Ryan Calsbeek (PI) I am broadly interested in many areas of animal behavior, ecology and phenotypic evolution, and I work in several different reptilian study systems, including Anolis in the Bahamas, and Sceloporus in California. I am currently studying the evolutionary biology of adaptive genetic variation, including polymorphisms in lizards. Such polymorphisms are maintained by density- and frequency-dependent natural and sexual selection pressures. My work focuses on the interplay between natural selection and mate choice to understand the ways in which diversity is generated in nature. I seek to make my work integrative, and my research program depends on a combination of empirical field and laboratory experiments, theoretical modelling, and molecular techniques. As such, there is room for a range of diverse interests in my lab.
Robert Cox (postdoc) Bob has an intense interest in evolutionary trends in body size. His work on the evolution of sexual dimorphism in Sceloporus lizards combines endocrine manipulations and field observations in a comparative approach using multiple species. He is now studying sexual conflict and mating systems evolution in Anolis lizards using some of the same techniques that he developed during his Ph.D. Bob's website is available here.
Lauren Bonvini (graduate student) Lauren joined the lab in 2007 after her undergraduate research focusing on locomotor performance and perch use in anoles. Her Ph.D. will also involve studies of anoles, but with a more field based approach, studying natural and sexual selection on Eleuthera as part of the island school collaboration. Lauren's interests are focused primarily on the consequences of dispersal for selection and population genetic structure.
M.C. Katie Duryea (graduate student) Katie joined the lab in 2008 after doing undergraduate research with Kelly Zamudio at Cornell. Following graduation, Katie moved on to Harvard where she developed additional molecular skills in Hopi Hoekstra's lab. Now a Ph.D. student, Katie is planning to tackle problems pertaining to sexual selection theory. Combining field and laboratory skills, Katie hopes to address the selective consequences of decisions regarding sperm allocation.
Diane Cheney (undergraduate) Diane is collaborating with Derek (below) on a project investigating the tradeoffs between testosterone and investment in immune function. She is also a huge help in the lizard neonatal unit as one of our volunteer feeders.
Derek Stenquist (undergraduate)Derek has been awareded a Howard Hughes internship to investigate the role that testosterone plays in contributing to variation in performance (e.g., sprint speed and stamina), growth, and behavior (e.g., dominance). Derek is also working with Diane on the problem of tradeoffs and how testosterone influences investment in other traits like immune function.
Emeritus: Gus (lab technician, public relations)
We miss him.
Interested students and post-docs should contact me about joining the lab!!
Collaborators: