojas (2019-2021) Thesis: The role of taxi, miniature, and an uncharacterized homeobox gene in the development of double-layered epithelium in Oncopeltus fasciatus SURF (summer 2020) 2022: Account Associate, Real Chemistry
Katherine Starr (2019-2021) Thesis: Spatial and temporal patterns of wing growth in the last nymphal stage of the Large Milkweed Bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus) NSF REU (summer 2019) 2024: MS, Loyola	Samantha Bird (2020-2021) Thesis: Oviposition habits of Eurycea bislineataSURF (summer 2020)
Ryan Mayer (2017-2019) Thesis: The relationship between soil conditions, forest composition, and morph frequencies of a woodland salamander, Plethodon cinereus SURF (summer 2018) 2020: M.S. Program, John Carroll University	Sarah Baker (2017-2020)  Thesis: The impact of distance from a stream on color morph distributions of Plethodon cinereus, the Eastern Red-Backed Salamander SURF (summer 2019); Outstanding EEB major (2020) M.S., Eastern Kentucky U. 2022: PhD Program, Purdue
Adam Chiu (2015-2018) Thesis: Phenotypic responses to changes in RNA interference parameters in a hemipteran (Oncopeltus fasciatus) SURF (summer 2017) 2020: MS, Oceanography, U. Rhode Island	Limmond Ayisi (2014-2017) Thesis: Investigating mouthpart development patterning in Tribolium castaneum larvae through RNA interference targeting cap-n-collar and Wnt6  2019: M.S., Oral Health Science, Boston University 2022: DMD Candidate, Boston University
Temina Kusi (2013-2015) McNair Scholar Thesis: Correlation between body parts in holometabolous and hemimetabolous insects 2020: Physician’s Assistant (M.S. from Pace University)	Devin O’Brien (2011-2013) Thesis: An analysis of the developmental genes fringe, frizzled, and dishevelled in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum PhD: University of Montana NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, Colby College 2022: Assistant Professor, SUNY Cobleskill
Matthew Gaudio (2010-2012) Thesis: Exploring the evolution of the arthropod labrum in Tribolium castaneum. Professional Training: Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art 2022: Graphic artist	Leroy Robinson (2006-2010) Thesis: Demystifying cryptic species in the Batrachoseps relictus group M.S. San Francisco State Ph.D. NYU Sackler Institute
Tami Cruickshank (2004-2005) Thesis: Evolutionary implications of a gene duplication event:  comparison of nubbin in Tribolium castaneum and Drosophila melanogaster. PhD: Indiana University Postdocs: NESCENT & Indiana U.

Other Undergraduate Researchers

Brian Branciforte (2003-2004)	Madison Caballero (2014-2015)	Derek Cornetta (2008-2009)	Sean Edington University of Virginia (summer 2006)
David Farris, Jr. (2011-2013)	Taylor Ferguson (2012-2013)	Vance Harper (2008-2009)	Dan Kirk (2010-2011)
Jessica Klein (2006)	Daniel Madden (2011-2012)	Eliana Mejia (2005)	Kate Morozova (2011)
Justin Mortimer (2000)	Jeremy Pang National University of Singapore (2017)	Lisa Rodriguez (2001)	Jallah Rouse Johnson C. Smith University (summer 2007)
Ashley Sullivan (2013)	Avis Thompson Johnson C. Smith University (summer 2008)	Sarah Vetrano (2014-2015)	Jennifer Wheeler (2003)
Chelsea Willett (2009-2011)	Madison Molnar (2018-2021)	Ben Beaudoin (2022)	Luciana Santillana Linares (2022)
Alejandro Garcia-Rivera NSF REU (summer 2021)	Sophia Lebron McNair Apprentice (2022-2024)	Dylan Alderucci SURF (summer 2023)

 

 

Lab Visitors

Chris Evelyn Graduate Student Visitor, 2011 Ph.D., U.C. Santa Barbara	Jorge Gutiérrez Rodríguez CSIC Research Visitor, 2012 Ph.D., Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Postdoc: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Christina Kocer CT DEP weasel identification, 2007-2008 USFWS, White-Nose Syndrome National Assistant Coordinator	Anny Peralta García Graduate Student Visitor, 2008 Conservación de Fauna del Noroeste, La Paz, Baja California
Alireza Sari, Ph.D. Research Visitor, 2009, 2011, 2012 Zoological Museum, University of Tehran	Prashant Sharma NSF EDEN Fellow, 2012 Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin
Vasylyna Strus, Ph.D. Research Visitor, 2019-2020 Ivan Franko National University of Lviv	Katarzyna Dudek, Ph.D. Research Visitor (summer 2024) Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
Magda Migalska, Ph.D. Research Visitor (summer 2024) Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland