Postdoctoral Research Associates
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Evelyn LeMay Pain, Ph.D. (2022, Stony Brook University) (2022-current) Dr. Pain's research focuses on sexual selection and behavioral endocrinology. Her work in the lab will focus on developing research capacity and genomics-based projects on the Critically Endangered yellow-tailed woolly monkey (Lagothrix flavicauda) at the Hierba Buena-Allpayacu Reserve in Corosha, Perú. |
Graduate Students
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Christian Gagnon, Ph.D. Anthropology (2018-current) #BUvervets18 Dissertation: The Evolutionary History and Adaptive Significance of UCP1-Mediated Thermogenesis in Primates Christian's dissertation research, funded by The Leakey Foundation, focuses on the evolution of brown adipocyte function via studies of UCP1 gene evolution and function in wild and captive savanna monkeys (genus Chlorocebus). Melissa Zarate, Ph.D. Anthropology (2020-current) Dissertation: Landscape Mitogenomics and High-Altitude Adaptation in the Peruvian Yellow-Tailed Woolly Monkey (Lagothrix flavicauda). Mel's dissertation research, funded by the Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation, Primate Conservation, Inc., the American Society of Primatologists, and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and Dissertation Research Improvement Grant, studies the conservation genetics of yellow-tailed woolly monkeys (Lagothrix flavicauda) Warrenkevin Henderson, Ph.D. Anthropology (2021-current; co-advised w/ Prof. Eva Garrett) Warrenkevin's research will focus on the morphological and genomic underpinnings of changes in craniofacial morphology associated with adaptation to cold temperatures, using model species to better understand variation in archaic humans, like Neanderthals. Jessica Martin, Ph.D. Anthropology (2022-current) Jess' research will focus on the primate microbiome, in particular regarding disease factors that are implicated in gut dysbiosis in wild savanna monkeys across anthropogenic environments. Jimmy Erkens, Ph.D. Anthropology (2023-current) Jimmy's research will focus on anthropogenic impacts on wild vervet monkeys in St. Kitts. Victoria Zdanowicz, M.S. Biology (2022-present; co-advised w/ Prof. Cheryl Knott) Victoria's project is experimenting with thermal drone technology to search for orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) at the Cabang Panti field site in Gunung Palung National Park in Borneo, Indonesia. |
Undergraduate Students
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Merilyn Amponsah-Asamoah, B.A. Anthropology with a Specialization in Anthropology, Health, and Medicine (2023 - present) Research Project: TBD Reese Hotten-Somers, B.A. Anthropology with a Specialization in Biological Anthropology (2022 - present) Research Project: TBD Joseph Luis, B.A. Anthropology with a Specialization in Biological Anthropology (2022 - present) Research Project: TBD Sofia Weaver, B.A. Biology with a Specialization in Behavioral Biology, Minor Anthropology (2022 - present) Research Project: "Variation in the ADAM19 Gene Region and Association with Body Size Variation in the Genus Chlorocebus" |
Research Interns
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Roshinie Persaud (2020-2022) Biochemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University Roshi's project focuses on characterizing brown fat depots in captive vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) using CT scans. |
High School Interns
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Gina Gawargi, New Mission High School, Boston Public Schools (Summer 2023) Kevin Carbonell-Gautier, New Mission High School, Boston Public Schools (Summer 2023) |
Schmitt Lab Alumni
Former Postdoctoral Associates
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Maryjka B. Blaszczyk, Ph.D. (2016) #BUvervets16 Resident in Pathology Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Rutgers University Alicia M. Rich, Ph.D. (2018-2019) #BUvervets18 Assistant Professor of Zoo and Conservation Science Department of Biology and Earth Science Otterbein University |
Graduate Student Alumni
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Laura Angley, M.S. Biology (2019-2021)
