Recent Graduates
Francine Abe
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Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology |
Term of Graduation: Summer 2010 |
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Faculty Mentors: Bruce Lieberman & Ed O. Wiley |
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| Dissertation Defense: June 10, 2010 - Honors | |
| Dissertation Title: The nature of evolutionary radiations with a special focus on Devonian calmoniid trilobites | |
Blythe Alexander
Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology
Term of Graduation: Summer 2011
Faculty Mentor: Rudolf Jander
Dissertation Defense: May 4, 2011
Dissertation Title: New behavioral insights into home range orientation of the house mouse (Mus musculus)
Paul Michael Bardunias
Degree Earned: M.A. in entomology (non-thesis)
Term of Graduation: Summer 2009
Faculty Mentor: Deborah Smith
Report Title: Three dimensional path integration in the house mouse
Currently a doctoral student at the University of Florida
Cornelia Becker
Degree Earned: M.A. in entomology
Term of Graduation: Fall 2008
Faculty Mentor: Orley “Chip” Taylor
Master's Presentation: August 14, 2008
Thesis Title: A possible size-determined directional selection in Danaus plexippus (Lepidoptera: Danaidae) with evidence from stable isotope analysis
Currently completing master's level teaching certification at Johannes Gutenberg University
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Degree Earned: Ph.D. in entomology |
Term of Graduation: Fall 2010 |
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Faculty Mentor: Michael S. Engel |
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| Dissertation Defense: December 6, 2010 - Honors | |
| Dissertation Title: Phylogenetics of Crabronini, with a consideration of the evolution of predatory and nesting behaviors (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) | |
| Currently a postdoctoral researcher at KU with Caroline Chaboo. | |
Brett Benz
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Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology |
Term of Graduation: Fall 2011 |
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Faculty Mentor: A. Townsend Peterson |
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| Dissertation Defense: November 30, 2011 - Honors | |
| Dissertation Title: Deciphering the evolutionary history of the montane New Guinea avifauna: Comparative phlyogeography and insights from paleodistributional modeling in a dynamic landscape | |
Currently teaching an ornithology field course in Papua New Guinea and conducting avifaunal surveys in New Britain |
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Elisa Bonaccorso
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Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology |
| Term of Graduation: Fall 2007 | |
| Faculty Mentors: Town Peterson and Linda Trueb | |
| Dissertation Defense: August 6, 2007 | |
| Dissertation Title: Evolution of the New World jays (Corvidae): Phylogeny, biogeography, and ecology | |
Garrett Call
Degree Earned: M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology
Term of Graduation: Fall 2007
Faculty Mentor: Kirsten Jensen
Master's Presentation: August 20, 2007
Thesis Title: A survey of the tapeworm fauna of the cownose ray, Rhinoptera bonasus, form the northern Gulf of Mexico with comments on intermediate hosts
Anna Clarke Carlson
Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology
Term of Graduation: Fall 2007
Faculty Mentors: Ed O. Wiley and Deborah Smith
Dissertation Defense: July 13, 2007
Dissertation Title: Population genetic patterns in sister species pairs sharing a single speciation event: A study of two species pairs of freshwater fishes
Currently a research associate at the University of Arizona
Teresa Carroll |
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Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology |
| Term of Graduation: Summer 2009 | |
| Faculty Mentor: James Thorp | |
| Dissertation Defense: May 15, 2009 | |
| Dissertation Title: Resources pulses and spatial subsidies in Ozark Karst Springs: Effects on community structure and food webs | |
| Currently an assistant professor of biology and chair of the Environmental Studies program at Drury University in Springfield, MO | |
Pingfu Chen
Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology
Term of Graduation: Spring 2008
Faculty Mentor: Ed O. Wiley
Dissertation Defense: April 24, 2008
Dissertation Title: Ecological niche modeling as a predictive tool: Asiatic freshwater fishes in North America
Currently the Director of the Informatics Division of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jeff Cole
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Degree Earned: Ph.D. in entomology |
| Term of Graduation: Fall 2009 | |
| Faculty Mentors: Jennifer Gleason and Michael Greenfield | |
| Dissertation Defense: October 23, 2009 | |
| Dissertation Title: Species recognition is driving evolution of the acoustic mating system of shield back katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Aglaothorax): Behavioral and phylogenetic evidence | |
| Currently an assistant professor of zoology at Johnson County Community College | |
