Graduate student directory
Andrea Bailey (baile480@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Craig Packer and Mike Wilson
Research Interests: Sexual Coercion
Study System: Olive Baboons
Degrees Held: B.A. Biology, Lewis Clark College, 2005
Year of Entry into Program: 2009
Kristen Becklund (kbeck@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Jennifer Powers
Research Interets:
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.S., University Wisconsin, Madison, 2007, biology
Justin Becknell (beckn026@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Jennifer Powers
Research Interests: Climate change, biogeochemistry, ecosystem ecology, tropical forests, secondary forests, and remote sensing.
Study System: Costa Rican tropical dry forest
Degrees Held: B.S. University of Minnesota, 2007, environmental science
Year of Entry into Program: 2007
Website: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~beckn026/
Anika Bratt (bratt075@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Jacques Finlay
Research Interests:
Study System:
Derees Held: B.A. College of St. Catherine, 2010, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2011
Emily Bruns (bruns094@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Georgiana May
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.S. University of California, 2005, ecology & evolutin
Year of Entry into Program: 2007
Matthew Burgess (burg0408@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): David Tilman and Stephen Polasky
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.S., University of Toronto, 2009, ecology specialist
Year of Entry into Program: 2009
Allan Chang (chang405@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Michael Travisano
Research Interests: Experimental Microbial Evolution, Cost-benefits of sex, Reversibility of Evolution
Study System: Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)
Degrees Held: B.S., Case Western Reserve University, 2000; M.S., Case Western Reserve University, 2003
Year of Entry into Program: 2007
Adam Clark (clar1079@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): David Tilman
Research Interests:
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Degrees Held: A.B., Harvard University, 2011, environmental science & organismic biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2011
Jane Cowles (cowl0037@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): David Tilman
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.A., Hamilton College, 2010, biology
Aaron David (david250@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Eric Seabloom and Georgiana May
Research Interests: community assembly
Study System: fungal endophytes, coastal dunes
Degrees Held: BA, Washington University in St Louis, 2009, Environmental Studies and Spanish
Year of Entry Into Program: 2010
Juan Diaz-Nieto (diaz0154@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Sharon Jansa
Research Interests:Species delimitation and speciation patterns.
Study System:Neotropical mammals.
Degrees Held: B.S. Biology, Universidad de Antioquia, 2006, biology
Additional Links: 2009
Matthew Dufort (dufor003@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Keith Barker and Ken Kozak
Research Interests: Community ecology, trait evolution, diversification, phylogenetics, geometric morphometrics, behavioral ecology, birds
Study System: Woodpeckers
Degrees Held: B.A. Carleton College, 2001, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2008
William Eddy (eddyi001@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Sarah Hobbie
Research Interests: Microbial Ecology, Biogeochemistry, Ecosystem Ecology, Plant Physiological Ecology, Landscape Ecology -- form a global change perspective.
Study System: Terrestrial Ecosystems, especially northern forests.
Degrees Held: B.S., Baldwin-Wallace College, 2002, biology; M.S., University of Michigan, 2006, natural resources and environment terrestrial ecosystem
Year of Entry into Program: 2007
Katrina Freund (freu0039@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Georgiana May
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.A., Luther College, 2011. biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2011
Maria Gei (geixx001@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Jennifer Powers
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: Licenciatura, University of Costa Rica, 2007, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2008
Thomas Giarla (giarl002@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Sharon Jansa
Research Interests: My research focuses on understanding the geographic and ecological forces that influence speciation and diversification, specifically in small mammals. I am interested in applying molecular systematics, ecological niche modeling, and population genetics techniques to pursue these topics.
Study System:Didelphid marsupials
Degrees Held: B.A., Washington University, 2007, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2007
Website: http://www.umn.edu/~giarla
Casey Godwin (godwi018@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Jim Cotner
Research Interests: Microbial ecology, limnology, and ecological stoichiometry
Study System:Aquatic heterotrophic bacteria
Degrees Held: B.A., Cornell College, 2003, biology and environmental studies; M.S., Penn State University, 2006, ecology
Year of Entry into Program: 2008
Dustin Haines (hain0072@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Diane Larsen
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.S., Northwest Missouri State University, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, 1993, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2004
[Dustin's Homepage]
Virginia Heinen (heine142@umn.edu)
Advisor(s):
Research Interests:
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Degrees Held: B.S., Michigan State University, 2011, zoology
Year of Entry into Program: 2011
Travis Henspeter (hens0145@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Susan Galatowitsch & Diane Larson
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.A., Macalester College, 2002, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2009
Vinnie Hirt (hirt0021@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Andrew Simons
Research Interests: Ichthyology, Evolutionary Developmental Biology, Systematics
Study System: Freshwater suckers (Catostomidae)
Degrees Held: B.S. University of North Carolina, 2002, biology; M.S., John Carroll University, 2006, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2006
Chih-Ming Hung (hungx037@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Robert Zink
Research Interests: Phylogeography, Biogeography, Speciation
Study System: Birds
Degrees Held: B.S., National Taiwan University, 2000, zoology; M.S., National Taiwan University, 2003, zoology
Year of Entry into Program: 2008
Meghan Jacobson (funk0062@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Jim Cotner
Research Interests: I am interested in how humans alter the exchange of organic carbon in aquatic ecosystems. For my dissertation, I am examining how changes in dissolved oxygen concentration affects the proportion of recalcitrant dissolved organic carbon in freshwater ecosystems.
