Directory banner

Graduate Students

Benjamin  neal  headshot edited Benjamin, Neal
nbenjam2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Swine veterinarian interested in the links between population genetics and health outcomes in pigs; diversity of immune system alleles among wild, domesticated, and intensively bred suids (advisor: Al Roca)
Joebielanski cropped Bielanski, Joe
jbiela6@illinois.edu

Graduate Student - PEEC

Understanding the genetic basis and mechanisms underlying the evolution of social behavior and using artificial selection/domestication as a model for deeper understanding of evolution as a whole (advisor: Anna Kukekova)
Noahbrown Brown, Noah
nbrown12@illinois.edu

Graduate Student - PEEC

Effects of residual agrochemicals on soil/plant-associated microbes, with a specific interest in their impact on fungal endophytes and mycorrhiza (advisor: Anthony Yannarell)
Sulagnachakraborty Chakraborty, Sulagna
schkrbr4@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Vector-borne diseases and epidemiology of infectious diseases, focusing on the eco-epidemiology of a tick-borne disease in India called Kyasanur Forest Disease. I want to combine my interest in infectious disease with my background in public health and microbiology as well as use One Health approaches towards disease control and prevention. (advisor: Brian Allan)
Yutaochen Chen, Yutao
yutaoc4@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Using biological framework to solve engineering problems; devising bioinspired designs incorporating desired functionalities. (advisor: Marianne Alleyne)
Viviancheng Cheng, Vivian
vivianc3@illinois.edu

Graduate Student - PEEC

(advisor: Ripan Malhi)
Beckycloud edit Cloud, Becky
rcloud3@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Disease ecology, community ecology, mosquito ecology and applied mosquito control (advisors: Carla Caceres, Brian Allan, Becky Smith)
Austincoulter Coulter, Austin
agc6@illinois.edu

Graduate Student - PEEC

The physiological, neurological, and genetic impacts of domestication on animals (advisor: Anna Kukekova)
Mariacox Cox, Maria
mlcox3@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Paleogenomic analysis of immune change and function, as well as molecular identification of pathogens; particularly, how genes associated with immune function change through time, especially in populations undergoing long term stress (advisor: Ripan Malhi)
Reedcrawford Crawford, Reed
reeddc2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Thermoregulatory behavior and artificial roost selection of bats (advisor: Joy O'Keefe)
Robertocucalontamayo Cucalon Tamayo, Roberto
rvc4@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

How populations of species are evolutionarily related, and how their evolutionary history and biogeographic patterns can help us explain our current world (advisor: Milton Tan)
Jeannettecullum cropped Cullum, Jeannette
jcullum2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Environmental drivers of infectious disease in Daphnia (advisor: Carla Cáceres)
Lorenzod'alessio D'Alessio, Lorenzo
lmd2@illinois.edu
287 NRB
Graduate Student

Cophylogenetics of ectoparasitic feather lice in the genus Brueelia and their endosymbionts (advisor: Kevin Johnson)
Marisdaleo edit Daleo, Maris
mdaleo2@illlinois.edu

Graduate Student

My research focuses on the health of confiscated turtles. Specifically, I am investigating how to coordinate the confiscation of animals victim of the illegal wildlife trade and create an effective database/communication method to better handle the confiscated turtles, as well as study the impacts of the diseases that those turtles are exposed to, particularly ranavirus. (advisor: Matt Allender)
Jonahdominguez Dominguez, Jonah
jonahsd2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student - PEEC

Inter- and intra-species interactions; community and behavioral ecology; host-parasite interactions; ornithology (advisor: Mark Hauber)
Facundofernandez duque1 Fernandez-Duque, Facundo
facundo2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Social dynamics, behavioral ecology, parent-offspring relationships, functional neurogenomics, mating strategies, phenotypic plasticity, decision making (advisor: Mark Hauber)
Katherynfitzgerald Fitzgerald, Katheryn
kvf2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student- PEEC

Observing immunological and physiological impacts of the endangered Indiana bat in response to forest management practices (advisors: Joy O'Keefe and Cory Suski)
Isaiahgoertz Goertz, Isaiah
igoertz2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Analysis of the evolution of pathogenicity of bacteria and viruses, resulting from differing environmental impacts and factors (advisor: Rachel Whitaker)
Devingoodson Goodson, Devin
devinjg3@illinois.edu

Graduate Student - PEEC

Community-based conservation, social-ecological systems, human-bird interactions (advisors: Mark Hauber & Carena van Riper)
Briangraves Graves, Brian
brianag3@illinois.edu

