CURRENT LAB MEMBERS
Principal Investigator (PI)
|
Dr. Diego F. Alvarado-Serrano
I am an evolutionary biologist broadly trained in population and landscape genomics, bioinformatics, and geospatial analyses. I study how species respond to environmental heterogeneity and change, and how these responses shape the generation and maintenance of biodiversity, with the overarching goal of producing actionable knowledge to guide its conservation.
|
Graduate Students
|
Shila Gurung
Shila is a Master’s student studying how small terrestrial mammals adapt to the challenges of climate change, with a particular focus on high-elevation species. She is especially excited to integrate ecological research with genetic approaches and is eager to expand her skills in genomics. 
|
Undergraduate Students
|
Aria Carter
Aria is an undergraduate student in her senior year studying Wildlife and Conservation Biology. She is currently working on our adaptation to high-elevation project, phenotyping small mammals for a suite of relevant characters. |
|
Cierra Willis
Cierra is a senior undergraduate student working on a scat metagenomic study of coyotes. She is testing a novel approach to identify candidate hybrids between coyotes and domesticated dogs using a simple mitochondrial DNA metabarcoding approach. |
|
Nataly Raymon
Nataly is a senior majoring in Wildlife and Conservation Biology (with a minor in Environmental and Plant Biology). She joined the lab to help study eco-morphological patterns of variation across altitudinal gradients, with the ultimate goal of predicting the risk of maladaptation due to climate change. |
|
Andrew Pagan
|
Prospective Student
|
THIS COULD BE YOU!
If interested in joining the lab, please look into the Join Us tab or contact Dr. Alvarado-S. to discuss opportunities. |
LAB ALUMS
- Graduate Students:
Prothama Manna (PhD. 2021–2026) [personal website]
Tackled the outstanding Genetic Paradox of Invasion through a combination of macroecological and (theoretical
and empirical) population genomic analyses, improving our understanding of the establishment and spread of
invasives. Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Clemson University.
Jannine Gillett (M.Sc. 2021–2025*)
*After a leave of absence due to personal reasons.
Investigated the environmental drivers of fibropapillomatosis (fp) in green sea turtles, identifying salinity levels as
a novel potential driver of fp prevalence. Currently a Lecturer in the Center for Life Sciences Eduaction at The
Ohio State University.
Keegan Webb (M.Sc. 2023–2025)
Assessed the role of environmental heterogeneity in driving the high diversity of sigmodontine rodents in the
Northern Andes by evaluating whether environmental heterogeneity is linked to stronger niche differentiation
across elevational gradients. Currently in the process of applying to Ph.D. programs.
Mohit Poudel (M.Sc. 2023–2025)
Developed a bioinformatics pipeline to simultaneously identify both host and diet species from scat-
metagenomic samples, which he then used to investigate diet overlap between coyotes and bobcats. Currently
pursuing a Ph.D. at Clemson University.
Marissa Dowalter (M.Sc. 2021–2023; co-advised with Shawn Kuchta)
Conducted a detailed assessment of the genetic diversity and population structure of the endangered Lake Eire
Watersnake to aid in its conservation. Currently a Wildlife Biologist for the Bureau of Land Management.
- Undergraduate Students:
Helped us collect data for our roadkill and risk of maladaptation projects. Currently a sophomore in the
department of Biological Sciences.
Jess Mitchell (2022–2025)
Together with Keegan, Jess model the future distribution of small terrestrial mammals in the North Andes. Began
Veterinary School at Ohio State University in Fall 2025.
Samantha Riley (2024)
Helped us generating morphometric data for our project evaluating adaptation to environmental stress at high
elevation. Currently a junior in Biological Sciences.
Alexis Medley (2022–2024)
Worked with Prothama on a meta-analysis of the drivers of invasion success in mammals worldwide. She
recently graduated with a Psychology degree.
Molly Haugen (2021–2023)
Carried out a comparative landscape genomic study on small terrestrial mammals in Ohio. Graduated with a
major in Wildlife and Conservation in 2023.
Quinn Cifani (2022–2023)
Conducted a comparative landscape genetics study on small Andean mammals. Currently a senior in Biological
Sciences.
Zac Wigington (2021–2023)
Provided field assistance for sampling small mammals in the Allegheny Plateau and watersnakes in lake Eirie.
Graduated in 2024.
Grace Garrity (2020–2021)
Worked on uncovering patterns genetic diversity and connectivity in small mammals from the Northern-
Andes. After her time at OU, Grace completed Master's in Environment and Natural Resources at The Ohio State
University. Currently works as an Environmental Planner.
David Fenohr (2020–2021)
Helped us characterize the geographic distribution and climatic enveloped of mice in the tropical Andes.
Graduated in 2024.
Emma Watson (2020)
Started working on generating data to estimate the genetic diversity and connectivity in small tropical mammals
from the Northern-Andes. Unfortunately, her time in the lab was cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic
Rachel Wawrzynski (2019)
Helped us establish the lab while analyzing barcode data for species identification of small terrestrial mammals.
Joined OU's Continental Ichnology Laboratory as an undergraduate laboratory assistant after her time in our lab.
Ashley Berning (2019-2020)
Helped us establish the lab and generate initial cytochrome-b data four our landscape genetics project of Andean
small mammals. Joined the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Baldwin Wallace University
- Lab Visitors
Visited us to train in genomics sequences generation and analyses and contribute to our project addressing the
Linnean shortfall of Andean mammals. Currently a Master's student at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del
Ecuador.
- Staff
