People

Current Lab Members

Elizabeth L. Jockusch
Professor
Biology / Pharmacy 305B
860-486-4452 (office)
elizabeth.jockuschUConn Email		 Liz in the fieldLiz Clifton
Ph.D. Student
Termite warfare and weapons
Amanda Pastore
M.S. Student (co-advised with Mark Urban)
Biology / Pharmacy 213		 Hannah RalickiHannah Ralicki
Technician
Caira / Jockusch labs
Biology / Pharmacy 318
hannah.ralickiUConn Email
Justin Kratovil photoJustin Kratovil
Postdoctoral Researcher
Biology/Pharmacy 322
justin.kratovilUConn Email		 Nick Van Gilder
M.S. Student
Conservation genetics of Batrachoseps campi
Biology/Pharmacy 318
Katherine Starr
Undergraduate Researcher
2019-
NSF REU (summer 2019)		 ArianaAriana Rojas
Undergraduate Researcher
2019-
SURF (summer 2020)
Madison Molnar
Undergraduate Researcher with Liz
Project: Impact of fighter ratios on group versus individual termite battles
2018-		 Sarah Anderson
Undergraduate Researcher with Liz
Project: Effects of battle size on termite aggressiveness
2018-
Samantha Bird
Undergraduate Researcher
Project: Oviposition site selection in Eurycea bislineata
2020-		  

 

Field Trip to Fenton Forest, May 2019
End of year lab field trip, May 2019

Lab Alumni

Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Alumni

annette_evansAnnette Evans
Ph.D., 2020
Dissertation Abstract
2020: Lecturer at UConn-Hartford		  
AFAndrew Frank
M.S., 2018
2020: Bioinformatician at American Type Cultures Collection		 CFisherCera Fisher
Ph.D. 2019
Dissertation Abstract
2020: postdoc at Cornell
FSFrank Smith
Ph.D., 2013
Dissertation abstract
Assistant Professor, U. North Florida		 Elizabeth Timpe
M.S., 2012
Community Outreach Manager, CT Humane Society
RERoberta Engel
Ph.D., 2011
Dissertation abstract
Assistant Professor, Notre Dame of Maryland		 IMSIńigo Martinez-Solano
Postdoc, 2007-2008
Tenured Scientist, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid
DRADavid R. Angelini
Postdoc, 2005-2008
Associate Professor, Colby College		 MKMoto Kikuchi
Technician, 2006-2008
BCOBrigid C. O’Donnell
Ph.D., 2007
Dissertation abstract
Associate Professor, Plymouth State University		 JRJonathan Q. Richmond
Ph.D., 2005
Dissertation abstract
Herpetological Geneticist, USGS San Diego Field Station
KOKaren Ober
Postdoc, 2001-2004
Professor, College of the Holy Cross		 TLTobias Landberg
Schlichting/Schwenk labs
Ph.D., 2010
Dissertation Abstract
Assistant Professor, Arcadia University

Undergraduate Thesis Students

Ryan Mayer photoRyan 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)
2020: M.S. Program, Eastern Kentucky U.
Adam Chiu photoAdam Chiu (2015-2018)
Thesis: Phenotypic responses to changes in RNA interference parameters in a hemipteran (Oncopeltus fasciatus)
SURF (summer 2017)		 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. Program, 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
2018: NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, Colby College
Matthew Gaudio (2010-2012)
Thesis: Exploring the evolution of the arthropod labrum in Tribolium castaneum.
2013: Freelance artist		 LRLeroy Robinson (2006-2010)
Thesis: Demystifying cryptic species in the Batrachoseps relictus group
2018: NYU Sackler Institute
Tami_nubbinTami Cruickshank (2004-2005)
Thesis: Evolutionary implications of a gene duplication event:  comparison of nubbin in Tribolium castaneum and Drosophila melanogaster.
2013: Postdoctoral Fellow, Indiana U.

Other Undergraduate Researchers

Branciforte
Brian Branciforte
(2003-2004)		 Madison Caballero

(2014-2015)

 Derek_Batrachoseps
Derek Cornetta
(2008-2009)		 Sean_spotted copy
Sean Edington
University of Virginia
(summer 2006)

David Farris, Jr.
(2011-2013)		 Taylor
Taylor Ferguson
(2012-2013)		 Vance
Vance Harper
(2008-2009)		 DanK_Hemi
Dan Kirk
(2010-2011)
Jessica_Tribolium
Jessica Klein
(2006)		 DanM
Daniel Madden
(2011-2012)		 Eliana_Ensatina
Eliana Mejia
(2005)		 Kate Morozova
(2011)
Justin_ghop2
Justin Mortimer
(2000)
Jeremy Pang
National University of Singapore
(2017)		 Lisa
Lisa Rodriguez
(2001)		 JR
Jallah Rouse
Johnson C. Smith University
(summer 2007)
Ashley
Ashley Sullivan
(2013)		 Avis
Avis Thompson
Johnson C. Smith University
(summer 2008)
Sarah Vetrano
(2014-2015)
Jennifer Wheeler
(2003)
Chelsea_tribHead
Chelsea Willett
(2009-2011)

 

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 (UNAM)
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
EDEN Fellow, 2012
Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin
Vasylyna Strus, Ph.D.
Research Visitor, 2019-2020
Ivan Franko National University of Lviv