People
Earley Lab Alumni - Undergraduate and Research Students
Proceed with caution! Pictures are from their time in the Earley lab (a blast from the past for some!).
I would like to thank all of these folks for their contributions to the Earley lab over the years! Job well done!
Albert Aguilera
CSU Fresno (2006-2008). Albert Aguilera graduated from CSU, Fresno with a B.S. in Health Science, Community Health in 2009. He completed his Master of Public Health at UC Davis in 2011. He will be continuing a PhD in Nutrition at UC Davis under Dr. Lucia Kaiser working on a school based-obesity intervention in Central California funded by the USDA AFRI grant. He also plans to pursue an MD in Pediatrics.
Josh Aquino
University of Alabama (2009-2011). Collaborated with Mark Garcia on his graduate project on the behavioral effects of winning/losing experiences, and has identified the CREB gene in Anolis brains.
Jessica Bhanasy
University of Alabama (2009). Romantic therapist II for convict cichlid pair bonds; collaborated with Stephanie Wong on her graduate project.
Brooke Bradley
University of Alabama (2010). Collaborated with Mark Garcia's team on the neurobiological and metabolic correlates of winning and losing experience in the green anole lizard
Ben Brown
University of Alabama (2009-2010). Frozen tissue processor extraordinaire! Collaborated with Boopathy Sivaraman on his graduate project to determine tissue glucose/glycogen concentrations and to evaluate aggressive behavior following pharmacological manipulations of the neuroendocrine stress axis.
Janet Campbell
CSU Fresno (2006-2008).I am entering a zoology PhD program at Washington State University in Pullman, under the direction of Dr. Gary Thorgaard. The labs main goal is conservation issues and the genetics of domestication of Oncorhynchus mykiss (rainbow trout) and Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (chinook salmon). I will be working on behavior and stress issues via QTL linkage mapping, microarray, and hormone analysis. Haven't really narrowed down the specific project yet, but I hope to include field work looking at environmental components that are influencing stress and behavior in both wild and domestic trout. I have many ideas!
Paige Cantrell
University of Alabama (2009).Gill histology
Alex Cheah
CSU Fresno (2007-2008). I am currently studying Biology with an emphasis on Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental. I am hoping to graduate Spring 2010 so I can get more into the research world. Planning to seek higher education in the Biology field, with more focus on Developmental Biology.
Donald Copeland
CSU Fresno (2006-2008). I am currently at the University of Akron working towards a Ph.D. in Integrated Bioscience in Dr. Richard Londraville's lab. I am interested in hormonal regulation of energy and metabolism and so I am studying the cytokine hormone, leptin. While well understood in mammals, very little is known about how this small peptide, which is involved in nearly all energetically costly systems (ex: feeding, metabolic rate, reproduction, and heat production), functions in lower vertebrates such as fish. I am currently using E. coli to express and purify recombinant leptin from common carp, Cyprinus carpio; a feat which has never been done. In collaborating with polymer science center here at the University of Akron, I hope to study its long term effects by using polymer-based hormone delivery systems that would allow me to deliver steady leptin doses for several months to koi fish (fancy carp).
Gabriell Davis
University of Alabama (2010-2011). Behavior quantification in mangrove rivulus groups. Collaborating with Adam Fuller on his graduate projects, including assistance in model fabrication (to elicit aggressive responses in rivulus) and field assistance for bluenose shiner research. Gabriell also collaborates with Amanda Hanninen on metabolic plasticity in the mangrove rivulus, and she is developing an independent research project on behavioral deceit during aggressive interactions.
Matthew Davis
University of Alabama (2009).Collaborated with Mark Garcia on his graduate project; whereabouts unknown!
Jessica Delo
University of Alabama (2008-2009). Jessica worked with us in Alabama to begin scoping out field sites for our Anolis lizard work. She is planning to do an internship at the Atlanta Zoo in July to get some experience working closely with animals. She is applying for numerous jobs that parallel her interests in exotic (and large) animal care and research
Heidi Dunbar
CSU Fresno (2006-2008).
Mark Dykstra
CSU Fresno (2007). Mark visited us from Dordt College (Iowa) and he is in medical school at the University of Alberta.
Benjamin East
University of Alabama (2010). Aggressive motivation in the rivulus; collaborating with Adam Fuller on his graduate project to evaluate changes in behavior as a function of developmental rearing regime; field observations and experimentation with bluenose shiners.
