Current Lab Members
PhD Students
PhD Student
Ben is interested in primate cognition. He earned his undergraduate degree from Illinois State University in the Department of Biological Sciences and his master’s degree from Central Washington University in the Department of Anthropology.
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Publication
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PhD Student
turpin3@tamu.edu
Jenna is interested in avian mating behavior and urban ecology. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California Davis in the Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology.
Master’s Students
Alumni Lab Members
Postdoctoral Researchers
Postdoctoral Fellow
wwhitham@tamu.edu ResearchGate Google Scholar
Will investigated the evolution of eye coloration in primates during his postdoctoral position. He has continued in academic career as an assistant professor at Texas A&M University–Commerce.
Publication
1534 PDF
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1792 PDF
PhD Students
PhD Student
mflorkow@tamu.edu Website ResearchGate
Melanie completed her PhD in 2023 in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Program investigating the influence of microbiomes on avian behavior. She continued her career as a postdoctoral associate at the National Institute of Health.
Publication
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Master’s Students
Masters Student
katypotter12@tamu.edu
Brandy wrote a review paper on the effects of artificial light at night on reproduction to earn her Master’s degree in 2021. She continues to teach high school students in science.
Masters Student
monica-dooley@tamu.edu LinkedIn
Monica is interested in primate coloration. She earned her undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences.
Masters Student
ade2102@columbia.edu ResearchGate Google Scholar
Alexis completed her master’s degree in 2019 through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. She examined the relationship between female ornamentation and dominance status in a lekking species. After completing her master’s degree, she became a PhD student at Columbia University in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology.
Publication
1470 PDF
1537 PDF
Masters Student
kalinaeskew@tamu.edu Website LinkedIn
Kalina is currently interested in the effects of perception of visual signals on sexual selection. They earned their undergraduate degree from Coe College in the Departments of Biology and Environmental Science.
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate Student
Amariani completed her undergraduate degree in 2022 through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University. She examined reward history and attention in peafowl.
Publication
1642 PDF
Undergraduate Student
Jerry will be completing his undergraduate degree in 2023 through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University. He examined reward history and attention in peafowl.
Publication
1642 PDF
Undergraduate Student
Kallye earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Texas A&M University. She later completed her Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin. She is currently pursuing a pre-medical track.
Publication
1801 PDF
Undergraduate Student
Katelyn completed her undergraduate degree in 2025 through the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology at Texas A&M University. She examined numerical competence in peafowl.
Publication
1834 PDF
Undergraduate Student
Lilia will be completing her undergraduate degree in 2024 through the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology at Texas A&M University. She examined reward history and attention in peafowl.
Publication
1642 PDF
Undergraduate Student
Maria is interested in all-things birds. She is currently earning her undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University in the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology.
Publication
1834 PDF
Undergraduate Student
Mason completed his undergraduate degree in 2021 through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University. He examined reward history and attention in peafowl.
Publication
1642 PDF
Undergraduate Student
Orianis completed her degree in 2024 through the Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology at Texas A&M University. She is currently working in the Texas Conservation Corps and pursuing a master’s degree in Natural Resources.
Publication
1834 PDF
Undergraduate Student
samanthaargubright@gmail.com LinkedIn
Samantha completed her undergraduate degree in 2020 through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University. She examined the blinking behavior of great-tailed grackles when they were exposed to windy conditions.
Publication
624 PDF
Undergraduate Student
rebeccacavalier96@gmail.com ResearchGate
Rebecca completed her undergraduate degree in 2018 through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University. She examined the blinking behavior of great-tailed grackles when they are under threat. After completing her undergraduate degree, she became a M.S. student at Texas State University in the Department of Biology.
Publication
616 PDF
Undergraduate Student
kailey.chema@gmail.com
Kailey completed her undergraduate degree in 2016 through the Department of Animal Sciences at Purdue University. She examined the effect of light pollution at night on problem-solving in peafowl. After completing her undergraduate degree, she earned her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. She is currently working as an associate veterinarian in general practice.
Publication
632 PDF
Undergraduate Student
Jeanne completed her undergraduate degree in 2015 through the Department of Animal Science at Purdue University. She examined the influence of artificial light at night on vigilance behavior in peafowl. After completing her undergraduate degree, she became a zookeeper and went on to work as a research technician at Charles River Labs.
Publication
646 PDF
Undergraduate Student
amanda.gnerlich@yahoo.com
Amanda completed her undergraduate degree in 2014 through the Department of Biology at Purdue University. She examined the influence of artificial light at night on vigilance behavior in peafowl. After completing her undergraduate degree, she became an animal care taker at Purdue University and went on to work as a zoo keeper.
Publication
632 PDF
Undergraduate Student
amyharbourne@gmail.com Website
Amy completed her undergraduate degree in 2020 through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University. She examined the effect of iris color on gaze perception in humans. After completing her undergraduate degree, she became a Ph.D. student at Carnegie Mellon University in the Department of English.
Publication
1357 PDF
Undergraduate Student
jacob.t.r.miller@gmail.com
Jacob completed his undergraduate degree in 2018 through the Department of Anthropology at Texas A&M University. He examined the influence of sclera color on gaze perception. After completing his undergraduate degree, he worked for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and the Social Security Administration.
Publication
618 PDF
Undergraduate Student
itstrezze143@tamu.edu ResearchGate
Trezze completed her undergraduate degree in 2020 through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University. She examined the effect of iris color on gaze perception in humans.
Publication
1222 PDF
Undergraduate Student
mrnichol@med.umich.edu ResearchGate
Russell completed his undergraduate and master’s degrees through the Department of Sociology at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He examined the ability of peafowl to discriminate among individual callers. He went on to earn his D.V.M. at North Carolina State University in 2019 and is a laboratory animal medicine resident at the University of Michigan.
Publication
642 PDF
Undergraduate Student
Maria completed her undergraduate degree in 2018 through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University. She examined how predator orientation influences attention in humans. After completing her undergraduate degree, she became a veterinary technician.
Publication
628 PDF
Undergraduate Student
marykatewalker19@gmail.com
Mary Kate completed her undergraduate degree in 2019 through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University. She examined the blinking behavior of great-tailed grackles when they are under threat. After completing her undergraduate degree, she became an intern at the Dallas Zoo and went on to become an Ambassador Animal Specialist at the Dallas Zoo.
Publication
616 PDF
