Current Lab Members
![]() Professor Biology / Pharmacy 305B 860-486-4452 (office) elizabeth.jockusch ![]() |
![]() PhD Student (2020-) Conservation genetics of Batrachoseps campi Biology/Pharmacy 318 nicholas.van_gilder ![]() |
![]() PhD Student (2022-) Evolution of direct development in plethodontid salamanders Biology/Pharmacy 322 baaqeyah ![]() |
![]() PhD Student (2023-) Evolution of visual systems in tardigrades and other panarthropods Biology/Pharmacy 318 amanda.game ![]() |
![]() PhD Student (2023-) Developmental regulation and evolution of brochosomes Biology/Pharmacy 322 savanna.brown ![]() |
![]() MS Student, Biodiversity (2023-) Biology/Pharmacy 322 alyssa.pendergast ![]() |
![]() RaMP Scholar (2024-2025) Identification and function of novel genes in Coleoptera Biology/Pharmacy 322 hailey.baranowski ![]() |
![]() Undergraduate Researcher, EEB Fellowship, SURF (summer 2024) 2023- |
![]() McNair Scholar, LSAMP, EEB fellowship (summer 2023); SURF (summer 2024) 2023- |

Lab Alumni
Graduate Student, RaMP and Postdoctoral Alumni
![]() Technician/Research Scientist Extraordinaire Jockusch/Caira labs 2022-2024 |
![]() NSF Postdoctoral Fellow 2021-2023 website 2023: Postdoc at UVa |
![]() RaMP Postbac Scholar (2023-2024) Computational pipeline for identification and validation of taxon-restricted genes 2024: PhD student, Cornell |
![]() RaMP Postbac Scholar (2023-2024) Testing the function of novel hemipteran genes in the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fastciatus |
![]() MS, 2023 2024: PhD student, University of Dayton |
![]() MS, 2023 2024: AVS Bio Quality Control Technician |
![]() Postdoc (2019-2022) 2022: Assistant Professsor, in Residence MCB, UConn justin.kratovil ![]() |
![]() Ph.D., 2022 Termite Weapons and Warfare: Insights from Behavioral, Experimental, and Evolutionary Analyses Fulbright Fellow, Czech Republic 2023: Postdoc, U. New Hampshire |
![]() Ph.D., 2020 Dissertation Abstract Postdoc: UMass 2024: Assistant Professor, University of St. Joseph |
![]() Technician Extraordinaire (2015-2021) Caira / Jockusch labs |
![]() M.S., 2018 2022: Bioinformatician, US Department of Defense |
![]() Ph.D. 2019 Dissertation Abstract Postdocs: UConn, Cornell 2022: Bioinformatician, Velsera |
![]() Ph.D., 2013 Dissertation abstract Associate Professor, U. North Florida |
![]() M.S., 2012 2024: Adult Education Programs, Connecticut Forest and Park Association |
![]() Ph.D., 2011 Dissertation abstract Assistant Professor, Notre Dame of Maryland |
![]() Postdoc, 2007-2008 Tenured Scientist, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid |
![]() Postdoc, 2005-2008 Associate Professor, Colby College |
![]() Technician, 2006-2008 |
![]() Ph.D., 2007 Dissertation abstract Associate Professor, Plymouth State University |
![]() Ph.D., 2005 Dissertation abstract Herpetological Geneticist, USGS San Diego Field Station |
![]() Postdoc, 2001-2004 Professor, College of the Holy Cross |
![]() Schlichting/Schwenk labs Ph.D., 2010 Dissertation Abstract 2022: Director of Research, The Amphibian Foundation |
Undergraduate Thesis Students
![]() University Scholar, McNair Scholar, SURF (summer 2023) Thesis: Investigation of tail bifurcation in Ambystoma maculatum 2024: Veterinary School, Long Island University |
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![]() Undergraduate Researcher with Liz Thesis: Effects of battle size on termite aggressiveness 2022: Medical School, UConn |
![]() 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 |
![]() Thesis: Oviposition habits of Eurycea bislineataSURF (summer 2020) |
![]() 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 |
![]() 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 |
![]() Thesis: Phenotypic responses to changes in RNA interference parameters in a hemipteran (Oncopeltus fasciatus) SURF (summer 2017) 2020: MS, Oceanography, U. Rhode Island |
![]() 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 |
![]() McNair Scholar Thesis: Correlation between body parts in holometabolous and hemimetabolous insects 2020: Physician’s Assistant (M.S. from Pace University) |
![]() 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 |
![]() Thesis: Exploring the evolution of the arthropod labrum in Tribolium castaneum. Professional Training: Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art 2022: Graphic artist |
![]() Thesis: Demystifying cryptic species in the Batrachoseps relictus group M.S. San Francisco State Ph.D. NYU Sackler Institute |
![]() 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) |
![]() NSF REU (summer 2021) |
![]() McNair Apprentice (2022-2024) |
![]() 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 |