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NHRE Biology Projects
2024
The ecology, diversity, and habitat use of the North-Atlantic deep-sea squat
lobster Munidopsis serricornis complex (Galatheoidea: Munidopsidae)
Intern: Mina Barajas
Mentor: Paula Rodriguez-Flores, Andrea Quattrini, Martha Nizinski
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
Phylogenomic insights into the systematics of the Vitis
arizonica complex in North America
Intern: Brooklyn Swen
Mentor: Jun Wen, Gabriel Johnson, Luke Sparreo
Department: Botany
Using Deep Genome Skimming to resolve phylogenetic relationships in Fuchsia and Circaea
Intern: Lucia Anderson
Mentor: Warren Wagner, Jun Wen, Gabriel Johnson
Department: Botany
A fresh perspective on historical specimens: improving natural history collections data facilitates freshwater mussel conservation
Intern: Ian E. Abreu Picart
Mentor: John Pfeiffer
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
New Species of Assassin Fly from Namib Desert
Intern: Tayler Blee
Mentor: Allan Cabrero, Torsten Dikow
Department: Entomology
2022
Assessing Historical DNA from Pocillopora museum specimens
Intern:Mary Grace Catapang
Mentor: Andrea M. Quattrini, Michael T. Connelly
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
A New Species of Assassin-fly in Namibia
Intern: Meliah Dubus
Mentor: Torsten Dikow
Department: Entomology
Demonstrating the Value of Natural History Collections: Systematics of Crocidura Shrews with Voucher Specimens
Intern: Daniel Galvet
Mentor:Melissa T.R. Hawkins, Arlo Hinckley
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Using mitochondrial genomes to study relationships of wentletraps
Intern: Kenna Stone
Mentor: Yvonne Linton, David Pecor
Department: Entomology
How birds use color to stay warm: Pigment driven thermal properties in the plumage of birds on the highest mountains in the world.
Intern: Mariana Quintero
Mentor: Carla Dove, Sahas Barve
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Tropical to Temperate Transitions in the Genus Prunus
Intern: Sundre Winslow
Mentor: Jun Wen, Elizabeth Zimmer, Richard Hodel
Department: Botany
2021
Using Freshwater Mussel Host Use to Examine Conservation-Relevant Factors
Intern: David H. Nichols
Mentor: John Pfeiffer
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
How Accurate is Species Detection with Metabarcoding
Intern: Milena Nunes
Mentor(s): Karen Osborn, Stephanie Bush, Paula Pappalardo
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Depth-adapted Gene Discovery in Deep-sea Corals
Intern: Nina I. Ramos
Mentor(s): Danielle M. DeLeo, Andrea M. Quattrini
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
Is Down Color in Himalayan Birds Associated With a High Elevation Life History?
Intern: Efrain Salazar Ortiz
Mentor(s): Carla Dove, Sahas Barve
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Using machine learning tools to quantify mercuric chloride staining across digitized herbarium specimens
Intern: Isabella Schrader
Mentor(s): Mike Trizna, Ashlyn Powell, Paul Frandsen, Alex White, Rebecca Dikow, Eric Schuettpelz
Department: Botany
2019
Evolution of Non-visual Opsin Genes Across the Frog Tree of Life
Intern: John Boyette
Mentor(s): Ryan Schott, Rayna Bell
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Skeletal ontogeny in the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus)
Intern: Sorilis E. Ruiz-Escobar
Mentor: Helen James
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
A Phylogeny of the Ginseng Genus (Panax L. Araliaceae) based on Whole Plastome and 935 Targeted Nuclear DNA Sequences
Intern: Regina Fairbanks
Mentors: Jun Wen, Elizabeth Zimmer
Department: Botany
A Tale of Two Ferns: Examining the Relationship between Poliploidy, Reproductive Mode, and Distribution in Pteris vittata and Pteris quadriaurita
Intern: Zahra Domin
Mentor: Eric Schuettpelz
Department: Botany
Describing new mydas-fly species from the Namib Desert
Intern: Claire Boschertl
Mentor: Torsten Dikow
Department: Entomology
Global Phylogeography of Delphinine Dolphins Using Mitogenomics
Intern: Madeleine Becker
Mentor: Michael McGowen
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
To swim, or not to swim, that is the question: an ancestral state reconstruction based on benthic behaviors across Medusozoa
Intern: Kelly E. Walls
Mentor: Allen G. Collins
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
Using collections to uncover hidden diversity: a case study with the Chagas Disease vector Triatoma sanguisuga (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)
Intern: Hoano Rosario
Mentors: Silvia A. Justi, Thomas Henry
Department: Entomology
Visualizing deep-sea eye adaptations using micro-CT 3D reconstructions