John Elder
University of Alabama (2010-2011). Conducting a study to investigate whether male mangrove rivulus masquerade phenotypically as hermaphrodites!
Roper Elrod
University of Alabama (2009-2010). Roper examined steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) gene expression in convict cichlids; c-fos gene expression in Anolis lizards; collaborated with Mark Garcia on his graduate project on Anolis lizards; was an expert lizard tissue processor; and quantified aggressive behavior of the mangrove rivulus.
Victoria Fredericks
University of Alabama (2011). Collaborated with Mark Garcia's team on life history evolution in the mangorve rivulus
Megan Galaviz
University of Alabama (2010). Megan was our resident photography and video expert; filming behavioral dynamics of fighting, mating, and parenting in fish and lizards. Megan is now following her dream with an Animal Behavior Internship at Disney's Animal Kingdom!
Marcel Garcia
CSU Fresno (2006-2008).
Riley Garrett
University of Alabama (2009). Assisted Adam Fuller on his graduate project to determine phenotypic differences in the killifish.
Griff Hall
University of Alabama (2010-2011). Worked with Liz Lee to generate a developmental series of embryos for the mangrove rivulus.
Whitney Janzen
CSU Fresno (2006-2008).
Mary Martin Johnson
University of Alabama (2010). Collaborated with Mark Garcia on the behavioral and neurobiological correlates of social experience in the green anole lizard.
Sarah Kennedy
University of Alabama (2009). Was our romantic therapist for convict cichlid pair bonds; collaborated with Stephanie Wong on her graduate project. Now accepted to the Masters Program in Biotechnology at the University of Alabama Birmingham.
Ian Kimbrough
University of Alabama (2010-2011). Collaborating with Mark Garcia on the neurobiology of winner and loser effects in anolis lizards.
Sherry Le
University of Alabama (2009-2010). Sherry specialized in tissue embedding and sectioning, as well as H&E staining. As a Howard Hughes Medical Institute fellow, Sherry worked towards understanding differences in gonadal morphology among clones and sexes of the mangrove rivulus. Sherry is now pursuing a career in education.
Kevin Lee
CSU Fresno (2007-2008). I am currently working on my degree in Biology with an emphasis on Anatomy & Physiology. I am hoping to graduate Spring 2010 and planning on applying for Dental school so currently studying for the DAT.
Michelle Lennox
CSU Fresno (2008). Michelle is currently in vet school at Ross University and is the President of the Feline Club.
Bryan Levay
CSU Fresno (2007-2008).
Jacqueline Ma
CSU Fresno (2006-2008). Jacqueline Ma has graduated cum laude from CSU Fresno with a B.S degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. She is a Masters student at Texas State University in the Population and Conservation Biology graduate program under direction of Dr. Caitlin Gabor. Her thesis project will concentrate on the effect of a unisexual, sexual parasite on the sexual selection preferences and spermiation processes of male sailfin mollies (P. latipinna).
Farzad Marzlom
CSU Fresno (2006-2008).
Matthew May
University of Alabama (2009-2011). Holder of the record (*) for most rapid tissue processing in the convict cichlid! Contributed significantly to Boopathy Sivaraman's graduate project by analyzing behavior following pharmacological manipulations of the neuroendocrine stress axis; microdissection and tissue processing; glucose/glycogen determination. Matt has also been integrally involved in a project that investigates new pedagogical strategies for Introductory Biology courses. Matt also visited MD Anderson Cancer center to explore, in collaboration with Dr. Andre Fernandez and Dr. David Mitchell, the hormonal correlates of melanoma formation in swordtails. He is currently collaborating with Mark Nuttall, Robertson Pearce, Richard Morris, and Alexander Thompson on a project examining the costs of aggression.
Swapna Medichetti
CSU Fresno (2007-2008). I am currently working towards my Masters degree in Biochemistry from Texas Tech University and plan to graduate in August 2010. I am carrying out research in a protein lab that works on ATP synthase. My project is to generate mutations in E.coli by site directed mutagenesis. This is done by replacing specific amino acids in the alpha and beta regions of the enzyme, with cysteine to create disulphide bonds, which are much stronger than covalent bonds. The aim is to increase the half life of the enzyme. This is detected by carrying out ATP activity assays and rotational and fluorescence studies.
