Skip Navigation

Graduate Students

Skip Side Navigation

Biology Graduate Students

placeholder image

Afkhami, Mehrnaz

Ph.D. student with Dr. JP Masly; B.S. & M.S. University of Tehran, Iran.

Research interests include evolutionary genetics, male-female interactions, and female reproduction.

Email: mehrnaz.afkhami-1@ou.edu

Allira, Meagan

Allira, Meagan

MS student with Dr. Daniel Becker, BS Colorado State University, Colorado.

Research interests include virology, immunology, and disease ecology in bats.

Email: Meagan.Allira-1@ou.edu

Allira, Meagan

Arredondo, Eric

M.S. student with Dr. Laura Stein; BS University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Research interests include conservation biology, behavioral ecology, and responses to invasive species.

Email: arredondo@ou.edu

Azom, Golam

Azom, Golam

Ph.D. student with Dr. J.P. Masly. Research interests include evolutionary biology, developmental genetics, and molecular biology.

Email: mgazom@ou.edu

Bailey, Leigh

Bailey, Leigh

M.S. student with Dr. Alex Bentz; BS Truman State University, Missouri

Research interests include transgenerational behavioral plasticity and epigenetic programming in songbirds. 

Email: Leigh.Bailey-1@ou.edu

Besozzi, Elizabeth

Besozzi, Elizabeth

Alumni Fellow and Ph.D. student with Dr. Michael Patten; BS Smith College

Research interests include exploring relative importance of top-down and bottom-up drivers of distribution, community ecology, biogeography and conservation.

Email: ebesozzi@ou.edu

placeholder image

Byrd, Brendon

PhD student with Dr. Laura Stein; BS Texas A&M University

Research interests include the evolutionary consequences and mechanistic basis of transgenerational plasticity.

Email: Brendon.E.Byrd-1@ou.edu

Cespedes-Gonzalez, Alejandra

Cespedes-Gonzalez, Alejandra

Ph.D. student with Prof. Ingo Schlupp; MSc Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, BSc University of Bristol

Research interests include behavioral ecology, parthenogenetic mating systems, transgenerational effects, and herpetology. 

Email: acespedesg@ou.edu

placeholder image

Cimprich, Paula

Ph.D. student with Dr. Jeffrey Kelly; BS Miami University, Ohio

Research interests include conservation biology, ornithology and ecology.

Email: paula.m.cimprich-1@ou.edu

Cruz, Marcos

da Cruz, Marcos

Ph.D. student with Dr. Hayley Lanier.

Research interests include phylogenetics, bioinformatics, genomics, molecular evolution and population genetics. 

Email: marcos.cruz@ou.edu

placeholder image

Cueto Aparicio, Luis

Ph.D. student co-advised by Dr. Katharine Marske and Dr. Jeremy Ross.

Research interests include phylogeography, ecology, and ornithology.

Email: l.cueto@ou.edu

Cruz, Marcos

Cummings, Caroline

Ph.D. student with Dr. Daniel Becker, BSA & BA The University of Texas at Austin

Research interests include: ecoimmunology, bat-virus coevolution, and machine learning

Email: carolinecummings@ou.edu

Cruz, Marcos

Dyer, Kristin

MS student with Dr. Daniel Becker; BS Texas State University

Research interests include ectoparasites and vector-borne disease ecology in bats.

Email: kristin.dyer-1@ou.edu

Forehand, Cameron

Forehand, Cameron

MS Student with Dr. Cameron Siler; BS Clemson University

Research interests include conservation biology, ecology, and herpetology. 

Email: Cameron.R.Forehand-1@ou.edu

Franzen, Alex J.

Franzen, Alex J.

Ph.D. student with Dr. Caryn Vaughn. M.S.- Univ. of Minnesota.

Research interests include community ecology, conservation genetics, evolutionary ecology of freshwater bivalves (unionoida), and freshwater ecosystems in general.