M.S. Thesis: Post-release survival rates and welfare of rehabilitated vervet monkeys in Malawi. (Winner, Denton Award for Outstanding Masters Thesis in Biology) Laura's M.S. research focused on assessing how pre-release behaviors in a group of rehabilitant savanna monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus rufoviridis) at Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, Malawi, affected survival upon release in Kasungu National Park. She is now a project manager for Project ChimCARE at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Max Dippel, M.S. Biology (2021-2023) M.S. Thesis: Genetic variation in heath shock protein HSPA1L in savanna monkeys: implications for heat resilience Max's M.S. research focused on genetic variation and selection in relation to temperature in the heat shock protein HSPA1L among wild savanna monkeys (Chlorocebus spp.). He is now a research assistant in John Ray's lab at the Benaroya Research Institute. Sophia Long, B.S./M.S. Biology (2021-2023) Sophia's research focused on characterizing variation in and identifying evidence of selection in the Perilipin-5 (PLIN5) gene region in our worldwide sample of savanna monkeys. She is now a Ph.D. student in Molecular Biology at Stony Brook University. Benjamin Recchia, M.S. Biology (2021) Ben's research focused on leveraging zoo-housed data collections and citizen science-based outreach prior to transferring to Kathryn Spilios' lab in Biology to focus more intensively on science education and outreach. Erica Sun, B.A./M.S. Biology (2020-2021), UROP M.S. Thesis: Selection in the PLIN2 (Perilipin-2) Gene Among Wild Savanna Monkeys (Chlorocebus spp.) Erica's research uses our established genomics pipeline to investigate variation and selection in the Perilipin-2 gene among wild vervet monkeys. She is now a bioinformatician in the IT-Emerging Talent Rotation Program at Merck. Melissa Zarate, M.S. Biology (2018-2020) M.S. Thesis: Predicting suitable habitat for the Critically Endangered yellow-tailed woolly monkey (Lagothrix flavicauda) in Perú. (Winner, Denton Award for Outstanding Masters Thesis in Biology) Mel's M.S. research focused on GIS-based habitat suitability modeling to better understand the conservation needs of yellow-tailed woolly monkeys, and included novel surveys of a previously unknown population in Region Junín, Perú. She is now conducting her Ph.D. research in the SMAGL! |
Undergraduate Student Alumni
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Mansa Asiedu, B.A. Biology with a Specialization in Cell and Molecular Biology and Genetics, Minor Anthropology (2020-2022) Research Project: Variation in the NPY gene and it's two major receptors in relation to Ishrat Chowdhury, B.A. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (2019-2020) Research Project: "Evolutionary variation in the salivary amylase (AMY1) gene region in wild South African vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)" Eleni Constantinou, B.A. Anthropology with a Specialization in Biological Anthropology, Modern Greek (2017-2019), Honors in Anthropology Honors Thesis: "Gene flow and juvenile Paget's disease in the Cypriot population" Tennyson Cooper, B.A. Anthropology with a Specialization in Biological Anthropology, Archaeology (2018-2019) Research Project: "TRPM8 analysis suggests regional selection for cold sensitivity in South African vervet monkeys" Tyler Crawford, B.S. Electrical Engineering (2020-2022), UROP Research Project: Comparative variation in the TMPRSS2 gene region in U.S. population of African and European Descent. Becca De Camp, B.A. Anthropology with a Specialization in Biological Anthropology (2017-2020), Research/Curricular Assistant, Honors in Anthropology, Research Excellence Award in Anthropology, 2020, Department of Anthropology Honors Thesis (Garrett Lab): "Investigating the genetic evolution of olfaction in strepsirrhine primates" Nicky Eleuteri, Kilachand Honors College (2016-2017) Research Project: "Dental eruption patterns in captive vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus)" Stephanie Inga, B.A. Anthropology with a Specialization in Biological Anthropology (2016-2019), UROP Research Project: "Postcanine dental variation in platyrrhine primates" Morgan Farrar, B.A. Anthropology with a Specialization in Biological Anthropology (2017-2018), UROP, Field Assistant #BUvervets18, Departmental Award for Scholarship in Anthropology, 2020, Department of Anthropology Research Project: "Human proximity accelerates pubertal development in wild male vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)" Alexandria Gilbert, B.A. Anthropology with a