Intern:Karen Robles
Mentors: Chan Lin, Karen Osborn
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
A parasitoid puzzle: phylogenetic relationships of Labeninae wasps (Ichneumonidae)
Intern: Marissa Sandoval
Mentor: Bernardo Santos, Sean Brady
Department: Entomology
2018
Functional morphology of the forelimb of North American shrews
Intern: Alec Wilken
Mentor: Neal Woodman
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
It takes one to tango: examining the prevalence of asexual reproduction in the fern genus Pteris
Intern: Hannah Ranft
Mentor: Eric Schuettpelz
Department: Botany
Molecular evolution of phototransduction genes during major life history transitions in frogs
Intern: Maya Woolfolk
Mentor: Ryan Schott & Rayna Bell
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Morphological and ecological diversity in mainland Draconura clade anoles
Intern: Jonathan Huie
Mentor: Ivan Prates & Kevin de Queiroz
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Splitting the Vitis cinerea species complex (Downy grapes)
Intern: Catherine Gilbert
Mentor: Jun Wen
Department: Botany
Taxonomic revision of the assassin-fly genus Microphontes Londt, 1994
Intern: Amanda Markee
Mentor: Torsten Dikow
Department: Entomology
The diversity and distribution of cephalopods in the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone
Intern: Jared Richards
Mentor: Mike Vecchione
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
2017
Deciphering evolutionary ancestry in African tree frogs: genus Leptopelis
Intern: Kyle Jaynes, Adrian College
Mentor: Rayna Bell
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Octopods of the deep reefs off Curacao
Intern: Abigail Pratt, Humboldt State University
Mentor: Mike Vecchione and Carole Baldwin
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
Plant endemism and diversity of the Guiana Shield
Intern: Elizabeth O'Brien, Villanova University
Mentor: Vicki Funk and Robert Edwards
Department: Botany
Swimming mechanics of gossamer worms
Intern: Alyssa Arington, Santa Barbara City College
Mentor: Karen Osborn
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
Taxonomic revision of the mydas-fly genus Cacatuopyga Papavero & Wilcox, 1974
Intern: Even Dankowicz, Brandeis University
Mentor: Torsten Dikow
Department: Entomology
Utilizing DNA barcoding to identify species sold across the Caribbean and improve conservation
Intern: Erika Scheibe, The College of Idaho
Mentor: Courtney Cox and Steven Canty
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
You are how you eat: chelicerae orientation and the diversification of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae)
Intern: Brianna Flynn, University of Texas at Austin
Mentor: Hannah Wood
Department: Entomology
2016
A kinematic description of locomotion in the marine polychaete genus Tomopteris
Intern: Nadège Aoki, Cornell University
Mentor: Karen Osborn
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
A new cryptic species of fringe-toed lizard (Uma, Phrynosomatidae)
Intern: Elizabeth DeRycke, McDaniel College
Mentor: Andrew Gottscho and Kevin DeQueiroz
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
A nuclear and chloroplast phylogeny of maple trees (Acer L.) and their close relatives (Hippocastanoideae, Sapindaceae)
Intern: Emma Frawley, Bucknell University
Mentor: AJ Harris and Jun Wen
Department: Botany
Climbing the mountain: niche modeling of Hymenopappus filifolius and Hymenopappus mexicanus using ArcGIS and Maxent
Intern: Daniel Vance, The College of William and Mary
Mentor: Vicki Funk and Robert Edwards
Department: Botany
Investigating polyploidy in Isoetes graniticus using megaspore morphology and DNA analysis
Intern: Katherine Wu, Mount Saint Mary's University
Mentor: Elizabeth Zimmer
Department: Botany
Mammal movements: functional abilities of water shrews in the aquatic environment
Intern: Asante Crews, Brown University
Mentor: Neal Woodman
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Phylogeographic analysis of mitogenomes of five tropical Asian birds
Intern: Elizabeth Reardon, High Point University
Mentor: Haw Chuan Lim and Michael Braun
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Surveying the leaf litter diversity of Neotropical parasitoid hymenoptera
Intern: Diler Haji, University of Connecticut
Mentor: Matthew Buffington
Department: Entomology
Taxonomic revision of the mydas-fly genus Plyomydas Wilcox & Papavero, 1971 (Insecta: Diptera)
Intern: Stephanie Castillo, San Diego State University
Mentor: Torsten Dikow
Department: Entomology
Within ARMS’ reach: an assessment of diversity, abundance, and size effects of CO2 venting and associated pH change on coral reef-dwelling invertebrate communities