Cathy Collins
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Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology |
| Term of Graduation: Spring 2009 | |
| Faculty Mentor: Bryan Foster | |
| Dissertation Defense: March 5, 2009 — Honors | |
| Dissertation Title: Population and community responses to anthropogenic environmental changes | |
| Currently a visiting professor of biology at Bard College | |
Steve Davis |
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Degree Earned: M.A. in entomology |
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| Term of Graduation: Summer 2008 | |||||||||||
| Faculty Mentors: Michael Engel and the former Steve Ashe | |||||||||||
| Master's Presentation: June 6, 2008 | |||||||||||
| Thesis Title: Morphology and phylogeny of the weevil subfamily Baridinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) | |||||||||||
| Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in entomology at KU | |||||||||||
Micaleila Desotelle
Degree Earned: M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology
Term of Graduation: Spring 2008
Faculty Mentors: James Thorp
Master's Presentation: January 28, 2008
Thesis Title: Landscape impacts on fish community structure and food chain length in prairie and Ozark rivers
Currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Michigan State University
| Shannon DeVaney | |
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Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology |
| Term of Graduation: Fall 2008 | |
| Faculty Mentor: Ed O. Wiley | |
| Dissertation Defense: December 10, 2008 | |
| Dissertation Title: Interrelationships of fishes of the order Stomiiformes | |
| Currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County | |
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Degree Earned: M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology |
Term of Graduation: Fall 2010 |
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Faculty Mentor: Daphne Fautin |
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| Master's Defense: November 18, 2010 | |
| Thesis Title: Taxonomy and distribution of sea anemones (Cnidaria: Actiniaria, Corallimorpharia) from deep water of the northeastern Pacific | |
| Currently a biologist at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas Estuarine Research Reserve in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida | |
D. Jason Emry
Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology
Term of Graduation: Spring 2008
Faculty Mentor: Helen Alexander
Dissertation Defense: April 18, 2008
Dissertation Title: Population ecology and management of the invasive plant, Lespedeza cuneata
Currently a postdoctoral researcher at KU with Helen Alexander
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Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology |
| Term of Graduation: Spring 2010 | |
| Faculty Mentors: Rafe Brown and Robert Timm | |
| Dissertation Defense: April 27, 2010 - Honors | |
| Dissertation Title: Diversification processes in an island radiation of shrews | |
| Currently an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Indonesia and McMaster University | |
| Nathaniel Evans | |
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Degree Earned: M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology |
| Term of Graduation: Summer 2009 | |
| Faculty Mentor: Paulyn Cartwright | |
| Master's Presentation: July 14, 2009 | |
| Thesis Title: The phylogenetic placement of two enigmatic metazoan parasites: Polypodium hydriforme and Myxozoa | |
| Currently a doctoral student at the University of Florida | |
Debra Finch
Qinqin Gong |
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Degree Earned: M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology | |||||
| Term of Graduation: Spring 2009 | ||||||
| Faculty Mentors: John K. Kelly and Maria Orive | ||||||
| Master's Presentation: March 27, 2009 | ||||||
| Thesis Title: The effects of directional epistasis on molecular evolution | ||||||
| Currently a biology instructor at Cloud County Community College | ||||||
Victor Gonzalez-Betancourt
Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology
Term of Graduation: Summer 2008
Faculty Mentor: Deborah Smith
Dissertation Defense: June 30, 2008
Dissertation Title: Phylogeny and classification of the bee tribe Megachilini (Hymenoptera: Apoidea, Megachilidae), with emphasis on the genus Megachile
Currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Bee Biology and Systematics Laboratory for the USDA in Logan, Utah
Juan M. Guayasamin |
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Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology |
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| Term of Graduation: Fall 2007 | |||||||||||
| Faculty Mentor: Linda Trueb | |||||||||||
| Dissertation Defense: November 19, 2007 | |||||||||||
| Dissertation Title: Phylogeny, taxonomy, character evolution, and biogeography of glassfrogs (Amphibia: Centrolenidae) | |||||||||||
| Currently a professor/investigator at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador | |||||||||||
Ismael Hinojosa Díaz
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Degree Earned: Ph.D. in entomology |
