People

Principal Investigator

Dr. Aimee Sue Dunlap

Professor and Director of the Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center
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: 320 Research
Email: aimee.dunlap@umsl.edu
BlueSky: @msaimeesue.bsky.social

Graduate Students

Becky Hansis-O’Neill

Ph.D. Candidate

B.S. in Psychology, Idaho State University
M.S. in Biological Sciences, Idaho State University

Research interests: animal cognition and welfare, science communication and outreach, employing digital museum specimens for education and outreach using digital interactives, augmented reality, and virtual reality

Office: 202 Benton
Email: bhc35@umsl.edu

Jeremy Howard

Ph.D. Candidate

B.S. in Biology, Juniata College, 2015
M.S. in Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, 2019

Research interests: spatial behavior, spatial cognition, memory, navigation, learning, science and media

Office:
Email: jh5ym@umsystem.edu

Undergraduate Students & Post-Bacc Researchers

  • Matthew Andrews, tarantula population biology
  • Taylor Boaz, bee learning and caffeine
  • Noah Gonia, caffeine and bumble bee cognition
  • Jordan Kolinski, tarantula color vision
  • Nicky Nemcova, caffeine and bumble bee cognition

Lab Alumni

Ben Abts

M.S. in 2016
B.S. in Biology, Culver-Stockton College, 2010


Thesis: Forgetting and the value of information

Ben is now working in science education.

Dr. Matthew Austin

Ph.D. in 2020
B.S. in Biological Sciences, University of Missouri – Columbia, 2014

Dissertation: The role of plasticity in bumble bee responses to environmental variability

Matt is the Curator of Biodiversity Data at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Michael Austin

M.S. 2025
B.S. in Biology, University of Missouri, St. Louis, 2017

Research Interests:  evolution of learning and the economics of decision making

Michael is working in Biotech in the St. Louis area.

Avery Baker

M.S. 2022

B.S. in Biology, University of Missouri, Columbia

Thesis: The effects of floral and social information on bumblebee forager learning and memory

Email: ahbb6f@umsystem.edu

Emily Beahm

M.S. 2024

B.S. in Biology, Missouri S&T, Rolla, Missouri

Thesis: Investigation of the sub-lethal effects of Beauveria bassisana on Bombus impatiens colonies

Emily is working in science education and communication

Dr. Rachel Brant

Ph.D. 2022

B.S. in Biology, Saint Louis University, 2016
M.S. in Biology, Saint Louis University, 2018

Dissertation: Bee brains: dissecting pollinator behavior and the importance of plasticity in the face of changing environments

Rachel’s Website

Rachel is the Manager for Business and Data Analytics with the St. Louis Cardinals

Dr. Andréia Figueiredo Dexheimer

Ph.D. in 2021

B.S. in Biology, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Brazil, 2014
M.B.A. in Project Management – Escola de Negocios Excellence, Brazil

Dissertation: Cognitive Ecology of Color Vision in Orchid Bees

Andréia is a Research Development Associate with Washington University in St. Louis

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

Pablo is now a PhD candidate at Brown University.

Benjamin Krasnoff

M.S. in 2026
B.S. in Biology, Washington University, 2022

Thesis: 13-Year cicada presence and absence in an urban ecosystem is associated with city parks and trees

Jill Lee

M.S. in 2022
B.S. in Animal Science, Missouri State University, 2017

Thesis: The effects of overshadowing in Drosophila melanogaster with experimentally evolved preference

Jill works as a scientist in agricultural biotech in St. Louis.

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

Priya is 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

Mellissa is now working as a lab tech in the St. Louis area.

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

Itachi is now working in the St. Louis area as a lab tech while continuing research on flies.

Dr. Isabel Rojas-Ferrer

M.S. in 2016
Thesis: Predicting choices in bumblebees (Bombus impatiens): learning rules and the two-armed bandit

Isabel received her PhD from the University of Ottawa and is now an Assistant Professor at the Universidad de Puerto Rico – Humacao

George Todd

Ph.D. in 2026

B.S. in Biology, Purdue University, 2014
M.S. in Biology, Georgia Southern University, 2016

Dissertation: Integrating Cognition, Behavior and Geographic Ecology in Pollinating Flies

Dr. Nancy Kohn

Postdoc, 2012-2014

Nancy is an Associate Professor at Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri.

