Past Students

Biology Department Faculty
Emily Kluger

Graduated 2004, worked with Dr. Richard Niesenbaum
Project focus: The effects of light environment on rates of herbivory on Lindera benzoin (spicebush) by a geometrid larvae
Currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois

Biology Department Faculty
Brian Tavernia

Graduated 2004, worked with Dr. Richard Niesenbaum
Project focus: Photosynthetic and water-use physiology of purple loosestrife in relation to invasiveness
Currently a Ph.D. student at Tufts University

Biology Department Faculty
Gail Morris

Graduated 2004, worked with Dr. Richard Niesenbaum
Project focus: Bumble-bee ecology and pollination behavior

Biology Department Faculty
Matt Frye

Graduated 2004, worked with Dr. Richard Niesenbaum
Project focus: Do Juglans nigra (black walnut trees) protect Lindera benzoin (spicebush) from herbivores with juglones: A case for allelophyly?
Currently a graduate student at the University of Delaware

Biology Department Faculty
Jessica Hitinger
Graduated 2005, worked with Dr. Richard Niesenbaum
Project focus: Photosynthesis and herbivory: Do plants compensate?
Biology Department Faculty
Christen Strollo
Graduated 2006, worked with Dr. Richard Niesenbaum
Project focus: Inducible cardenolide chemistry in Apocynum cannibinum (dogbane)
Biology Department Faculty
Erica Nory
Graduated 2004, worked with Dr. Richard Niesenbaum
Project focus: Do volatile chemicals in Lindera benzoin (spicebush) leaves vary with light environment and do they defend against herbivory?
Biology Department Faculty
Elizabeth Koniers
Graduated 2001, worked with Dr. Richard Niesenbaum
Project focus: Stored resources and below ground competition in Mirabilis
Currently studying environmental law at George Washington University
Biology Department Faculty
Lisa Kern
Graduated 2001, worked with Dr. Richard Niesenbaum
Project focus: GIS map reprojection and vegetation analysis
Formerly at the Smithsonian Conservation and Research Center's Spatial Analysis Lab
Biology Department Faculty
Lori Haynes
Graduated 2001, worked with Dr. Richard Niesenbaum
Project focus: Long term studies of selfing and genetic load in Mirabilis jalapa and defensive chemistry in Lindera benzoin in relation to herbivory
Currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Pennsylvania
Biology Department Faculty
Krista McGuire
Graduated 2001, worked with Dr. Richard Niesenbaum
Project focus: Studies of cryptic incompatibility in Mirabilis jalapa
 Currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Michigan
Biology Department Faculty
Janette Steets
Graduated 2001, worked with Dr. Richard Niesenbaum
Project focus: Use of genetic markers to study non-random mating in Mirabilis jalapa
Currently a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Alaska after earning her Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh
Biology Department Faculty
Diana Bharucha
Graduated 2003, worked with Dr. Richard Niesenbaum
Project focus: How ethnicity influences definition and use of herbal medicines
Currently a medical student at Drexel/Haneman
Biology Department Faculty
Meghan Herz
Graduated 1999, worked with Dr. Richard Niesenbaum
Project focus: Physiology and genetic of inbreeding depression in Mirabilis jalapa
 Currently a Ph.D. student at Cornell University