We’re moving!
The lab is currently in transition between the University of Minnesota Morris to Marian University Indianapolis. Excuse our mess! I’m thrilled about our new academic home and for all the new opportunities just around the corner.
Remote researchin’
The lab has completely turned over with the graduation and departure of four students who are on to bigger and better things. In the middle of a global pandemic, the new crew is learning bioinformatics from afar as we all react to the current state of the world. We’re doing our best to stay in touch through video meetings and Slack:
I’m focusing on the little things!
How do we Instagram?
To share the lab’s activities throughout the year, we decided to start a lab Instagram page (follow here!). This is part of our effort to increase visibility for the diverse scientists-in-training here at Morris, which can make a big difference in how scientists are perceived broadly. Additionally, this gives new students a view into what happens in our lab. And it is fun, so follow along!
Summer research is here!
Whew, lots of things have happened during an extremely busy two semesters. After the smoke has cleared from teaching, we’ve said goodbye to Katherine Novak, who did such a great job assembling salamander mitochondrial genomes and presenting her work at the UMN Twin Cities Undergraduate Research Symposium. Not to mention all the organizing and cleaning of the lab spaces. As is tradition, Katherine named a few salamanders on her way out the door, examples including “Cleo”, “Blueberry”, and “Big Momma”.
The best news has been several funding awards that will support research projects in the lab this summer and beyond. We are well on our way in two areas specifically: more work on the evolution of all-female salamanders and some comparative biology with Minnesota’s Gray Treefrog species. To accomplish these projects, we are welcoming four new students to the lab. Such a joy to learn and do science together.
The lab starts at Minnesota Morris!
Boxes unpacked, schedules filled up, research ideas flying.
Happy to be building something at one of the best—and only—public liberal arts universities in the United States!
