​I grew up in Pennsylvania and am excited to be starting a lab in my home state. My main research interests are rooted in disease ecology, microbial ecology, and wildlife conservation. I've worked in the US, Panama, Germany, and Madagascar investigating disease dynamics, host susceptibility, the ecology of host-associated microbiota, and disease mitigation strategies. My research is driven by a passion for the conservation of herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles). I'm particularly interested in developing effective wildlife management and conservation strategies to ensure population persistence amidst emerging disease threats. 

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I enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, biking and soccer, and I love to get my hands dirty in the garden and try new things in the kitchen. 

I am a PhD student in the Bletz lab. I recently graduated from Eastern Michigan University with my master's degree in Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology. At Eastern, my research investigated the unique breeding behavior of unisexual Ambystoma salamanders and their impact on their sexual host salamanders. I also received my bachelor's degree in biology from Case Western University, where I studied the basking patterns of freshwater turtles. Now, I am broadly interested in the intersection between herpetology, conservation biology, and disease ecology, with a more specific focus on the role of micropredators on the amphibian skin microbiome. Outside of research, I am a runner, rock climber, and fiction novelist.

I studied biology and mathematics during my undergraduate degree at a small Oklahoma university. After that I obtained my masters degree in biology studying the effects of an amphibian host-associated neurotoxin on skin microbiome structure and pathogen infection. I have served on a diversity grant initiative, been awarded graduating honors in both physical science and biology departments, and was a GAANN fellow for my masters degree. In my free time I enjoys reading, hiking, and going to exploring new areas.

I am a Master’s student in the Bletz lab. My research is focused on studying disease dynamics through the amphibian wildlife trade network, with the goal of finding ways to mitigate the spread of disease.

Outside of the lab, you can find me reading, baking and cooking, and going on outdoor adventures!

I am a PhD student who recently earned my master's degree in Geography and Environmental Sustainability at the University of Oklahoma, with a focus in urban tick ecology. I'm co-advised by David Miller and Molly Bletz and I am passionate about understanding and mitigating the impacts of diseases on wildlife. My research is focused on examining how seasonal temperature fluctuations influence disease interactions within amphibian-pathogen ecosystems. When I'm not in the lab or field, I enjoy traveling, exploring new cuisines, and participating in community events. I'm an avid biker and hiker, always ready for an outdoor adventure. When the mood strikes, I loves scouring thrift stores for cool finds.

I am a PhD student in the Bletz and Miller Labs. I graduated from Cornell University, earning a BS in Environment and Sustainability in May 2024. I am is interested in exploring the social and public health aspects of human-wildlife interactions, particularly within a disease ecology context. While at Cornell, I worked at the Wildlife Health Lab, creating non-invasive detection methods for the Ambystoma species complex, a group of special concern New York salamanders. At Penn State, I will be studying temperature-dependent host-pathogen dynamics in amphibians. When not in the lab, you can find me curled up reading a book, enjoying an episode of Bones, or dancing. 

Dane is an undergraduate research student working with our Madagascar frog colony. His project is focused on optimizing breeding conditions for one of our tree-hole breeding frogs Plethodontahyla mihanika.

Avery is an undergraduate student who works to keep our frog and salamander colonies happy and healthy.

David is an undergraduate student who works to keep our frog and salamander colonies happy and healthy.

Lena is an undergraduate student who works to keep our frog and salamander colonies happy and healthy.

Sid is an undergraduate student working on a mucosome methods project to optimize field sampling methods.