Graduate Student - PEEC

Genetic changes over time in hominins and organisms impacted by their spread (advisor: Ripan Malhi)
Hyde  charles fa19 Hyde, Charles
cahyde2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Plant-soil microbial interactions: the effects of bioenergy crop root exudation on microbial communities in agricultural soils (advisor: Wendy Yang)
Ratnakaratgi Karatgi, Ratna
karatgi2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Sexual selection: Intrasexual competition, mate choice, signalling and signal evolution (advisor: Becky Fuller)
Long  kira   peec photo cropped Long, Kira
kira2@illinois.edu
217 Turner Hall
Graduate Student

Investigating the supposedly stable hybrid zone of two manakin species in Panama; examining the effects of sexual and natural selection on hybrids and parental species (advisor: Jeff Brawn)
Derekmcfarland McFarland, Derek
derekbm2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Ecology of tick-borne pathogens and the wildlife populations they infect within the context of climate change and human encroachment (advisor: Brian Allan)
Moorhead  kaitlin Moorhead, Kaitlin
kam16@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Investigating health in free-ranging Blanding’s turtles using novel diagnostics and statistical modeling (advisor: Matt Allender)
Mariamunoz edit Munoz, Maria
mariam6@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Investigating how anthropogenic changes such as climate change can affect the prevalence and distribution of vector-borne diseases (advisor: Brian Allan)
Kevinneumann Neumann, Kevin
kevinn4@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Behavioral ecology, genomics, and plasticity in social animals (advisors: Alison Bell and Andrew Suarez)
Ooi  sean headshot Ooi, Sean
sooi3@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Biogeochemistry and microbial ecology of nitrous oxide production and consumption in soils (advisor: Wendy Yang)
Otoloski  lauren pic Otolski, Lauren
otolski2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Tropical ecology, fungal-plant interactions, and microbial community assembly (advisor: James Dalling)
Fabianpallo edited Pallo Rivadeneira, Fabian
fabianp2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student - PEEC

Conservation biology with a focus on finding potential species replacements on fragmented habitats (advisor: Ken Paige)
Kevinricks Ricks, Kevin
ricks3@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Microbial community and evolutionary ecology, evolution of symbiosis (advisor: Anthony Yannarell)
Sanasaboowala Saboowala, Sana
sanas4@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Using a multidisciplinary approach to study the ways in which trauma is physically embodied and inherited, focusing on potential epigenetic effects of border creation during the 1947 Partition of South Asia using molecular methods and oral histories (advisor: Ripan Malhi)
Ellesawyer Sawyer, Elle
elleks2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Understanding the spread and impact of invasive species, particularly Rusty Crayfish (advisor: Eric Larson)
Katsoto Soto, Katharina
kmsoto2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Behavioral and conservation biology and evolution (advisor: Eva Fischer)
Julianasotopati%c3%b1o Soto Patiño, Juliana
dorajs2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student - PEEC

Ornithology, ecology and evolution of host-parasite systems, specially birds and its ectoparasite lice, citizen/participatory science (Advisor: Kevin Johnson)
Saraistuart Stuart, Sarai
saraihs2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Evolution of social life and mechanisms that underpin behaviors in the colony environment (advisor: Gene Robinson)
Gracetan Tan, Grace
gracedt2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Plant biology, specifically water-use efficiency and photosynthetic efficiency relative to sustainable agriculture (advisor: Andrew Leakey)
Malavikavenu Venu, Malavika
mv28@illinois.edu

Graduate Student - PEEC

Understanding the genetic and ecological mechanisms that dictate the evolution of social behavior in insect societies (Advisor: Gene Robinson)
Stephanyvirruetaherrera Virrueta Herrera, Stephany
svirru2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Ornithology and phylogentics, specifically the evolutionary patterns between birds and their parasitic feather lice (advisor: Kevin Johnson).
Emilywhitmer Whitmer, Emily
emilyrw4k@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Wildlife veterinarian studying epidemiology and population health with a focus on marine mammals and birds of the Punta San Juan Reserve, Peru. (advisor: Matthew Allender)
Sarahwinnicki Winnicki, Sarah
sarahkw2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Avian growth and development, parental care behavior, and brood parasitism (advisors: TJ Benson and Mark Hauber)
Fahrenzackery Zackery, Fahren
fzacke2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Applying the dilution effect to the field of human microbiome research in order to determine if microbial diversity correlates with human health outcomes (advisor: Brian Allan)
Ilanazeitzer Zeitzer, Ilana
zeitzer2@illinois.edu

Graduate Student

Plant ecology and plant-fungal mutualistic interaction (advisor: Anthony Yannarell)
Benjamin  neal  headshot edited
Benjamin, Neal
nbenjam2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Swine veterinarian interested in the links between population genetics and health outcomes in pigs; diversity of immune system alleles among wild, domesticated, and intensively bred suids (advisor: Al Roca)
Joebielanski cropped
Bielanski, Joe
jbiela6@illinois.edu