Email: ajfranzen@ou.edu

placeholder image

Frazier, Ethan

M.S. student with Dr. Katie Marske, BS- Univ. of Oklahoma.

Research interests include entomology, biogeography, phylogeography, and chemical ecology.

Email: Ethan.A.Kelley-1@ou.edu

Fulton, Alex

Fulton, Alex

M.S. student; BS University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Research interests include reptile and amphibian conservation-based research with direct implications for imperiled species. 

Email: amfulton@ou.edu

Gatchoff, Laura

Gatchoff, Laura

PhD student with Dr. Laura Stein.

Research interests include learning and social behavior with black widow spiders, primarily with the juvenile social period, how sociality can exist in high-risk environments, and how spiders use learning to deal with risk.

Email: Laura.Gatch-1@ou.edu

Gatchoff, Laura

Gilmore, Emilyn

MS student with Dr. Hayley Lanier; BS Missouri State University

Research interests include mammal ecology and response anthropogenic change 

Email: Emilyn.J.Gilmore-1@ou.edu

placeholder image

Gonzales, Shanen

MS student with Dr. Gavin Woodruff

Email: Daniel.S.Gonzales-1@ou.edu

placeholder image

Grimmett, Claire

MS student with Dr. Dave Hambright, BA Yale University

Research interests include freshwater ecology and harmful algal blooms.

Email: claire.grimmett@ou.edu

Han, Donglin

Han, Donglin (Donny)

Ph.D. student in Cellular and Behavioral Program. Doing rotations at Dr. Ashlee Rowe’s Lab and Dr. Michael Markham’s Lab.

Research interests include investigating sensory physiology and electricphysiology in animals, ion channels function and weakly electric fish.  

Email: dhan2@ou.edu

Heiple, Zach

Hassan, Rami

Ph.D. student with Dr. Mojgan Padash; B.S. University of Oklahoma.

Research interests include exploring the mechanisms of HPV-induced cellular abnormalities in a Drosophila model of the disease.

Email: rami.hassan.22@ou.edu

James, Anna

James, Anna

Ph.D. student with Dr. Alexandra Bentz; B.A. The College of Wooster.

Research interests include behavioral endocrinology, physiological and behavioral responses to climate change, and transgenerational effects.

Email: anna.o.james-1@ou.edu

Kaur, Jasmeen

Kaur, Jasmeen

Ph.D. student with Dr. Alex Bentz; BS Indiana University - Bloomington

Research interests include maternal effects, testosterone, and phenotypic plasticity in songbirds.

Email: Jasmeen.Kaur-1@ou.edu

Kolbmann, Christina

Kolbmann, Christina

Ph.D. student with Dr. Jeff Kelly, M.S. Southeastern Louisiana University, BS Canisius College.

Research interests include animal behavior, ornithology, sexual selection, and conservation management.

Email: christinak@ou.edu

Leri, Faith

Leri, Faith

Ph.D. student with Dr. Laura Stein, M.S. Penn State University.

Research interests include evolution, behavior, and plasticity. 

Email: faith.leri@ou.edu

placeholder image

Link, Austin

MS student with Dr. Gavin Woodruff

Research interests include evolutionary biology, developmental genetics, speciation, fitness/selection, ecology, and how each of these fields intersect with each other.

Email: Austin.C.Link-1@ou.edu

Lock, Lauren

Lock, Lauren

Ph.D. student with Dr. Dan Becker.

Research interests include relationships between wildlife disease dynamics and landscape ecology.

Email: laurenlock@ou.edu

Lumula, Harriet

Lumula, Harriet

Ph.D. student with Dr. JP Masly. BS Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Research interests include genetics and evolutionary biology.

Email: hklumula@ou.edu

placeholder image

McCarthy, Rionach

PhD student with Dr. Laura Stein; B.S., Washington State University

Research interests: fish cognition, behavioral syndromes, social learning in fishes

Email: Justine.R.Mccarthy-1@ou.edu

McLimans, Chris

McLimans, Chris

Ph.D. student with Dr. Karl D. Hambright.

