Zoology Graduate Student Roster

Below are listed current Ph. D. and M.S. students, their research interests, and their contact information.

Albin, Amy (Furman)
M.S. Topic: Neuromorphology and chemosensory differences between herbivorous and carnivorous land snails
Advisor: James Atkinson
furman@msu.edu

Anderson, Carlos
Ph.D. Topic: Speciation by reinforcement in digital organisms
Advisor: Barry Williams
carlosja@msu.edu

Benson-Amram, Sarah
Ph.D. Topic: Social Complexity and General Intelligence in Spotted Hyenas
Advisor: Kay Holekamp
bensonam@msu.edu

Bott, Kristin
Ph.D. Topic: Population genetics of the cherry fruit fly (Rhagoletis cingulata) in
the lower peninsula of Michigan
Advisor: James Smith
bottk@msu.edu

Bowers, Alana
Advisor: Kay Holekamp/Richard Snider
bowersa2@msu.edu

Brouwer, Nathan
M.S. Topic: Characterizing the altitudinal migration of tropical birds with stable isotopes
Advisor: Catherine Lindell
brouwern@msu.edu

Bussema, Stephanie (Kortering)
Ph.D. Topic: Visual behavior in Old World chameleons
Advisor: Fred Dyer
korterin@msu.edu

Califf, Katy
Ph.D. Topic: Genetic diversity in two species of hyena: influence of sociality and implications for mechanisms of mate choice
Advisor: Kay Holekamp
califfka@msu.edu

Celi, Jorge
Ph.D. Topic: Hydrological Controls of riverine ecosystems of the Napo River (Amazon
Basin): Implications for the Management and Conservation of Diversity
Advisor: Stephen Hamilton
celijorg@msu.edu

Coefield, Sarah
Advisor: John Giesy
coefield@msu.edu

Cohen, Rachel
Ph.D. Topic: The effects of testosterone on reproductive behavior in female green anole lizards
Advisor: Juli Wade
cohenra2@msu.edu

Cosens, Lindsay
M.S. Topic: The effects of operant conditioning training on the use of behavioral enrichment in captive snow leopards
Advisor: Richard Snider
cosensli@msu.edu

Curren, Leslie
Ph.D. Topic: Sexual selection in spotted hyenas, a role reversed species
Advisor: Kay Holekamp
currenle@msu.edu

Daigle, Courtney (Lynd)
M.S. Topic: Environmental Survey of Captive African Lions (Panthera leo) Maintained in North American AZA Institutions
Advisor: Richard Snider
lyndcour@msu.edu

Dantzer, Benjamin
Ph.D. Topic: Hormone-mediated maternal effects and the hormonal mechanisms underlying phenotypic plasticity and behavioral syndromes in a natural population of North American red squirrels in the Yukon, Canada (Kluane Red Squirrel Project)
Advisor: Andrew McAdam
dantzer@msu.edu

Das, Lauri
Ph.D. Topic: Behavior and life history of Peromyscus as mechanisms behind climate-driven geographic range changes and resulting community dynamics
Advisors: Andrew McAdam and Barbara Lundrigan
daslauri@msu.edu

Davis, Jennifer A.
Advisor: Richard Snider
davisj63@msu.edu

Desotelle, Micaleila
Ph.D. Topic: Food web patterns and nutrient cycling in river ecosystems
Advisor: Stephen Hamilton
desotell@msu.edu

Flies, Andrew
Ph.D. Topic: Immune function and pathogen resistance in spotted hyenas
Advisor: Kay Holekamp
fliesand@msu.edu

Forsythe, Patrick
Ph.D. Topic: Early life analysis of the sources and magnitude of mortality in lake
sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)
Advisor: Kim Scribner
forsyt29@msu.edu

Fredricks, Timothy
Ph.D. Topic: Ecological Risk Assessment of Passerine Birds exposed to TCDF and TCDD in the Tittabawassee River Floodplain, Midland, Michigan, USA
Advisor: John Giesy
fredri29@msu.edu

