Current Postdocs
Dr. Wes Neely
Molecular ecology of Snake Fungal Disease
Current Graduate Students
Maria del Mar Moretta-Urdiales (Ph.D. exp 2025)
Host-pathogen dynamics of amphibian pathogens in canopy habitats.
Toriann Molis (M.S. exp 2024)
Nanopore sequencing of amphibian mitogenomes
Monica Argueta (M.S. exp 2025)
Investigating phylogenetic relationships between intradermal mites of amphibians in Texas
Royce Heflin (M.S. exp 2026)
Fungal and Bacterial Interactions
Current Technicians
Cory McKinstry
Current Post-baccalaureates
None
Current Research Assistants
None
Current Visiting Scholars
None
Current Undergraduates
Gisselle Lopez (B.S. exp 2026)
Past Postdocs
Dr. Utpal Smart
Phylodynamics of herpetofaunal mycoses
Past Students
Tristan Vratil (M.S. 2023)
Post-delisting Monitoring and Disease Dynamics in the Concho Water Snake (Nerodia harteri paucimaculata)
Clarissa Rivera (M.S. 2023)
Genotyping Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.
Chloe Troupe (M.S. 2023)
Gene expression responses to stress in invasive pathogens
Stephen Harding (Ph.D. 2022)
Infection dynamics of Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, the causative agent of ophidiomycosis, in Texas
Devlin Jackson (M.S. 2020)
I am currently a post-bach/pre-dental student at TXSU. I have an academically diverse background but have long been interested in pathogens and the impacts that they have on evolution. While my end goal is to become an oral surgeon, I am currently taking advantage of an opportunity to work in a molecular genetics lab studying the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.
Carlos Baca (M.S. 2019)
Stress responses in Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.
Daniel Puckett (M.S. 2018)
I have a great interest in both insects and pathogens, and I would like to elucidate the relationship between these by focusing on entomopathogenic fungi. My research will center on the genetic basis of susceptibility and resistance of insect hosts to parasitic fungi. Due to the enormous ecological importance of insects, research on fungal pathogens can be an extremely valuable tool in terms of conservation and safe, responsible biological pest control.
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Gabriela Solis (M.S. 2017)
Co-advised: Ivan Castro–Arellano
My interests in animals and diseases have inspired me to pursue a career as a veterinarian and focus on primary research. I have interned in USDA-ARS labs and worked with cattle fever ticks, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, and horn flies. Currently, my research seeks to determine if alternative splicing is occurring at the superkdr locus of horn flies. This work will help in developing more efficient strategies to monitor resistance-associated mutations in wild populations.
Thom Marshall (M.S. 2017)
I have had a lifelong interest in biodiversity and conservation issues. Currently, I’m focusing this passion into the study of the fungal pathogen, Batrochochytrium dendrobatidis, which is responsible for declines in amphibian populations worldwide. I am particularly interested in studying the genetic structure of Bd in Texas. I hope to use this knowledge to understand the relationship of local strains to others found throughout the world, and the potential for harm to native amphibian species.
Past Undergraduates
Frank Garcia
Monica Argueta
Genetics of amphibian parasites
Cheyenne Gonzales
Field biology of snakes
Wesley Herrera
Detecting Snake Fungal Disease in Texas water snakes
Jose Ortiz
Mitogenomics of amphibians
Juliette Garza
Field Biology of Snakes
AJ Sanjar
Field Biology of Snakes
Stephanie Monroe
I am currently a Microbiology undergraduate student. After graduation I plan to go into biological research before pursuing graduate school. My hope is to work in cancer research to further the understanding of cancer and aid in the discovery of new treatment methods.
Mario Bardan
Magnetic-capture hybridization of amphibian mtDNA
Christine Giraldo
Molecular diagnostics
Destiny Perkins
Molecular diagnostics
Jose Zamarripa
Molecular diagnostics
Alexander Adame
Bioinformatics
Mireya A. Escandon
I am currently a Biology and Anthropology undergraduate. My goal is to obtain a Ph.D. in Forensic Anthropology and someday work for the DoD through their Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. After accomplishing this goal, I would like to start a program dedicated to training students on the various methods used for identification of human remains. Through these efforts, I plan to honor our service men and women and their families.
Clarissa Rivera
Cost-effective and portable diagnostic tests for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.
Carlos Baca
My research interests lie in the field of genetic diseases, with a specific focus on mutations of the UBR1 gene responsible for Johanson-Blizzard Syndrome (JBS). As a carrier of JBS and a father to a JBS patient, I am highly motivated to research how other organisms may respond to the mutation and possible avenues for coping or remediation of the broad spectrum of symptoms presented.
Stephanie Toussaint
I am currently a microbiology major at Texas State University. I look forward to graduating with my bachelors and working for the FDA in the food industry. I’m then planning on obtaining my masters and furthering my education in microbiology. My career goal is to become a food microbiologist.
Edith Perez
I am currently a Pre-Nursing student at Texas State University. I want to obtain my Master’s degree in Nursing and then move on to becoming a Nurse Practitioner. My overall career is to become a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA).