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Term of Graduation: Fall 2010 |
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Faculty Mentor: Michael S. Engel |
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| Dissertation Defense: November 10, 2010 | |||||
| Dissertation Title: Comparative genital morphology, phylogeny, and classification of the orchid bee genus Euglossa Latreille (Hymenoptera: Apidae), with distributional modeling of adventive Euglossines | |||||
| Currently a research affiliate with the KU Biodiversity Institute | |||||
Ming-Luen Jeng
Degree Earned: Ph.D. in entomology
Term of Graduation: Summer 2008
Faculty Mentor: Michael Engel and the former Steve Ashe
Dissertation Defense: June 24, 2008, Honors
Dissertation Title: Comprehensive phylogenetics, systematics, and evolution of the neoteny of Lampyridae (Insecta: Coleoptera)
Currently an assistant curator at the National Museum of Natural Sciences in Taichung, Taiwan
Irene Khavin
Degree Earned: M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology
Term of Graduation: Spring 2008
Faculty Mentors: Bryan Foster and Val Smith
Master's Presentation: March 3, 2008
Thesis Title: Arthropod and plant responses to resource availability and heterogeneity
Currently a research specialist at the University of Pennsylvania
Kendra Koch |
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Degree Earned: M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology | ||||||||
| Term of Graduation: Summer 2009 | |||||||||
| Faculty Mentor: Kirsten Jensen | |||||||||
| Master's Presentation: June 29, 2009 | |||||||||
| Thesis Title: The lecanicephalidean fauna of three species of eagle rays of the genus Aetomylaeus (Myliobatiformes: Myliobatidae) | |||||||||
| Currently a research assistant at the University of Kansas with Kirsten Jensen | |||||||||
Jacob Landis
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Degree Earned: M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology | |
| Term of Graduation: Summer 2011 | ||
| Faculty Mentor: Lena Hileman | ||
| Master's Defense: April 13, 2011 - Honors | ||
| Thesis Title: Pollinator attractors: petaloidy and epidermal cell shape in close relatives of snapdragon | ||
| Currently a doctoral student with Pam and Doug Solits at the University of Florida | ||
Leo Legra
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Degree Earned: M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology |
| Term of Graduation: Summer 2009 | |
| Faculty Mentor: A. Townsend Peterson | |
| Master's Presentation: July 20, 2009 | |
| Thesis Title: Biogeography, ecology and conservation of Paradisaeidae: Consequences of environmental and climatic changes | |
| Currently working with the Papua New Guinea Institute of Biological Research | |
Nick Levsen
Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology
Term of Graduation: Fall 2008
Faculty Mentor: Mark Mort
Dissertation Defense: October 6, 2008 — Honors
Dissertation Title: Systematics and glacial population history of the Alternifolium group of the flowering plant genus Chrysoplenium (Saxifragaceae)
Currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alaska — Fairbanks
Sean Maher
Tara Marriage Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology Term of Graduation: Fall 2009 Faculty Mentors: John K. Kelly and Maria Orive Dissertation Defense: August 19, 2009 Dissertation Title: Mutation, asexual reproduction and genetic load: A study in three parts Currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Kansas with Dr. Stuart Macdonald David McLeod
Degree Earned: M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology Term of Graduation: Summer 2010 Faculty Mentor: Linda Trueb Thesis Title: Osteology of Calluella guttulata (Blyth 1855) and associated commentary on evolution in the family Microhylidae (Anura) Ginger Miller
Julius Mojica
Daniel Najera |
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Degree Earned: Ph.D. in entomology | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Term of Graduation: Spring 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Faculty Mentor: Rudolf Jander | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dissertation Defense: April 15, 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dissertation Title: Redefining honeybee foraging cognition | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Árpád S. Nyári
T. Ryan O’Leary |
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Degree Earned: M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology | ||||||||||||||||
| Term of Graduation: Summer 2009 | |||||||||||||||||
| Faculty Mentor: Mark Mort | |||||||||||||||||
| Master's Presentation: June 24, 2009 | |||||||||||||||||
| Thesis Title: Phylogenetics and biogeography of Aichryson inferred from chloroplast DNA sequences | |||||||||||||||||
| Carl Oliveros | |
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Degree Earned: M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology |
| Term of Graduation: Spring 2009 | |
| Faculty Mentor: Robert Moyle | |
| Master's Presentation: April 28, 2009 | |
| Thesis Title: Origin and diversification of Philippine bulbuls | |
| Currently a doctoral candidate at KU under Rob Moyle's mentorship.