Goble, Adam
Advisor: Andrew McAdam
gobleada@msu.edu

Heinlein, Julianne
Advisor: R. Jan Stevenson
heinlei2@msu.edu

Henley, Casey (McGovern)
Advisor: Lynwood Clemens
mcgove14@msu.edu

Hennard, Sarah
Advisor: Richard Snider
hennards@msu.edu

Hunt, Seth
Ph.D. Topic: Sediment nutrient effects on oxygen demand in streams
Advisor: R. Jan Stevenson
huntseth@msu.edu

Jacobs, Andrew
Advisor: Thomas Getty
jacobs78@msu.edu

Janse, Benjamin
Advisor: Thomas Getty
janseben@msu.edu

Johnson, Jean
Ph.D. Topic: Do female house wrens manipulate paternal care by increasing testosterone levels in their eggs?
Advisor: Thomas Getty
john2597@msu.edu

Joo, Wooyeong
Advisor: Stuart Gage
joowooye.msu.edu

Kelley, Sheridan
Advisor: Richard Hill
kelley71@msu.edu

Kinsman, Lauren
Ph.D. Topic: Phosphorus cycling in shallow aquatic ecosystem sediments
Advisor: Stephen Hamilton
kinsmanl@msu.edu

Kjelvik, Melissa
Advisor: Gary Mittelbach
kjelvikm@msu.edu

Korte, Lisa (Molloy)
Ph.D. Topic: Dissertation title: The spatial and social organization of forest buffalo (Syncerus caffer nanus) at Lopé National Park, Gabon
Advisor: Barbara Lundrigan
molloyli@msu.edu

LaCroix, Suzanne
Ph.D. Topic: Ontogeny and morphology of feeding performance in coyotes (Canis latrans)
Advisor: Kay Holekamp
lacroixs@msu.edu

Lewandowski, Eva
Ph.D. Topic: Visual Signals of Plant-Frugivore Interactions
Advisor: Thomas Getty
lewand59@msu.edu

Litchfield, Lisa
M.S. Topic: A survey of captive elephant (Loxidonta africana, Elephas maximus) diets and common feeding practices
Advisor: Richard Snider
litchf10@msu.edu

Lutz, Diana
Advisor: James Harding/Richard Snider
conraddi@msu.edu

Martin, Mary
Advisor: Donald Hall
marti279@msu.edu

McElhinny, Teresa
Advisor: Barbara Lundrigan
mcelhinn@msu.edu

McGuire, Jeanette
Ph.D. Topic: Male reproductive success and the evolution of longevity in turtles
Advisor: Kim Scribner
mcguir35@msu.edu

Meyer, Justin
Ph.D. Topic: The role of enemies in evolutionary diversification; studied with microbes
Advisor: Richard Lenski
meyerju3@msu.edu

Miller, Stephanie A.
Advisor: R. Jan Stevenson
mill1571@msu.edu

Morrison, Emily B.
Ph.D. Topic: Effects of tropical forest restoration on avian foraging behavior
Advisor: Catherine Lindell
ebmorris@msu.edu

Moscarella, Rosa
Ph.D. Topic: Phylogeography, Genetic Structure and Morphology of expanding populations of the white-footed mouse in the Northern Great Lakes region
Advisor: Barbara Lundrigan
moscarel@msu.edu

Novitski, Linda
Ph.D. Topic: Microcystis in midwestern rivers, analyzing population dynamics of an algal taxon with toxin-forming potential
Advisor: R. Jan Stevenson
novitski@msu.edu

Pangle, Wiline (Trouilloud)
Ph.D. Topic: Threat-sensitive behavior and its ontogenetic development in mammalian carnivores
Advisor: Kay Holekamp
trouillo@msu.edu

Park, June-woo
Ph.D. Topic: Chemical induced changes in gene expression patterns along the HPG axis at different organizational levels using a small animal model
Advisor: John Giesy
parkju11@msu.edu