Graduate Student - PEEC

Understanding the genetic basis and mechanisms underlying the evolution of social behavior and using artificial selection/domestication as a model for deeper understanding of evolution as a whole (advisor: Anna Kukekova)
Noahbrown
Brown, Noah
nbrown12@illinois.edu



Graduate Student - PEEC

Effects of residual agrochemicals on soil/plant-associated microbes, with a specific interest in their impact on fungal endophytes and mycorrhiza (advisor: Anthony Yannarell)
Sulagnachakraborty
Chakraborty, Sulagna
schkrbr4@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Vector-borne diseases and epidemiology of infectious diseases, focusing on the eco-epidemiology of a tick-borne disease in India called Kyasanur Forest Disease. I want to combine my interest in infectious disease with my background in public health and microbiology as well as use One Health approaches towards disease control and prevention. (advisor: Brian Allan)
Yutaochen
Chen, Yutao
yutaoc4@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Using biological framework to solve engineering problems; devising bioinspired designs incorporating desired functionalities. (advisor: Marianne Alleyne)
Viviancheng
Cheng, Vivian
vivianc3@illinois.edu



Graduate Student - PEEC

(advisor: Ripan Malhi)
Beckycloud edit
Cloud, Becky
rcloud3@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Disease ecology, community ecology, mosquito ecology and applied mosquito control (advisors: Carla Caceres, Brian Allan, Becky Smith)
Austincoulter
Coulter, Austin
agc6@illinois.edu



Graduate Student - PEEC

The physiological, neurological, and genetic impacts of domestication on animals (advisor: Anna Kukekova)
Mariacox
Cox, Maria
mlcox3@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Paleogenomic analysis of immune change and function, as well as molecular identification of pathogens; particularly, how genes associated with immune function change through time, especially in populations undergoing long term stress (advisor: Ripan Malhi)
Reedcrawford
Crawford, Reed
reeddc2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Thermoregulatory behavior and artificial roost selection of bats (advisor: Joy O'Keefe)
Robertocucalontamayo
Cucalon Tamayo, Roberto
rvc4@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

How populations of species are evolutionarily related, and how their evolutionary history and biogeographic patterns can help us explain our current world (advisor: Milton Tan)
Jeannettecullum cropped
Cullum, Jeannette
jcullum2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Environmental drivers of infectious disease in Daphnia (advisor: Carla Cáceres)
Lorenzod'alessio
D'Alessio, Lorenzo
lmd2@illinois.edu
287 NRB


Graduate Student

Cophylogenetics of ectoparasitic feather lice in the genus Brueelia and their endosymbionts (advisor: Kevin Johnson)
Marisdaleo edit
Daleo, Maris
mdaleo2@illlinois.edu



Graduate Student

My research focuses on the health of confiscated turtles. Specifically, I am investigating how to coordinate the confiscation of animals victim of the illegal wildlife trade and create an effective database/communication method to better handle the confiscated turtles, as well as study the impacts of the diseases that those turtles are exposed to, particularly ranavirus. (advisor: Matt Allender)
Jonahdominguez
Dominguez, Jonah
jonahsd2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student - PEEC

Inter- and intra-species interactions; community and behavioral ecology; host-parasite interactions; ornithology (advisor: Mark Hauber)
Facundofernandez duque1
Fernandez-Duque, Facundo
facundo2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Social dynamics, behavioral ecology, parent-offspring relationships, functional neurogenomics, mating strategies, phenotypic plasticity, decision making (advisor: Mark Hauber)
Katherynfitzgerald
Fitzgerald, Katheryn
kvf2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student- PEEC

Observing immunological and physiological impacts of the endangered Indiana bat in response to forest management practices (advisors: Joy O'Keefe and Cory Suski)
Isaiahgoertz
Goertz, Isaiah
igoertz2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Analysis of the evolution of pathogenicity of bacteria and viruses, resulting from differing environmental impacts and factors (advisor: Rachel Whitaker)
Devingoodson
Goodson, Devin
devinjg3@illinois.edu



Graduate Student - PEEC

Community-based conservation, social-ecological systems, human-bird interactions (advisors: Mark Hauber & Carena van Riper)
Briangraves
Graves, Brian
brianag3@illinois.edu