Richard Morris
University of Alabama (2009-2011). Started by learning techniques in gill histology; collaborated extensively with Boopathy Sivaraman on his graduate project to examine metabolic correlates of fighting where he lead the charge on muscle lactate and liver glucose/glycogen assays; has searched for genes in the cichlid brain. Richard recently completed the behavioral analysis for a project investigating the hormonal correlates of contest behavior in male and hermaphroditic mangrove rivulus, is currently involved in the quantification of CRH receptors in cichlid brains and will collaborate with Matt May, Mark Nuttall, Robertson Pearce, and Alexander Thompson on a project examining the costs of aggression.
Jesse Morrison
University of Alabama (2009). Collaborated with Mark Garcia on his graduate project to process Anolis lizard tissues; microdissection.
Andrea Murrell
University of Alabama (2010).Behavior quantification in mangrove killifish groups. Collaborated with Adam Fuller on his graduate projects.
Joe Murphree
University of Alabama (2009-2011). Anolis behavior expert! He has quantified many, many hours of aggressive behavior and dominance outcomes associated with winner-loser effects in this lizard, and will be embarking on some of the molecular neurobiological aspects of this project in the coming months!
Joshua Nail
University of Alabama (2008-2009). Josh is hard at work studying for the MCAT! While in the Earley lab, Josh participated in a wide range of experiments and learned techniques ranging from hormone extraction and RNA extraction to caudal venipuncture (taking blood from fish). Josh also was dubbed "drillbit" for his love for constructing killifish homes.
Tanya Nichols
University of Alabama (2009-2010). Tanya worked on a project evaluating developmental biology of the rivulus; generating embryonic series to investigate patterns of eye development and changes in gene expression.
Heather Nuanes
CSU Fresno (2006-2007).
Mark Nuttall
University of Alabama (2009-2010). Quantified cichlid aggressive behavior following pharmacological manipulations of the stress axis; glucose/glycogen determination in cichlid tissues; microdissection. Mark also visited MD Anderson Cancer center to explore, in collaboration with Dr. Andre Fernandez and Dr. David Mitchell, the hormonal correlates of melanoma formation in swordtails.
Margarita Ortiz
CSU Fresno (2006-2008). I am currently preparing for entry into optometry school. I've recently graduated from CSUF and I am studying for the Optometry Admissions Test, which I plan to tackle in the upcoming month. I am currently working for an optometrist in Fresno, where I am receiving plenty of valuable experience.
Laura Paiva
CSU Fresno (2008). I'm still working on my BA of Music, now on the 4 1/2 year plan. I'm also still aiming for medical school, and working as a scribe in the Emergency Department at St. Agnes Medical Center. I keep busy volunteering at the Holy Cross Clinic at the Poverello House, and acting as president of the Pre-Med Club.
Erin Roberts
University of Alabama (2008-2009). Erin helped with various projects in the lab including Water-borne hormone extractions; analysis of carotenoids in convict cichlids; collaborated with Stephanie Wong on her graduate project; tumor necrosis factor gene expression in convict cichlids. She is now attending law school at the Charlotte School of Law
Nasir Sadeghi
CSU Fresno (2006-2008). I am currently applying to dental school. I graduated cum laude from CSU Fresno with an emphasis on Anatomy & Physiology. I am currently studying for the infamous DAT again and hope to score well enough for admission into a California school. I am hoping to work in a research laboratory (or other type of Biology-related job) in Fresno during the one year of the application wait.
Alex Shealy
University of Alabama (summer 2010)Alex joined us from a local high school for summer research experience. Alex worked closely with Adam Fuller to develop models of sunfish to elicit behavioral responses in bluenose shiners. In addition, Alex collaborated with Adam in the field, mastering various techniques for observing and collecting fish in blackwater habitats (e.g. Bear Creek) and local springs (Lightsey's Mill Pond).
Carrie Smith
University of Alabama (2009-2010). Carrie was our fish optometrist! She examined NMYC expression in killifish, particularly changes in retinal NMYC expression during development. Carrie is now attending the School of Optometry at the University of Alabama Birmingham!
Kelly Miller
CSU Fresno (2006-2008).