Research interests include aquatic ecology, microbial genomics, and climate change

Email: Christopher.J.Mclimans-1@ou.edu

McLimans, Chris

Meacham, Kailey

MS student with Dr. Hayley Lanier, BS Kansas State University

Research interests include mammalian response to change, genomics, and alpine ecosystems.

Email: meacham@ou.edu

placeholder image

Minkin, Eve

M.S. student with Dr. Dave Hambright, BS from Eckerd College.

Email: eve.minkin@ou.edu

Nielsen, Forrest

Nielsen, Forrest

MS student with Dr. Cameron Siler; BS Colorado State University

Research Interests include conservation biology and herpetofauna population ecology.

Email: Forrest.P.Nielsen-1@ou.edu

Nourbakhsh, Mehrnoush

Nourbakhsh, Mehrnoush

Ph.D. student with Dr. Michael Markham; BSc Isfahan University, Iran; MSc National Institute of Polytechnic and University, France.

Research interests include neurobiology in weakly electric fish.

Email: mrey@ou.edu

Oakley, William

Oakley, William

Ph.D. student with Dr. Eli Bridge; BA College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, MA The Citadel, Charleston, SC

Research interests include migration and population ecology of songbirds, wintering ecology of tidal marsh sparrows, the technology used to track migratory songbirds and science education and citizen science.

Email: wf.oakley@ou.edu

O’Dell, Samuel

O’Dell, Samuel

PhD student with Dr. James Hung; BS Humboldt State University, MS San Diego State University

Research interests include pollinators, pollination, plant-pollinator networks, applied ecology, and biogeography.

Email: Samuel.ODell-1@ou.edu

Pandit, Meelyn

Osterhoudt, Noah

MS student with Dr. Alex Bentz and Dr. Jeff Kelly; B.A. Georgia Southern University

Research interests include behavioral endocrinology and spatial ecology in raptors, primarily New World Vultures.

Email: nosterhoudt@ou.edu

Pedraza Marrón, Carmen

Pedraza Marrón, Carmen

Ph.D. student with Dr. Ricardo Betancur; BS and MSc Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo

Research interests elucidating biogeographical and evolutionary processes shaping population structure and species diversity patterns in marine ecosystems.

Email: carmen.pedraza@ou.edu

Perera, Nu

Perera, Nu

Ph.D. student with Dr. Jeremy Ross, M.S. from Wichita State Univ.

Research interests include wintering ecology of migratory birds and the conservation of birds.  

Email: nuperera@ou.edu

Premathilake, Dineesha

Premathilake, Dineesha

Ph.D. student with Dr. Katharine Marske; BS University of Kelaniya (Sri Lanka), M.S. University of Central Oklahoma

Research interests include comparative phylogeography, macroecology, and large-scale patterns of genetic variation of vertebrates.

Email: dineeshapr@ou.edu

placeholder image

Rahman, Masud

Ph.D. student with Dr. Gavin Woodruff

Email: Md.Masudur.Rahman-1@ou.edu

Rosas-Puchuri, Ulises

Reich, Tyler

PhD student with Dr. Ingo Schlupp; BS University of Oklahoma

Research interests include evolutionary ecology, sexual selection, asexuality, and ichthyology.

Email: treich@ou.edu

Rosas-Puchuri, Ulises

Roistacher, Alicia

PhD student with Dr. Dan Becker

Research interests include bat immunology, bat conservation, host-pathogen coevolution, wildlife physiology, disease ecology, molecular and microbiology

Email: aroistacher@ou.edu

Rosas-Puchuri, Ulises

Rosas-Puchuri, Ulises

Ph.D. student with Dr. Ricardo Betancur. BS Biological Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (Peru), M.S. The George Washington University.