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Brian O'Neill
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Degree Earned: M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology |
| Term of Graduation: Spring 2010 | |
| Faculty Mentor: James Thorp | |
| Master's Presentation: March 26, 2010 | |
| Thesis Title: Ecological responses to hydrogeomorphic fluctuations in a sand bed prairie river: River complexity, habitat availability, and benthic invertebrates | |
| Currently completing a doctoral degree at KU under James Thorp's mentorship | |
Hannah Owens
Degree Earned: M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology
Term of Graduation: Fall 2008
Faculty Mentor: Kirsten Jensen
Master's Presentation: August 22, 2008
Thesis Title:Multiple species of Phoreiobothrium from the blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, in the Gulf of Mexico
Currently a doctoral student with Ed O. Wiley at the University of Kansas
| Monica Papeş | |
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Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology |
| Term of Graduation: Spring 2009 | |
| Faculty Mentor: A. Townsend Peterson | |
| Dissertation Defense: April 21, 2009 — Honors | |
| Dissertation Title: Ecological applications of remote sensing data in neotropical rainforests | |
| Currently an assistant professor at Oklahoma State University in the Department of Zoology | |
Barbara Parsons
Degree Earned: M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology (non-thesis)
Term of Graduation: Spring 2008
Faculty Mentor: Walter Dimmick
Report Title: Population genetics of captive and wild-caught Topeka shiners (Notropis topeka)
Currently a master's student in the political science program at the University of Kansas
K.J. Pittman
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Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology |
| Term of Graduation: Fall 2011 | |
| Faculty Mentor: Jennifer Gleason | |
| Dissertation Defense: December 9, 2011 | |
| Dissertation Title: Population genetics, phylogeography, and morphology of the Sand Shiner, Notropis stramineus |
Piero Protti
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Degree Earned: M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology (non-thesis) |
| Term of Graduation: Spring 2010 | |
| Faculty Mentor: Mark Mort | |
| Report Title: Distribution and diversity of Aeonium spathulatum (Crassulaceae) on the western Canary Islands | |
| Currently an adjunct instructor at Rockhurst and Avila universities
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Erin Questad
Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology
Term of Graduation: Spring 2008
Faculty Mentors: Bryan Foster
Dissertation Defense: April 22, 2008
Dissertation Title: Disturbance, spatial turnover, and species coexistence in grassland plant communities
Currently a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Hawaii
Steve Roels
Patricia Ryberg Degree Earned: Ph.D. in botany Term of Graduation: Fall 2009 Faculty Mentor: Edith Taylor Dissertation Defense: August 19, 2009 — Honors Dissertation Title: Antarctic glossopterids: Clarifying and comparing reproductive structures Currently a postdoctoral researcher at KU Dr. Edith Taylor Debosree Samanta Roy |
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Degree Earned: M.A. in ecology and evolutionary biology (non-thesis) | |||||||
| Term of Graduation: Spring 2008 | ||||||||
| Faculty Mentors: Joy Ward | ||||||||
| Report Title: Interactive effects of increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration and temperature on flowering time of Arabidopsis thaliana genotypes between the preindustrial and present periods | ||||||||
Cameron Siler
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Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology |
| Term of Graduation: Fall 2011 | |
| Faculty Mentor: Rafe Brown | |
| Dissertation Defense: October 7, 2011 - Honors | |
| Dissertation Title: Historical processes and genetic implications of limb reduction and loss in an island skink lineage | |
| Currently a research affiliate with KU's Biodiversity Institute | |
Chao Song
Kathryn Sparks
Lisa Tiemann
Lynn Villafuerte
Richard Williams
Dan Williams |
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Degree Earned: Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Term of Graduation: Spring 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Faculty Mentor: Larry Martin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dissertation Defense: April 21, 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dissertation Title: Small mammal faunal stasis in Natural Trap Cave (Pleistocene – Holocene), Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Currently a temporary Assistant Professor at Georgia Southern University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