Haley Stephenson
CSU Fresno (2007-2008).Since I parted from Ryan's lab the Spring of 2008 I have worked in a hospital, gotten my Master's degree in Science Writing from Johns Hopkins, and now I am writing for a NASA publication in DC. I mostly write about the successes, failures, learning processes, and knowledge sharing habits of NASA engineers and scientists alike. On the side, I still like to write about whatever interests me, be it convict cichlids, dinosaurs, or bipolar disorder.
Max Stephenson
CSU Fresno (2008). Max visited us from Grinnell College, where he is now a rising senior as a French/Music double major and pre-med aspirations. Currently, Max is staying in Grinnell for the summer working for alumni relations and studying for the MCAT.
Lana Stuart
University of Alabama (2010). Collaborated on a project investigating metabolic plasticity in the mangrove rivulus with Amanda Hanninen, and generated ideas on the relationship between brain lateralization and behavioral performance in the mangrove rivulus
Sandrilla Thomas
University of Alabama (2009). Collaborated with Boopathy Sivaraman on his graduate project; keeper of the clean killifish houses
Kathryn Tomlinson
University of Alabama (2008-2009). Collaborated with Mark Garcia on his graduate project
Susanna Tubbs
University of Alabama (2009). Collaborated with Mark Garcia on his graduate project to process Anolis lizard tissues and explore gene expression patterns in the brain.
Jake Turner
University of Alabama (2008-2010). Jake was involved in numerous projects in the laboratory, ranging from behavioral analysis of convict cichlid aggressive encounters to collaborating with Boopathy Sivaraman on his graduate project to assay liver glucose and glycogen and muscle lactate. Jake is now in the School of Dentistry at the University of Alabama!
Sina Tuy
CSU Fresno (2006-2008). I graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology and then decided to decompress the computer nerd within me. Presently, I am working on my master's in computer science at Cal State LA. Eventually, I want an emphasis in artificial intelligence and to get back into the research world.
Pamela Upton
CSU Fresno (2008).Pam visited us from Modesto Junior College, where she is a Professor of Anatomy & Physiology. Pam conducted a research project examining the effects of testosterone on female aggression and contest success in the convict cichlid fish. She is currently writing the results up for publication and continues to teach Anatomy & Physiology at Modesto.
Dana Watson
University of Alabama (2010). Collaborated with Stephanie Wong on a project that examines the impact of stress on immune responsiveness in the mangrove rivulus
Jonathan Wilson
University of Alabama (2010). Jon collaborated with Mark Garcia on the behavioral, physiological and neurobiological aspects of social experience in the green anole and mangrove rivulus. He contributed in significant ways to the processing of muscle tissue for analysis of anerobic metabolites such as lactate. Jon also provided unique perspectives during our reading group!
Jimmy Wymer
University of Alabama (2008-2010). Jimmy spearheaded a study examining gonadal and brain aromatase expression in the convict cichlid.
Adam Zelickson
University of Alabama (2008-2010). Adam genotyped eight Kryptolebias marmoratus clones using microsatellites; has identified corticotropin-releasing hormone, and both CRH-receptor genes in convict cichlids and mangrove killifish; has mastered gene sequencing, behavioral analysis of aggressive contests, water-borne hormone extractions, microdissection, tissue processing and caudal venipuncture; collaborated with Boopathy Sivaraman on his graduate project to examine glucose/glycogen/lactate concentrations in various tissues; and is examining brain CRH and CRH receptor expression in the convict cichlids. Adam is now attending medical school at the University of Alabama Birmingham!
Kyle Zigelsky
University of Alabama (2009-2011): Has examined early growth response-1 (egr-1) gene expression in convict cichlids, rivulus, and Anolis lizards; is aiming towards cloning the MC2R gene in convict cichlids; collaborates with Stephanie Wong on her graduate project to examine molecular immune factors associated with mate choice; and as a SCUBA diver, assists in our research efforts on the convict cichlid in Lake Xiloa, Nicaragua. Kyle also visited MD Anderson Cancer center to explore, in collaboration with Dr. Andre Fernandez and Dr. David Mitchell, the hormonal correlates of melanoma formation in swordtails. Kyle is currently involved in the quantification of CRH receptors in cichlid brains and collaborates with Amanda Hanninen on a project investigating metabolic plasticity in the mangrove rivulus.
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