Study System: Northern temperate, freshwater lakes.
Degrees Held: B.A., University of Minnesota, 2006, architecture; Bachelor's/Civil Engineering, University of Minnesota, 2006
Year of Entry into Program: 2007
Sarah Jaumann (jauma002@umn.edu)
Advisor(s):
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Degrees Held: B.S. Colorado State University, 2011, biology, psychology
Year of Entry into Program: 2011
Matthew Kaiser (kais0101@umn.edu)
Advisor(s):George Heimpel
Research Interests:biological control, community ecology, introduced species.
Study System:aphid parasitoids, soybean aphid
Degrees Held: B.S., University of Minnesota, 2008, EEB
Year of Entry into Program: 2009
Clare Kazanski (ckazansk@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Sarah Hobbie and Peter Reich
Research Interests: plant-soil interactions, soil carbon and carbon cycling, terrestrial ecosystem response to global change
Degrees Held: B.A. Carleton College, 2007, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2011
Amy Kendig (kend0110@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Eric Seabloom and Elizabeth Borer
Research Interests: Dynamics of multihost pathogen systems, spatially-explicit community interactions
Study System: Barley/cereal yellow dwarf virus and the grasslands it infects
Degrees Held: B.S. Georgia Technology Institute, 2007, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2011
Margaret Kosmala (
)
Advisor(s): Craig Packer and David Tilman
Research Interests: Effects of anthropogenic change on multi-trophic interactions and community structure
Study System: North American tallgrass prairie plant and arthropod communtites and African large mammal communities
Degrees Held: B.S., Brown University, 2000, computer science
Year of Entry into Program: 2007
Benjamin Lowe (lowe0160@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Ken Kozak
Research Interests: Evolutionary Biology of Reptiles and Amphibians
Study System: Southern Appalachian salamanders
Degrees Held: B.S. Humboldt State University, 2004, zoology; M.S. San Diego State University, 2008, evolutionary biology
Amy Luxbacher (luxb0001@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Ken Kozak
Research Interests: Ecological and evolutionary forces creating and maintaining species' ranges
Study System: Salamanders
Degrees Held: B.A., Ohio Wesleyan University, 2004, zoology; M.A., University of Colorado, 2007, ecology and evolutionary biology
Marta Lyons (lyons179@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Ken Kozak
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.A., Carleton College, 2010, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2011
Emily Mohl (mohlx006@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): George Heimpel
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: BA, Grinnell College, 2002, biology and anthropology; M.A., Washington University, 2004, Secondary Education
Year of Entry into Program: 2008
Paul Nelson (nels6813@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Georgiana May
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.S., University Illinois, 2006, biology; M.S., University Illinois, 2008, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2009
Daniel Nidzgorski (dnidz@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Sarah Hobbie
Research Interests: Nutrient cycling (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus) in human-dominated landscapes; spatial heterogeneity and boundary interactions
Study System: Anoka and Ramsey Counties, Minnesota
Degrees Held: BS, Stanford University, 2001, earth systems
Year of Entry into Program: 2008
Lisa O'Bryan (obry0017@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Michael Wilson
Research Interests: animal behavior, acoustic communication, animal cognition
Study System: chimpanzees, Gombe National Park, Tanzania
Degrees Held: BS, Texas A&M University, 2008, zoology
Year of Entry into Program: 2008
Christine O'Connell (
)
Advisor(s): Jon Foley and Steve Polasky
Research Interests: Ecosystem services, tropical forest ecology, soil carbon
Degrees Held: B.S., Stanford University, 2008, environmental science
Year of Entry into Program: 2010
Beth Pettitt (pett0033@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Mark Bee
Research Interests: behavioral ecology, animal communication, sexual selection, parental care
Study System: I am interested in the role acoustic communication plays in male-male aggressive interactions and female mate choice in two species of neotropical frogs that exhibit biparental care.
Degrees Held: B.A., College of St. Benedict, 1995, natural science; M.S., University of Central Florida, 2006, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2006
Additional Links:http://www.tc.umn.edu/~mbee/people_Beth_Pettitt.htm
Katherine Phillips (phil8620@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Robert Sterner
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.S., University of Minnesota, 2002, chemistry; B.A., University of Minnesota, Communication Studies, 2003
Year of Entry into Program: 2005
Timothy Polnaszek (polna005@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Dave Stephens
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.S., North Dakota State University, 2005, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2009
Alexis Powell (apowell@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Scott Lanyon
Research Interests: avian evolution and systematics
Study System: New World sparrows and blackbirds
Degrees Held: B.A., Grinnell College, 1992, biology; M.A., University of Kansas, 2004, ecology & evolutionary biology; M.S., University of Kansas, 1998, education
Year of Entry into Program: 2005
Kristina Prescott (presc030@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): David Andow
Research Interests: ecological and evolutionary impacts of introduced species, biological control, oviposition behavior
Study System: lady beetles in agro-ecosystems
Degrees Held: B.A. Grinnell College, 2000, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2007
Rachel Putnam (rputnam@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Dave Tilman and Peter Reich
Research Interests: I am interested in factors that shape broad spatial patterns of plant distributions across landscapes as well as community-level processes that determine local presence or absence of plant species. In my thesis research I am examining the relative importance of climate and biotic interactions in limiting the range of sugar maple.