 

Undergraduate Alumni

Independent Research Credit Students: Dannice Alexander (Spring 2019, Summer 2019), May Allgire (Fall 2014, Spring 2015), Ahmed Almoheef (Fall 2021-Fall 2022), Moses Alshimary (Summer 2019), Grey Andre (Fall 2020), Marissa Antrainer (Spring 2020, Summer 2020), Keeandra Archambault (Spring 2017; Summer 2017), Michael Austin (Fall 2016, Fall 2017), Abdullah Baig (Spring 2023), Bryson Barkley (Fall 2022), Randall Beck (Spring 2016), Taylor Boaz (Spring 2025), Emanda Brown (Spring 2013), Michaela Brown (Spring 2019), Colton Burris (Spring 2023), Evan Carlen (Spring 2019), Alex Chahoud (Fall 2025), Kayle Cohen (Spring 2023), Vivian Congleton (Summer 2022), Amanda Corrado (Fall 2013), Kevin Corrigan (Spring 2023), Magnus Creed (Fall 2016), Emily Cuttle (Summer 2017), Matthew Czarnecki (Fall 2012), Tiffany Dinh (Fall 2021), Alexander Entwhistle (Spring 2024), Misbah Faniad (Fall 2018), Sydnee Feldmann (Summer 2018), Jenna Freund (Fall, Spring 2015), Cameron George (Summer 2023-Fall 2023), Harmeet Ghai (Spring 2020), Lilli Goldman (Spring 2018), Brock Greene (Summer 2022), Ashley Gregory-rives (Spring 2024), Amina Hamza (Fall 2021), Kaitlyn Hanners (Spring 2020), Winter Harmsen (Spring 2024), Alexandra Haselman (Fall 2017), Noreen Heyari (Fall 2017), Joshua Higgins (Fall 2013, Spring 2014), Camryn Hill (Fall 2023), Victoria Hines (Fall 2017), Christina Hoffman (Spring, Summer 2015), Patricia Horack (Summer 2013), Hassan Hossayrami (Summer 2015), Kevin Huck (Spring 2016), Lynn Huffman (Spring 2016), Rula Ibraheem (Fall 2018), Owen Ireton (Spring 2021-Fall 2021), Maria Irving (Spring 2016), Kathryn Janssen (Spring 2015), Rayana Jones (Fall 2019), William Kannady (Summer 2014, Spring 2015), Sukvir Kaur (Spring 2017), Stephanie Kennedy (Summer 2024), McKenzie King (Fall 2020), Michele Kirkland (Fall 2025); Jordan Kolinski (Spring 2025), Jacob Kottmeier (Summer 2019), Candice Krull (Spring 2020), Ezra Kruzich (Fall 2020), Lucas Lauter (Fall 2021-Spring 2022), Zachary Lindsay (Summer 2017), Shelby Lipe (Summer 2023), Safia Madani (Fall 2014), Connor Magner-Sackman (Fall 2020), Hilmo Malkic (Fall 2018), Tian Manning (Spring 2019, Summer 2019), Omar Manzoor (Fall 2021), Hibah Mazri (Fall 2022), Sierra McAlister (Spring 2018), Stephanie McDonald (Spring 2022), Brooke McGlasson (Fall 2017), Rachel Milliot (Spring 2018), Brittany Minor (Summer 2019, Spring 2020), Blake Moore (Fall 2025), Kristin Moseley (Summer 2014), Jake Mullen (Fall 2013), Melisa Muminovic (Fall 2018), Edwin Negron (Fall 2025), Maria Nguyen (Spring 2016), Kate O’Sullivan (Summer 2023), Andres Nieto Romero (Spring 2020), Gabi Ortiz (Spring 2022), Ki Baek Park (Spring 2017), Darshan Patel (Spring 2015), Raj Patel (Summer 2014), Sheilamae Paytocan (Spring 2013), Randall Perkins II (Summer 2017), Bri Petty (Fall 2022), Zach Pfeiffer (Summer 2023), Logan Philpott (Summer 2019), Luke Prost (Fall 2023), Olivia Ransin (Spring 2019), Melia Reeves-Long (Spring 2019), Jenna Riordan (Spring 2019), Sylvio Roberts (Spring-Summer 2024), Ryan Ruamwijitphong (Fall 2023), Joseph Rund (Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017), Jacob Ryno, (Fall 2019), Alaa Saffaf (Spring 2017), Abrar Salameh (Spring 2022), Youngsoo Shin (Spring 2019), Gracie Schmidt (Fall 2021), Simerjeet Singh (Summer 2023), Samantha Skuta (Fall 2022), Caitlyn Smith (Summer 2015), Maddie Smith (Fall 2025), Emina Spahic (Fall 2018), Lynnsey Street (Spring 2017), Elvedina Subasic (Summer 2023), Zack Symonds (Fall 2020), Lauren Szyhowski (Spring 2016), Merhawit Teame (Fall 2017), Mwihaki Thiga (Fall 2023), Meagan Thompson (Fall 2021, Summer 2024), Alametta Thompson-Hinton (Spring 2024), Sahil Vaid (Spring-Summer 2019), Brandon Vaughn (Summer 2025), Jake Venegoni (Fall 2022-Spring 2023), Tyler Wagner (Fall 2017), Teoni Walker (Fall 2022), Hannah Walkowski (Fall 2020), Stephanie Wooten (Fall 2014), Sarah Wyne (Summer 2015), Marisa Yoder (Summer 2013), Emma Zoellner (Summer 2023)

