Teaching and Research
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Teaching and research should be tightly intermingled. In every classroom situation possible, I incorporate
my research and the research of others into discussions. Also, working with students in research is basically inefficient teaching with different goal outcomes. Courses that I teach or
team-teach include Introductory Biology for non-majors (BIO 100), Genetics (BIO 315), Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy (BIO 342), Experimental Approaches in Molecular Biology
(BIO 511/711), Current Topics in Ecology and Evolution (BIO 599/799), Speciation Biology (BIO 802), and Biogeography (BIO 816). Please | I am interested generally in evolution, natural history, conservation biology, and ecological genetics of vertebrates, primarily
amphibians. A portion of my research focuses on contemporary and recent-history processes that affect and shape the distribution and abundance of
animals at the local (population) and landscape (geographic distribution) scale. Another portion is focused on evolutionary history of species, both within
species ranges and among species. I use a range of tools, including molecular genetic techniques, field and experimental studies,
historic data, radio-telemetry, and GIS. |
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My ongoing projects include effects of urbanization and other human land use
on the distribution and health of amphibian populations across the landscape, ecological and genetic studies of amphibian populations, and evolutionary relationship of
amphibians across their geographic distributions. Visit here to read about my MS and PhD research and here to read about ongoing projects in our
lab. My current research program and interests provide opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate student research projects, so contact me if you are interested in working in my lab. Graduate students can pursue ecological, evolutionary, and conservation-oriented research with a field and/or laboratory basis through the Department of Biological Sciences at Eastern Kentucky University. Additionally, multiple projects are available for undergraduate participation and training and for independent research projects and honors theses. |
My trusty, permanent field assistants:
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