Graduate Student - PEEC

Genetic changes over time in hominins and organisms impacted by their spread (advisor: Ripan Malhi)
Hyde  charles fa19
Hyde, Charles
cahyde2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Plant-soil microbial interactions: the effects of bioenergy crop root exudation on microbial communities in agricultural soils (advisor: Wendy Yang)
Ratnakaratgi
Karatgi, Ratna
karatgi2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Sexual selection: Intrasexual competition, mate choice, signalling and signal evolution (advisor: Becky Fuller)
Long  kira   peec photo cropped
Long, Kira
kira2@illinois.edu
217 Turner Hall


Graduate Student

Investigating the supposedly stable hybrid zone of two manakin species in Panama; examining the effects of sexual and natural selection on hybrids and parental species (advisor: Jeff Brawn)
Derekmcfarland
McFarland, Derek
derekbm2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Ecology of tick-borne pathogens and the wildlife populations they infect within the context of climate change and human encroachment (advisor: Brian Allan)
Moorhead  kaitlin
Moorhead, Kaitlin
kam16@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Investigating health in free-ranging Blanding’s turtles using novel diagnostics and statistical modeling (advisor: Matt Allender)
Mariamunoz edit
Munoz, Maria
mariam6@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Investigating how anthropogenic changes such as climate change can affect the prevalence and distribution of vector-borne diseases (advisor: Brian Allan)
Kevinneumann
Neumann, Kevin
kevinn4@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Behavioral ecology, genomics, and plasticity in social animals (advisors: Alison Bell and Andrew Suarez)
Ooi  sean headshot
Ooi, Sean
sooi3@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Biogeochemistry and microbial ecology of nitrous oxide production and consumption in soils (advisor: Wendy Yang)
Otoloski  lauren pic
Otolski, Lauren
otolski2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Tropical ecology, fungal-plant interactions, and microbial community assembly (advisor: James Dalling)
Fabianpallo edited
Pallo Rivadeneira, Fabian
fabianp2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student - PEEC

Conservation biology with a focus on finding potential species replacements on fragmented habitats (advisor: Ken Paige)
Kevinricks
Ricks, Kevin
ricks3@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Microbial community and evolutionary ecology, evolution of symbiosis (advisor: Anthony Yannarell)
Sanasaboowala
Saboowala, Sana
sanas4@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Using a multidisciplinary approach to study the ways in which trauma is physically embodied and inherited, focusing on potential epigenetic effects of border creation during the 1947 Partition of South Asia using molecular methods and oral histories (advisor: Ripan Malhi)
Ellesawyer
Sawyer, Elle
elleks2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Understanding the spread and impact of invasive species, particularly Rusty Crayfish (advisor: Eric Larson)
Katsoto
Soto, Katharina
kmsoto2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Behavioral and conservation biology and evolution (advisor: Eva Fischer)
Julianasotopati%c3%b1o
Soto Patiño, Juliana
dorajs2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student - PEEC

Ornithology, ecology and evolution of host-parasite systems, specially birds and its ectoparasite lice, citizen/participatory science (Advisor: Kevin Johnson)
Saraistuart
Stuart, Sarai
saraihs2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Evolution of social life and mechanisms that underpin behaviors in the colony environment (advisor: Gene Robinson)
Gracetan
Tan, Grace
gracedt2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Plant biology, specifically water-use efficiency and photosynthetic efficiency relative to sustainable agriculture (advisor: Andrew Leakey)
Malavikavenu
Venu, Malavika
mv28@illinois.edu



Graduate Student - PEEC

Understanding the genetic and ecological mechanisms that dictate the evolution of social behavior in insect societies (Advisor: Gene Robinson)
Stephanyvirruetaherrera
Virrueta Herrera, Stephany
svirru2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Ornithology and phylogentics, specifically the evolutionary patterns between birds and their parasitic feather lice (advisor: Kevin Johnson).
Emilywhitmer
Whitmer, Emily
emilyrw4k@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Wildlife veterinarian studying epidemiology and population health with a focus on marine mammals and birds of the Punta San Juan Reserve, Peru. (advisor: Matthew Allender)
Sarahwinnicki
Winnicki, Sarah
sarahkw2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Avian growth and development, parental care behavior, and brood parasitism (advisors: TJ Benson and Mark Hauber)
Fahrenzackery
Zackery, Fahren
fzacke2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Applying the dilution effect to the field of human microbiome research in order to determine if microbial diversity correlates with human health outcomes (advisor: Brian Allan)
Ilanazeitzer
Zeitzer, Ilana
zeitzer2@illinois.edu



Graduate Student

Plant ecology and plant-fungal mutualistic interaction (advisor: Anthony Yannarell)


320 Morrill Hall, MC-118
505 South Goodwin Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801  USA
Phone: 217/ 333-2910; Fax: 217/ 244-3499
PEEC-support@illinois.edu


©   Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Privacy