Intern: Brianna Weir, Mount Holyoke College
Mentor: Laetitia Plaisance
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
2015
Bees, wasps, and sawflies: comparing the efficacy of two collection methods in estimating hymenopteran diversity in grasslands
Intern: Morgan Rondinelli, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Mentor: Robert Kula
Department: Entomology
Carcinonemertidae: family of worms seeking a secure home and phylogenetic closure
Intern: Lindsey Schwartz, Muhlenberg College
Mentor: Jon Norenburg and Anna Phillips
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
Comparing two genetic markers used in the identification of diving ducks (Aythyinae) involved in birdstrikes
Intern: Damani Eubanks, University of Rochester
Mentor: Carla Dove
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Five new species of longhorned woodboring beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the genus Urgleptes of Hispaniola, including a new synonymy for a highly variable species
Intern: Ian Ravin, Dickinson College
Mentor: Steven Lingafelter
Department: Entomology
Genotyping an invasive vine: the hunt for polymorphic microsatellite loci in kudzu (Pueraria montana var. lobata)
Intern: Roy Moger-Reischer, University of Rochester
Mentor: Ashley Egan
Department: Botany
How ethnobotanical documentation can sustain linguistic, cultural and botanical diversity and knowledge
Intern: Olivia Van Damme, California State University, Chico
Mentor: Vicki Funk and Gabriela Pérez Báez
Department: Botany
Morphometrics of the dolphin genus Lagenorhynchus: deciphering a contested phylogeny
Intern: Allison Galezo, Georgetown University
Mentor: Nicole Vollmer and Allen Collins
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Specimen age and phylogenomic analysis of ultraconserved elements in carpenter bees (Genus: Xylocopa)
Intern: Wilson Guillory, University of Arkansas
Mentor: Seán Brady
Department: Entomology
2014
Barcoding and metabarcoding the cryptofauna of the northern Red Sea
Intern: Allison Snider, Central Michigan University
Mentor: Matthieu Leray and Nancy Knowlton
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
Characterizing new microsatellite markers for the invasive vine kudzu, Pueraria montana
Intern: Dennis Zhu, University of Missouri - Columbia
Mentor: Ashley Egan
Department: Botany
Illuminating the evolutionary history of a group of miniaturized worms, the nemertean genus Ototyphlonemertes
Intern: Megan Moore, University of Maine
Mentor: Jon Norenburg
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
Nuclear and chloroplast sequences resolve the Concord grape mystery
Intern: Sterling Herron, Milligan College
Mentor: Jun Wen and Elizabeth Zimmer
Department: Botany
Patterns of genetic variation in the Australian grey fantail complex: Rhipidura albiscapa and Rhipidura phasiana
Intern: Shaina Lu, Swarthmore College
Mentor: Terry Chesser
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Tall grass, small wasps: measuring the biodiversity of parasitic braconid wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) in two warm season grasslands
Intern: Noah Winters, Kenyon College
Mentor: Robert Kula
Department: Entomology
Taxonomic revision of the robber-fly genus Acronyches Williston, 1908
Intern: Allan Cabrero, San Diego State University
Mentor: Torsten Dikow
Department: Entomology
2013
American deer: Morphometrics and taxonomy of the Mazama americana species complex (Mammalia: Cervidae)
Intern: Amy Rutter, Pennsylvania State University, Berks
Mentor: Kris Helgen
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Associations between hyperiid amphipods and gelatinous zooplankton
Intern: Katherine Keil, Oklahoma State University
Mentor: Karen Osborn
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
Chloroplast DNA reveals uniparental plastid inheritance from Isoetes engelmannii in two allotetraploid speciation events
Intern: Gaurav Kandlikar, University of Minnesota
Mentor: Elizabeth Zimmer
Department: Botany
Exploring shell shape disparity in viviparid gastropods (Gastropoda: Viviparidae) using geometric morphometrics
Intern: Kristie Hansen, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
Mentor: Bert Van Bocxlaer
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
Functional limb morphology of African myosoricine shrews (Mammalia, Soricidae)
Intern: Frank Stabile, The College of New Jersey
Mentor: Neal Woodman
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Origin of tepui avifauna
Intern: Subir Shakya, Southern Arkansas University
Mentor: Michael Braun
