Principal Investigator
Dr. Aimee Sue Dunlap
Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution & Behavior, University of Minnesota, 2009
M.S. in Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, 2002
B.S., B.A. in Biology, History, & English, University of Memphis, 2000
Partial B.S. studies, University of Helsinki, 1996-98
Office: 204 Stadler
Email: aimee.dunlap@umsl.edu
Graduate Students
Matt Austin
Ph.D. Candidate
B.S. in Biological Sciences, University of Missouri – Columbia, 2014
Research Interests: Behavioral responses to environmental change; phenotypic plasticity; bumble bee ecology & conservation
Office: 202 Stadler
Email: mwacpb@mail.umsl.edu
Michael Austin
M.S. Student
B.S. in Biology, University of Missouri, St. Louis, 2017
Research Interests: evolution of learning and the
economics of decision making
Office: 111 Stadler
Rachel Brant
Ph.D. Student
B.S. in Biology, Saint Louis University, 2016, M.S. in Biology, Saint Louis University, 2018
Research Interests: urban ecology, bee behavior, bee taxonomy, social insects, pollination biology
Office: 202 Stadler
Email: rabdxd@mail.umsl.edu
Website: beeurbology.wordpress.com
Andreia Figueiredo
Ph.D. Student
B.S. in Biology, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Brazil, 2014
M.B.A. in Project Management – Escola de Negocios Excellence, Brazil
Research Interests: cognitive ecology, social behavior, orchid bee biology, pollination biology, social information, conservation
Office: 202 Stadler
Email: aqtpb@mail.umsl.edu
Jill Lee
M.S. student
B.S. in Animal Science, Missouri State University, 2017
Research Interests: genetics and behavioral ecology
Mladen Senicar
M.S. Student
B.S. in Biology, University of Missouri, St. Louis, 2017
Research Interests: molecular mechanisms of behavior, neuroanatomy and confocal microscopy
Office: 111 Stadler
Undergraduate Students & Collaborating Graduates
- Binisha Chhetri, fly experimental evolution intern
- Misbah Faniad, larval learning in flies
- Rula Ibraheem, fly responses to predators
- Hilmo Malkic, olfactory conditioning in flies
- Tian Manning, variation in learning in bumble bees
- Melisa Muminovic, social information use in bumble bees
- Kunal Singh (graduated Spring 2018), social information use in bumble bees
- Emina Spahic, social information use in bumble bees
Lab Alumni: Grad Students and Post Doc
Itachi Mills
M.S. in 2017
B.S. in Fisheries & Wildlife, University of Minnesota- Twin Cities, 2012
Thesis: The ecology of fear: a fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) perspective
Ben Abts
M.S. in 2016
B.S. in Biology, Culver-Stockton College, 2010
Thesis: Forgetting and the value of information
Pablo Iturralde
M.S. in 2018, co-advised with Wendy Olivas
Bachelor in interdisciplinary studies (Chemistry, Management & Anthropology), University of Missouri, St. Louis, 2013
A.A. in business management, Miami Dade College, 2004
Thesis: Transcriptomics of learning
Now a PhD student at Brown University
Dr. Priya Maharaj
Ph.D. in 2016, co-advised with Godfrey Bourne
M.S. in Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Warwick, 2011
B.Sc. in Biology, University of Guyana, 2005
Dissertation: Color-mediated foraging by pollinators: A comparative study of two passionflower butterflies at Lantana camara
Now the Director, Centre for Study of Biological Diversity, University of Guyana
Mellissa Marcus
M.S. in 2016
B.S. in Biochemistry/Biotechnology, University of Missouri- St. Louis, 2012
Thesis: Experimental evolution of color preference in Drosophila melanogaster
Isabel Rojas-Ferrer
M.S. in 2016
Thesis: Predicting choices in bumblebees (Bombus impatiens): learning rules and the two-armed bandit
Now a PhD student at University of Ottawa
Dr. Nancy Kohn
Postdoc, 2012-2014
Now an Assistant Professor at Cottey College
Undergraduate Alumni
Independent Research Credit Students and Research Assistants (Students working on thesis or extensive capstone projects denoted with *)
Jean Adkins (2013-2014), May Allgire (2014-2015), Keeandra Archambault (2017), Michael Austin* (2015-2017), Randall Beck (2016), Charles Blanton (2018), Emanda Brown (2013), Amanda Corrado* (2013-2015), Jennifer Cosgrove (2012-2015), Magnus Creed (2016), Emily Cuttle (2017), Matthew Czarnecki (2012), Jessica Dean* (2012-2013), Rebecca Dickerson (2012), Sydnee Feldmann (2018), Hannah Franko* (2014-2016), Jenna Freund (2015), Lilli Goldman (2018), Abigail Green (2012), Alexandra Haselman (2017), Noreen Heyari (2017), Joshua Higgins (2013-2014), Victoria Hines (2017), Christina Hoffman* (2015-2016), Patricia Horack* (2013-2015), Hassan Hossayrami (2015), Kevin Huck (2016), Lynn Huffman (2016), Maria Irving (2016), Kathryn Janssen (2014-2015), William Kannady (2014-2015), Sukvir Kaur (2017), Zachary Lindsay (2017), Safia Madani (2014-2016), Robyn Mahoney (2013-2015), Mellissa Marcus (2012-2013), Sierra McAlister (2018), Brooke McGlasson (2017), Rachel Milliot (2018), Kristin Moseley (2014), Jake Mullen (2013), Maria Nguyen (2016), Ki Baek Park (2017), Darshan Patel (2015), Raj Patel (2014), Sheilamae Paytocan (2013), Randall Perkins II (2017), Joseph Rund (2015-2017), Alaa Saffaf (2017), Caitlyn Smith (2015), Lynnsey Street* (2016-2017), Lauren Szyhowski (2016), Merhawit Teame (2017), Adam Thompson (2015-2017), Dana Townsend (2013-2014), Tyler Wagner (2017), Katherine West* (2015-2017), Stephanie Wooten (2014), Sarah Wyne (2015), Marisa Yoder (2013-2014)
Summer High School Student Alumni
From Jennings High School
Nikita Allen (2018), Shivaunye Ivy (2015), Mya McClain (2017), Marniesha Perry (2016), Kyrnn Peoples (2017), Cameron Stith (2016), Kaylan Waters (2018), Amoni White (2018)
From the Students and Teachers as Research Scientists (STARS) Program
Della Cox (2017, University City HS, headed to University of Missouri, Columbia), Amanda Crawford (2014, Parkway North HS, now at Carleton College), Alexander Donovan (2017, Mary Institute & St. Louis County Day School, headed to Stanford University), Bolatito Fatoki (2015, Whitfield School, now at Georgia Tech), Christopher Halen (2014, Whitfield School, now at Washington University), Laurie Lee (2017, Francis Howell HS, headed to Washington & Lee University), Yushin Lee (2015-2016, Zumwalt North HS, now at Washington University), Alexandra Rice (2016-2017, Ladue High School, now at Princeton University), Lucas Shanker (2015, Parkway Central HS, Purdue University), Lily Sheets (2018, John Burroughs School), Adam Urish (St. Louis Priory School)