Lab Volunteers (not a complete list): May Allgire (2013-2014), Taylor Bayless (2021), Charles Blanton (Spring 2018), Sharvitti Broussard (Spring-Summer 2019), Amanda Corrado (Summer 2013, Spring 2014), Jennifer Cosgrove (2012-2013), Caitlyn Czigler (Spring 2018-Fall 2018), Rebecca Dickerson (Fall 2012), Harmeet Ghai (Spring 2019), Noah Gonia (Summer 2025-Fall 2025), Abigail Green (Fall 2012), Amrith Gurung (Spring 2019), William Kannady (Fall 2014), Christina Karam (Fall 2021), Ben Laws (Spring 2017), Safia Madani (Summer 2014, Spring 2015), Jeremy Martin (2012-2013), John Maurer (Fall 2013), Stephanie McDonald (Spring-Fall 2021), Brittany Minor (Spring 2019), Weston Phillips (2014), Kunal Singh (Fall 2018-Spring 2019), Maddie Smith (Spring 2023-2026), Sophis Spaulding (Summer 2025-present), Nick Terzich (Summer 2017), Sahil Vaid (Spring 2019), Stephanie Wooten (Summer 2014), Sarah Wright-Aholt (Fall 2013), Marisa Yoder (Fall 2013-Spring 2014)

Research Assistants (not a complete list): Jean Adkins (Flies, 2013-2014), Dannice Alexander (NextStep Intern, 2019-2020), Marissa Antrainer (NextStep Intern, 2020-2021), Zayd Aqrabawi (Orchard, 2023), Michael Austin (Flies, 2015-2017), Samir Benbakir (Orchard, 2023), Taylor Boaz (Orchard, 2025), Colton Burris (Orchard, 2022-2023), Binisha Chhetri (NextStep Intern, Fall 2018), Rasheena Clarke (NextStep Intern, 2020-2022), Amanda Corrado (Flies, 2013-2015), Jennifer Cosgrove (Flies, 2013-2015), Jessica Dean (Flies, 2012-2013), Bethany Deffenbaugh (Orchard, 2024-2025; Green House Venture 2025), Chandra Dudley (NextStep Intern, 2022-2023), Hannah Franko (Flies, 2014-2016), Brendan Gergen (Orchard, Spring 2022), Sarah Holder (Orchard, Spring 2022), Patricia Horack (Flies, 2014), Jesse Lasseter (Spiders, 2023), Tim Lopez (Spiders, 2024), Nathan Lu (Orchard, 2024-2026), Mellissa Marcus (Flies, 2012-2013), Candice Krull (NextStep Intern, 2019-2020), Ezra Kruzich (NextStep Intern, Fall 2020), Robyn Mahoney (Flies, 2013-2015), Tian Manning (NextStep Intern, 2019-2020), Kristin Moseley (Flies, Fall 2014), Dan Mullins (Orchard, Spring 2022), Phuong Nguyen (Orchard, 2023), Kate O’Sullivan (Orchard, 2023-2024), Thu Pham (Orchard, 2023), Zachary Pfieffer (Spiders, 2023, 2024), Avery Pierce (Orchard, 2022-2023), Lucy Roth (Orchard, 2024), Jacob Ryno (NextStep Intern, 2019-2020), Shivani Shah (Orchard, 2023), Sophia Spaulding (Orchard, 2023-2025), Carly Spielberg (NextStep Intern, 2019-2020), Lynnsey Street (Flies, 2016), Adam Thompson (Flies, 2015-2017), Dana Townsend (Flies, 2013-2014), Kheriss Turner (Orchard, 2023), Katherine West (Flies, 2015-2017)

Summer High School Student Alumni

From Jennings High School and/or the CLIMB Program

Nikita Allen (2018), Makayla Glen (2025), Shivaunye Ivy (2015), Mya McClain (2017), Marniesha Perry (2016), Kyrnn Peoples (2017), Paris Prince (2023), Rosie Puckett (2024), Cameron Stith (2016), Kaylan Waters (2018), Javant Watson (2022), Amoni White (2018) 

From the Students and Teachers as Research Scientists (STARS) Program

Sindhu Bala (2019, Lindbergh HS), Della Cox (2017, University City HS, University of Missouri, Columbia), Amanda Crawford (2014, Parkway North HS, Carleton College), Alexander Donovan (2017, Mary Institute & St. Louis County Day School, Stanford University), Bolatito Fatoki (2015, Whitfield School, Georgia Tech), Ellie Gira (2021, Mary Institute & St. Louis County Day School), Christopher Halen (2014, Whitfield School, Washington University), Deena Iqbal (2021, Lafayette HS), Laurie Lee (2017, Francis Howell HS, Washington & Lee University), Yushin Lee (2015-2016, Zumwalt North HS, Washington University), Kamau MuseMorris (2019-2020, Maplewood Richmond Heights HS), Alexandra Rice (2016-2017, Ladue High School, Princeton University), Lucas Shanker (2015, Parkway Central HS, Purdue University), Lily Sheets (2018, John Burroughs School), Surya Sompalli (2021, Fort Zumwalt West HS), Adam Urish (2018, St. Louis Priory School, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), Danielle Zhang (2021, Ladue Horton Watkins HS)