Peek, Shane
Ph.D. Topic: Chemoreception in hemichordates and possible insights into the evolution of chemoreception
Advisor: Heather Eisthen
peekshan@msu.edu

Peet, Katie
Advisor: Richard Snider
peetkati@msu.edu

Pifer, Michelle
Advisor: Richard Snider
pifermic@msu.edu

Ramirez, Mercedes
Advisor: Fred Dyer
ramir107@msu.edu

Rick, Jessica
Advisor: Richard Snider
rickjess@msu.edu

Rober, Allison
M.S. Topic: Effects of Grazing on Algal Productivity in Northern Wetlands
Advisor: R. Jan Stevenson
roberall@msu.edu

Schrader, Jessica (St. John)
Ph.D. Topic: Plasticity in the circadian system of the brain across reproductive state in female rodents
Advisor: Laura Smale
stjohnj4@msu.edu

Seston, Rita
Ph.D. Topic: Utilizing the belted kingfisher and great blue heron as receptor species in an ecological risk assessment of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in the Tittabawassee River floodplain, MI, USA
Advisor: John Giesy
sestonri@msu.edu

Shaw, Kathryn
Ph.D. Topic: The causes and consequences of individual differences in behavior in spotted hyenas
Advisor: Kay Holekamp
shawkat4@msu.edu

Smith, Jennifer E.
Ph.D. Topic: Cooperative partnerships in the fission-fusion society of the spotted hyena
Advisor: Kay Holekamp
smith780@msu.edu

Stricker, Gregory
Ph.D. Topic: Maternal behavior of spotted hyenas
Advisor: Kay Holekamp
strick55@msu.edu

Swanson, Eli
Advisor: Kay Holekamp
swans171@msu.edu

Tanner, Jaime
Ph.D. Topic: Behavioral and Morphological Development in the Spotted Hyena
Advisor: Kay Holekamp
tannerja@msu.edu

Taylor, Ryan
Ph.D. Topic: Reproductive polymorphisms in red squirrels
I am investigating the evolution of alternative strategies in red squirrels in response to the frequency and degree of variation in selection pressures due to resource availability.
Advisor: Andrew McAdam
rwtaylor@msu.edu

Theis, Kevin
Ph.D. Topic: A multilevel investigation of chemical communication in the spotted hyena
Advisor: Kay Holekamp
theiskev@msu.edu

Thomas, Mridul
Advisor: Elena Litchman
thomasmr@msu.edu

Townsend-Mehler, John
Ph.D. Topic: Comparing individual foraging decisions in honeybees and bumblebees
Advisor: Fred Dyer
townse96@msu.edu

Tubbs, Mollie
M.S. Topic: Creating a photo-identification catalog of juvenile hawksbill sea turtles off the coast of Eastern Florida
Advisor: Richard Snider
tubbsmol@msu.edu

VanMeter, Page
Ph.D. Topic: Reproductive and Behavioral Endocrinology of the Female Spotted Hyena
Advisor: Kay Holekamp
vanmete7@msu.edu

Walters, Lindsey
Ph.D. Topic: Sexual selection and parental investment in the house wren
Advisor: Thomas Getty
walte138@msu.edu

Wharton, Katie
Ph.D. Topic: Queen and worker influence on investment in male reproductive function in honeybee colonies
Advisor: Thomas Getty
wharton2@msu.edu

Wiley, Anne
Advisor: Peggy Ostrom
wileyann@msu.edu

Wiser, Michael
Advisor: Richard Lenski
wisermic@msu.edu

Wyatt, Kevin H.
Ph.D. Topic: Regulation and function of algae in high latitude wetlands
Advisor: R. Jan Stevenson
wyattkev@msu.edu

Zhang, Xiaowei
Ph.D. Topic: Application of Toxicogenomic Approaches to Study Chemical- Induced Effects on the Hypothalamic- Pituitary- Gonadal (HPG) Axis Using the Human H295R cells and the Japanese Medada
Advisor: John Giesy
zhangx22@msu.edu