Research interests include emerging approaches for phylogenetic analysis.

Email: Ulises.F.Rosas.Puchuri-1@ou.edu

Santaquiteria Gil, Aintzane

Santaquiteria Gil, Aintzane

Ph.D. student with Dr. Ricardo Betancur; BS University of Navarra (Spain), M.S. University of Tromsø (Norway)

Research interests include fish evolution, phylogenomics and biogeography.

Email: a.santaquiteria@ou.edu

Santaquiteria Gil, Aintzane

Simon, Peniel

PhD student with Dr. Ari Berkowitz; Bsc. Human Anatomy

Research Interests: neurobiology, regulation of neural mechanisms underlying behavior.

Email: peniel.o.simon-1@ou.edu

placeholder image

Smith, Caden

MS student with Dr. Ingo Schlupp; BS Mississippi State University

Research interests include behavioral ecology, sexual selection, and speciation.

Email: Caden.D.Smith-1@ou.edu

Smith, Sierra

Smith, Sierra

Ph.D. candidate with Dr. Cameron Siler; BS University of Oklahoma.

Research interests include microbiomes, ecology, venomics, genomics, and herpetology.

Email: sierrasmith@ou.edu; https://www.sierranicolesmith.com/

placeholder image

Strand, Alva

Ph.D. student with Dr. Jeffrey Kelly.

Research interests include the ecology of seasonal avian migration, the impacts of climate change on migration, and radar aeroecology. 

Email: alvastrand@ou.edu

Theriot, Miranda

Theriot, Miranda

Ph.D. student with Dr. Hayley Lanier, M.S. University of Alaska, Fairbanks.

Research interests include body size trends and responses to recent climate change in mammals. 

Email: mirandaktheriot@ou.edu

Trankina, Grace

Trankina, Grace

M.S. student with Dr. Jeffrey Kelly; BS University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Research interests include migratory birds, artificial light at night, and radar aeroecology.

Email: gtrankina@ou.edu

placeholder image

Triemstra, Abigail

M.S. student with Dr. Eli Bridge; BS Calvin Universtiy

Research interests include avian ecology and ecotoxicology.

Email: abigail.a.triemstra-1@ou.edu

Troyer, Emily

Troyer, Emily

Ph.D. student with Dr. Dahiana Arcila; BA & BS Ohio State University, M.S. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia

Research interests include phylogenomics and fish evolution.

Email: emily.troyer@ou.edu

Troyer, Emily

Turnley, Ben

PhD student with Dr. James Hung; BA Central College; MS University of New Mexico

Research interests include native bee community ecology, conservation biology, and global change biology. 

Email: benturnley@ou.edu

Verrett, Taylor

Verrett, Taylor

Ph.D. student with Dr. Daniel Becker; BS Texas A&M University; M.S. Western Kentucky University.

Research interests center on songbird disease ecology, including migration-parasite interactions and urban ecology.

Email: tbverrett@ou.edu

Verrett, Taylor

Williams, Alyssa

PhD student with Dr. Luca Fornelli; MSc Cardiff University, BS & BA University of Tulsa

Research interests include cancer cell biology, genetics, and therapeutics

Email: Alyssa.A.Williams-1@ou.edu

placeholder image

Wingert, Jackson

MS student with Dr. James Hung; BS from Texas A&M University.

Research interests include insect ecology, parasitology, and biodiversity.

Email: Jackson.T.Wingert-1@ou.edu

placeholder image

Wiser, Shannon

Ph.D. student with Dr. Michael Markham; BS & MS, University of Oklahoma

Research interests include animal communication, biophysics, and the behavioral and metabolic constraints caused by ecological changes.

Email: shannonwiser@ou.edu

Zumpano, Kyle

Zumpano, Kyle

Ph.D. student with Dr. Chris Lemon.

Research interests include sensory neurobiology, neural circuits, and taste and thermosensation. 

Email: kylezump@ou.edu