Lab Members

Office: 302E Shelby Center for Science and Technology
Email: anc0061@uah.edu
Phone: 256-824-2216 (office)
Website: www.amandancurtis.com

Amanda recently joined the lab as a postdoctoral researcher after completing a PhD at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2022), where she used eDNA methodologies for applied ecology and aquatic conservation. Previously, she earned a B.S. from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (2011) and a M.S. from Bowling Green State University (2014). She worked as a technician at Dartmouth College (2014-2017) mostly researching mercury bioaccumulation in estuarine biota and fun fact: developed a slight allergy to amphipods from repeated exposure. Her research has focused on applied ecology and conservation in aquatic ecosystems, with a focus on understanding how factors like invasive species, climate change, contaminants, and land use changes impact aquatic organisms. When not pipetting small volumes of liquids from one tube into another, Amanda enjoys baking, hiking, looking for herps, and going to new places and seeing new things.

Joseph earned a B.S. in Biotechnology (2006) in India and moved to the USA in 2007. He then graduated from the New York University Tandon School of Engineering with a M.S. in Bioinformatics (2008). Joseph worked full time in the Biotechnology industry until 2016 and later enrolled in the UAH Biotechnology Science & Engineering Ph.D. Program. His research ranges broadly from genome characterization, phylogenetics to biogeography and conservation. Current research interests include studying the evolution of the mitochondrial genomes of subterranean (cave) amphipods and their adaptation to subterranean life. He also is interested in identifying the genetic differences that distinguishes these subterranean species from their surface counterparts and studying the systematics, divergence, and biogeography of cave trechine beetles distributed throughout eastern North America. When he is not staring at his computer screen conducting data analyses and writing manuscripts, he loves admiring and playing with his 2-year old daughter, spending time in the backyard garden, visiting nearby theatres, and hiking local trails with a friend.

Email: jb0188@uah.edu

Megan is from the Madison area and grew up near the Wheeler Wildlife National Refuge (perhaps where she got her love for nature and being outside). This is her second time attending UAH as she previously earned her B.S. in Earth System Science (2016) focusing on GIS. Upon deciding to get her master’s, she went back to school to get a second B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Ecology from Athens State University (2020). She began working on her master’s thesis in the Cave Bio Lab in 2021. Her project investigates intraspecific variation in diet specialization between cave and surface populations of the Northern Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus). Her primary research interests are in herpetology with a lean towards amphibians. She’s passionate about their conservation and habitat quality.  In her free time, Megan enjoys working with plants and gardening along with anything outdoors. On the less active side she loves to snuggle with her two French bulldogs, stare at her axolotl, watch TV, or play on her Nintendo switch. Her family is originally from San Antonio, Texas so she is a die hard Spurs fan!

Email: btc0011@uah.edu

Brendan earned a B.S. (2021) from SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry. He was a volunteer and property worker for Massachusetts Audubon’s Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary where he was trained as a naturalist and Lepidopterist (2014-2021) and was an entomological collections intern for Harvard Zoological Collections (2019). He also volunteered as a galleries activity facilitator In the Romer Hall of Vertebrates at Harvard Museum of Natural History (2019-2021). Currently, his master’s thesis is on the phylogeography of Pseudosinella cave springtails. He hopes that his research will increase understanding of the evolution and diversification of cave springtails and cave invertebrates in general.  His research interests include caving, pre- insect hexapod evolution/conservation, and entomology.  When he is not doing research, Brendan takes care of his cats (Merlin & Ellie), tends to his bog gardens, and collects/catalogs springtail fossils. 

Emma graduated from UAH with her B.S. in Biological Sciences 2022 and is currently a first-year Master’s student in the lab. During her time as an undergraduate, she worked on a few projects related to environmental DNA (eDNA). One was part of a long term study in the lab assessing the persistence of eDNA in cave environments, which is still ongoing. Another was in collaboration with researchers at Western Kentucky University, aiming to detect the presence of the endangered Kentucky Cave Shrimp in the Mammoth Cave System. These projects have both involved an array of field and lab-based work. Emma’s research interests are broadly centered around conservation ecology, evolutionary biology, and cave biology. She plans to incorporate this into her Master’s thesis and into her future career in the conservation field one day. Outside of school and research, Emma enjoys reading, hiking, and backpacking. She also likes to play with her two cats and experiment with cooking.

Email: emj0011@uah.edu

Email: jph0029@uah.edu

Jared earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences (2022) from UAH and joined the lab through the JUMP program to continue earning his Master’s degree. His research has centered around seasonal variation in the detection of environmental DNA. His master’s thesis will investigate the use of metabarcoding of environmental samples and traditional surveying to assess the effects of land use surrounding caves on the diversity and detection of subterranean communities. His general research interests are the influence of human development on natural ecosystems and cave ecology. In his free time, Jared enjoys hiking, camping, and backpacking, especially when combined with traveling to a new place. He is coming to enjoy being cold and wet while half a mile underground after a year in the Cave Bio Lab!

Bjorn earned a B.S. in Biology (2020) from Eckerd College. He is starting as an M.S. student in Fall 2022. Before joining the Cave Biology Lab, Bjorn, while as an undergrad, volunteered in the Goessling lab at Eckerd College and interned at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. Most recently he worked as an ectotherms keeper at the Fort Worth Zoo (2020-2022). Bjorn’s research interests include population and community ecology, biogeography, evolutionary biology, and the impact of human activities on the environment. Right now, Bjorn plans on researching skin microbiomes of subterranean organisms across different species and cave systems. Outside of the lab and school, Bjorn enjoys an array of outdoor activities including hiking and pretty much any water sport. Bjorn also enjoys photography, playing and watching sports, particularly the Texas Rangers.

Email: bp0089@uah.edu