Specialization in Anthropology, Health, and Medicine (2021-2022) Gianna Grob, B.A. Biology (2018-2022), UROP Research Project: "Selection in the PPARG gene in relation to cold in South African vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)" Marta Hammers, B.A. Anthropology with a Specialization in Biological Anthropology (2021-2023) Research Project: "Variation in the ASPM Gene in relation to global variation in cranial measures among wild savanna monkeys (Chlorocebus spp.)" Jane Hilsenrath, B.A. Biology with a Specialization in Cell and Molecular Biology and Genetics, Philosophy (2020-2021) Research Project: "Investigating selection in the CXCR6 gene in wild savanna monkeys" Christina Lamagna, B.S. Cinematography & Film/Video Production (2020-2021) Alexia Lancea, B.A. Biology (2019-2020) Research Project: "Variation in the IRX gene region in South African vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)" Kimberly Louisor (2020-2021) B.A. Conservation Biology, Hunter College, City University of New York Currently Ph.D. student in the Department of Biology at University of Buffalo Research Project: "Variation in the ASPM gene region in South African vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)" Nicole Lukas, B.A. Anthropology with a Specialization in Biological Anthropology (2016-2018), UROP, Field Assistant #BUvervets16 Research Project: "Relationship between 2D:4D and adult onset obesity in captive vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus)" Diem Maxwell, B.A. Anthropology with a Specialization in Biological Anthropology (2019-2021) Research Project: "Variation in the FTO gene region in relation to body mass in wild vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus spp.) Nick Mikulski, B.A. Biology with a Specialization in Ecology & Conservation Biology (2020-2021) Research Project: "Social network analysis in rehabilitant/release vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus rufoviridis) in Malawi" Joseph O'Sullivan, B.S. Biology with a Specialization in Ecology & Conservation Biology (2018-2019), Honors in Biology Honors Thesis: "Behavioral Indicators of Infanticide in Wild White-Bellied Spider Monkeys (Ateles belzebuth)" Stacy-Anne Parke, B.A. Anthropology with a Specialization in Biological Anthropology (2017-2019), UROP, 2019 AAPA IDEAS Fellow, Field Assistant #BUvervets18, Runner Up, Best Poster, 2018 Meeting of the Northeastern Evolutionary Primatologists (NEEP), Research Excellence Award in Anthropology, 2019, Department of Anthropology Research Project: "Timing of reproductive onset among female vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) in wild and human-impacted populations" William Pudlo, B.S. Biology with a Specialization in Ecology and Conservation Biology (2021-2023) Honors Thesis: "Assessing selection in the UCP3 gene region in savanna monkeys (Chlorocebus spp.)" Evan Razdan, B.S. Biology with a Specialization in Behavioral Biology (2017-2018), UROP, Field Assistant #BUvervets17 Research Project: "Human impacts on food-dependent conflict and body condition in wild South African vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)" Marwa Sayed, B.A. in Anthropology with a Specialization in Biological Anthropology (2016-2017), UROP, Field Assistant #BUvervets16 Research Project: "Assessment of a novel method of photogrammetry not requiring lasers in parallel" Elizabeth Shelton, B.S. Biology (2020-2021) Akshata Shukla, B.A. Biology with a Specialization in Cell and Molecular Biology and Genetics(2020-2021) Xaulanda Thorpe, B.A. in Anthropology with a Specialization in Biological Anthropology (2018-2019), 2019 AAPA IDEAS Fellow Dillon Travis, B.A. Biology with a Specialization in Behavioral Biology UROP, (2015-2016) Research Project: "Assessment of 3-dimensional canopy use using GIS in wild lowland woolly monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha poeppigii)" Stephanie Williams, B.S. Biology with a Specialization in Ecology and Conservation Biology (2020-present) Research Project: "GIS-inferred determinants of elephant (Loxodonta africana) raids on local farmers in rural Botswana" Amanda Wu, B.A. Anthropology with a Specialization in Biological Anthropology (2022) |
Field Assistants
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Sara Jablonski (2017), Field Assistant #BUvervets17 Sasami Langford (2018), Field Assistant #BUvervets18 Amy Scott (2017), Field Assistant #BUvervets17 |