Ecology & Evolutionary Biology DepartmentLab: Dr. David RandResponsible for the day-to-day operation of Dr. David Rand's laboratory as it pertains to his Research on molecular population genetics and evolution in Drosophila. The primary research goals are 1) genetic and phenotypic analysis of nuclear-mtDNA interactions in Drosophila genotypes, and 2) the genetic and phenotypic analyses of variation in natural populations of organisms.Responsibilities:- Management of undergraduate technicians, Drosophila cultures, equipment, supplies and purchasing- Troubleshoot and assist with fitness experiments and molecular assays, prepare samples, cultures, and supplies- Correspond with Facilities Management, administrative staff, vendors and sales representatives

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology DepartmentAdvised by Dr. David Rand, Dr. Patrick Flight, and Dr. Casey DunnThesis Title:Microsatellite analysis of pollution-susceptible and tolerant populations of Fundulus heteroclitus- Directed research project looking at evolutionary genetics of Fundulus heteroclitus. The goal of this study was to use microsatellite analysis to determine how natural selection has shaped a pollution-tolerant Fundulus heteroclitus population in a highly contaminated environment versus a nearby susceptible population from a clean site.- skills & responsibilities: coastal marine field sampling, DNA extraction, Nanodrop fluorospectrometer, PCR amplification, primer design, gel electrophoresis, microsatellite analysis, Microsatellite Analyzer version 4.05, and MIGRATE version 2.1.3 - Oral defense presented May 1, 2009, Written thesis accepted and Honors in Biological Sciences granted May 18, 2009

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology DepartmentLab: Dr. David RandMaintain the health & integrity of Drosophila cultures & cages, Drosophila media preparation and laboratory maintenance

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology DepartmentLab: Dr. Marc Tatar- Manage the production and organization of specialty drug-delivery Drosophila food for lifespan experiments-Perform data collection, fly sorting & sexing, egg counting, and Drosophila dissections

Dauphin Island Sea LabMarine Science Department, University of South AlabamaLab: Dr. Ronald Kiene- Maintain marine algal cultures with sterile technique, design phytoplankton light-stress experiments- Data collection using PAM fluorometer, Turner fluorometer and gas chromatograph, laboratory maintenance

Harvard Forest, Long-term Ecological Research Site.- Assisted with an ecosystem level investigation of the effects of hemlock woolly adelgid on soil nitrogen cycling- Collect and process soil cores, assist with ion analysis, lab maintenance, experimental design