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Stable isotope analysis in deep-sea cephalopods of the Bear Seamount
Intern: Valerie Hartigan, Coastal Carolina University
Mentor: Mike Vecchione
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
Taxonomic revision of the robber-fly genus Leptopteromyia Williston, 1907
Intern: Christopher Cohen, Oregon State University
Mentor: Torsten Dikow
Department: Entomology
2012
Comparative anatomy of leaves and spathes of dayflowers (Commelina: Commelinaceae)
Intern: Kelly Friend, Adrian College
Mentor: Robert Faden
Department: Botany
Getting ARMS up on coral reef analysis
Intern: Akela Kuwahara, Humboldt State University
Mentor: Chris Meyer
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
Patterns of genetic differentiation in the Pygmy Antwren (Myrmotherula brachyura) of Amazonia
Intern: Adam Martin, Oregon State University
Mentor: Terry Chesser
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Skeletal variation among the short-eared shrews (Cryptotis) indicate differing degrees of fossoriality
Intern: Sarah Gaffney, Smith College
Mentor: Neal Woodman
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Species boundaries of possums in the Queensland wet tropics
Intern: Dakota Rowsey, Pacific Lutheran University
Mentor: Kris Helgen
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
The relationship between salt gland depression size and proportion of fish in the diet of penguins
Intern: Samantha Hauserman, Arizona State University
Mentor: Helen James
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Variation in cornuti in the leaf-roller moths (Lepidoptera: Tortricinae)
Intern: Salvatore Anzaldo, Pennsylvania State University
Mentor: John Brown
Department: Entomology
2011
A holistic investigation of the Bonaire Cubozoa
Intern: Daniel Keil, University of Central Arkansas
Mentor: Allen Collins
Department: Invertebrate Zoology
A molecular phylogeny of the Vitis-Ampelocissus clade of the grape family based on plastid and nuclear sequences
Intern: Ryan Moraski, Pennsylvania State University
Mentor: Jun Wen
Department: Botany
A phylogeographic approach to explaining the distribution of North American Parthenocissus
Intern: Matthew Chansler, Michigan State University
Mentor: Elizabeth Zimmer
Department: Botany
Effects of land use on ectoparasite communities of East African rodents
Intern: Arianne Bergman, Hamilton College
Mentor: Kris Helgen
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Molecular systematics of the genus Chaetura (Aves: Apodidae)
Intern: Haley Vaseghi, George Mason University
Mentor: Terry Chesser
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Molecules vs. Morphology: Systematics of Middle American Shrews of the genus Cryptotis (Mammalis: Soricidae)
Intern: Sean Boaglio, Pacific Lutheran University
Mentor: Jesus Maldonado
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Morphology of the Head and Associated Structures in New World Cryptocephalini (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cryptocephalinae)
Intern: Anthony Deczynski, University of Delaware
Mentor: Alexander Konstantinov
Department: Entomology
2010
A Comparison of Phylogenetic Systematics among Middle American Shrews of the Genus Cryptotis (Mammalia: Soricidae) based on Morphological versus Molecular Data
Intern: Sunjana Supekar, Oberlin College
Mentor: Neal Woodman
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
A revision of the Afrotropical genus Stentorceps Quinlan, 1984 (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) with a description of five new species
Intern: Matthew Nielsen, Grinnell College
Mentor: Matthew Buffington
Department: Entomology
Genetic Variability in Magnolia acuminata (L.) Populations in the United States
Intern: Heide Wollaeger, Wittenberg University
Mentor: Elizabeth Zimmer
Department: Botany
Genetic diversity in an Andean forest bird: the Rufous Antpitta (Grallaria rufula)
Intern: Spencer Galen, University of Delaware
Mentor: Terry Chesser
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Patterns of Geographic Variation in Petrodromus (Mammalia: Macroscelididae)
Intern: Joanna Larson, Harvard University
Mentor: Kris Helgen
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Species or Populations? Investigation of Genetic Divergence in western Atlantic Bathygobius fishes
Intern: Jessica Glass, Yale University
Mentor: Carole Baldwin
Department: Vertebrate Zoology
Variation In The Female's Frenulum in Tortricidae (Lepidoptera)
Intern: Sabrina Monsalve, Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano
Mentor: John Brown
Department: Entomology
What did the Romans Eat, and Why?
Intern: Madeline Brown, Brown University
Mentor: Alain Touwaide
Department: Botany