Graduate Students


Christian Gagnon, Ph.D. Anthropology (2018-current) #BUvervets18

Christian's Ph.D. research 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, M.S. Biology (2018-2020), Ph.D. Anthropology (2020-current)

Mel's M.S. research focused on habitat suitability modeling in Critically Endangered yellow-tailed woolly monkeys (Lagothrix flavicauda) throughout the Peruvian yungas. Her dissertation research, funded by the Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation, Primate Conservation, Inc., the American Society of Primatologists, and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, will study the conservation genetics of yellow-tailed woolly monkeys, focusing on a new population discovered by our research group in Region Junín.



Laura Angley, M.S. Biology (2019-current)

Laura's M.S. research focuses on validating behavioral diversity as a proxy for human-impact related stress in wild savanna monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus rufoviridis) populations in Kuti Wildlife Reserve and at the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre in Malawi.

Undergraduate Students



Ishrat Chowdhury (2019-present)

Research Project: "Evolutionary Variation in the Salivary Amylase (AMY1) Gene Region in Wild South African Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)"



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​Gianna Grob (2018-present), UROP

Research Project: "Selection in the PPARG Gene in Relation to Cold in South African Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)"






Jane Hilsenrath (2020-present)

Research Project: TBD






Alexia Lancea (2019-present)

Research Project: "Variation in the IRX Gene Region in South African Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)"





Diem Maxwell (2019-present)

Research Project: "Variation in the FTO Gene Region in Relation to Body Mass in Wild Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus spp.)





​​Erica Sun (2020-present), UROP

Research Project: "Investigating the Variation in PLIN2 (Perilipin-2) Gene Among Wild Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus spp.)"

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Research Interns




Kimberly Louisor (2020-present)
Conservation Biology, Hunter College, City University of New York


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Roshinie Persaud (2020-present)
Biochemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University


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Schmitt Lab Alumni

Postdoctoral Associates

 
Maryjka B. Blaszczyk, Ph.D. (2016) #BUvervets16
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Department of Anthropology
University of Texas at Austin



Alicia M. Rich, Ph.D. (2018-2019) #BUvervets18
Assistant Professor of Zoo and Conservation Science
Department of Biology and Earth Science
Otterbein University

Undergraduate Students



Eleni Constantinou (2017-2019), Honors in Anthropology

Honors Thesis: "Gene Flow and Juvenile Paget's Disease in the Cypriot Population" 




Tennyson Cooper (2018-2019)

​Research Project: "TRPM8 Analysis Suggests Regional Selection for Cold Sensitivity in South African Vervet Monkeys"





Becca De Camp (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 (2016-2017)

Research Project: "Dental Eruption Patterns in Captive Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus)"




Stephanie Inga (2016-2019), UROP

Research Project: "Postcanine Dental Variation in Platyrrhine Primates"




Morgan Farrar (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)"




​Nicole Lukas (2016-2018), UROP, Field Assistant #BUvervets16

Research Project: "Relationship Between 2D:4D and Adult Onset Obesity in Captive Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus)"




​Joseph O'Sullivan (2018-2019), Honors in Biology

Honors Thesis: "Behavioral Indicators of Infanticide in Wild White-Bellied Spider Monkeys (Ateles belzebuth)"



Stacy-Anne Parke (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"
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Evan Razdan (2017-2018), UROP, Field Assistant #BUvervets17

Research Project: "Human Impacts on Food-Dependent Conflict and Body Condistion in Wild South African Vervet Monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)"




Marwa Sayed (2016-2017), UROP, Field Assistant #BUvervets16

Research Project: "Assessment of a Novel Method of Photogrammetry Not Requiring Lasers in Parallel"





​Xaulanda Thorpe (2018-2019), 2019 AAPA IDEAS Fellow





Dillon Travis, UROP, (2015-2016)

Research Project: "Assessment of 3-Dimensional Canopy Use Using GIS in Wild Lowland Woolly Monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha poeppigii)"

Field Assistants




​Sara Jablonski (2017), Field Assistant #BUvervets17








​Sasami Langford (2018), Field Assistant #BUvervets18







Amy Scott (2017), Field Assistant #BUvervets17