Study System: Forests of the midwestern United States and Canada
Degrees Held: B.A., Carleton College, 2001, ecosystem science
Year of Entry into Program: 2006
Additional Links: http://forestecology.cfans.umn.edu/putnam.html
Gina Quiram (quira012@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Jeannine Cavender-Bares and Ruth Shaw
Research Interests: I am interested in the evolutionary consequences of invasive species management. I am currently developing a project to understand how the introduction of biological control agents has affected the evolutionary trajectory of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) specifically herbivore defense traits. I believe that characterizing the long-term consequences of invasive species control is critical when considering the risks and sustainability of management programs.
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.A. Gustavus Adolphus College, 2006, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2007
Joseph Reid (reid0058@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Jacques Finlay
Research Interests: temporal variability in ecosystems, biogeochemistry, ecosystem connectivity, resource pulsing
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.S. University of Wisconsin, 2002, botany
Year of Entry into Program: 2007
Maria Rebolleda-Gomez (rebol004@umn.ed)
Advisor(s): Michael Travisano
Research Interests: Evolution of complexity and cooperation; multicellularity; cell differentiation; modularity
Study System: Yeast
Degrees Held: B.A., National Auto University Mexico, 2010, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2011
Charlotte Riggs (riggs077@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Sarah Hobbie
Research Interests: Biogeochemistry; ecosystem ecology; plant-soil-microbe interactions; carbon cycling
Study System: Temperate forests
Degrees Held: B.A., Wesleyan University, 2008, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2010
Tricia Rubi (rubix002@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): David Stephens
Research Interests:
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Degrees Held: B.A., University of Colorado, 2008, ecology and evolution
Year of Entry into Program: 2010
Megan Strauss (strau102@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Craig Packer
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.S., University of Michigan, 2003, anthropology-zoology and psychology
Year of Entry into Program: 2006
Alexandra Swanson (swan1022@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Craig Packer
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.A., University of Virginia, 2005, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2009
Marta Vargas (varg0075@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Helene Muller-Landau
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: Licenciada, Biology, University of Panama, 2003
Year of Entry into Program: 2005
Statement:
Hernan Vazquez Miranda (miran050@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Robert Zink and Keith Barker
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.S., Universidad Nacional Autonoma, 2004, biology; M.S., Universidad Nacional Autonoma, 2007, systematics
Year of Entry into Program: 2008
Alejandro Velez (velez011@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Mark Bee
Research Interests:Behavioral ecology, animal communication, bioacoustics
Study System: Frogs
Degrees Held: B.S., Universidad de Los Andes, 2002, biology; M.S., Universidad de Los Andes, 2004, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2006
Additional Links:My website
Xiaojing Wei (weixx150@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Jeannine Cavender-Bares
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.S., China Agricultural University, 2008, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2009
Marcus Warwell (warw0017@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Ruth Shaw
Research Interests:ecological genetics, biogeography, adaptive relation between plants and climate
Study System: Conifers
Degrees Held: B.S., Florida A & M University & University of Florida (Joint Degree), 1997, natural resources conservation; M.S., University of Florida, 2002, natural resources conservation
Year of Entry into Program: 2006
Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/rmrs/profiles/?last=Warwell&first=Marcus+V
Pamela Weisenhorn (weise088@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Jennifer Powers, Sarah Hobbie
Research Interests: Microbial physiological ecology, biogeochemical cycling, and ecosystem ecology
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.S. Louisiana State University, 2003, forest biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2007
Michael Wells (wells306@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Keith Barker
Research Interests: Evolution and behavior, particularly cooperation, cooperative breeding and animal societies
Study System: Neotropical Wrens
Degrees Held: B.A., University of Michigan, 2007, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2009
Laura Williams (will3972@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Jeannine Cavender-Bares and Peter Reich
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.A./B.S., University of Monash, 2007, biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2011
Shelby Williams (will1366@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Clarence Lehman
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.S. Biology, University of Minnesota, 2006, genetics & cell biology
Year of Entry into Program: 2011
Peter Wragg (wragg@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): David Tilman
Research Interests: Ecology, evolution and conservation, particularly of grassland plant diversity
Study System: South African mesic grasslands and North American tallgrass prairie
Degrees Held: B.S., University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2006, ecology and conservation biology; B.S., University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2007, biological sciences
Year of Entry into Program: 2008
Xiao Yi (yixxx076@umn.edu)
Advisor(s): Antony Dean
Research Interests:
Study System:
Degrees Held: B.S., Zhongshan University, 2008, biotechnology
Year of Entry into Program: 2008
