Matthew Wolak — Principle Investigator
Fascinated by variance. Don't even get him started on covariance. Investigates the causes of among individual variation and how they affect evolution by natural selection, drift, movement, and mutation.
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Kirby Merlo — M.Sc. student
Kirby will investigate behavioral variation in our laboratory seed beetle (Callosobruchus maculatus) populations.
McKae Sarkowski — M.Sc. student
My research in evolutionary ecology focuses on how selection and life history processes shape phenotypic variation across development, particularly in relation to sexual dimorphism. I am interested in applying integrative and quantitative approaches to understand how traits evolve and diverge within natural populations, and how this insight can inform conservation and management decisions.
Olivia Brown — M.Sc. student
Olivia received a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Ecology and Management from Auburn University in 2022. Olivia's general interests are in ecology, evolution, and conservation. During her undergraduate career, Olivia developed and executed a research project studying boldness behavior of semi-aquatic freshwater turtles. As a Master's student, Olivia hopes to contribute to our growing understanding of ecology and evolution as well as encourage an inclusive and productive lab environment for every member.
Honorary Members
Justin Jenkins — NSF-REU
Justin was an undergraduate student at the University of Miami earning a B.S. in Marine Biology and Ecology who participated in a REU at Auburn University. Justin has now moved onto a Ph.D. program at the University of Texas A&M, Galveston. He has always had a passion for turtles and the marine environment and with us he studied the behavior of aquatic turtles in Alabama. He now conducts reasearch on sea turtle foraging ecology with the goal of eventually pursuing a career in sea turtle conservation. Throughout his career, he hopes to promote diversity in the field of science and the protection of our natural environment.
Former Lab Members
Jacob Botello — Ph.D. (2018–2025)
Currently: Visiting Assistant Professor at St. Mary's College of Maryland.
Molly Folkerts Caldwell — Ph.D. (2019–2026)
Currently: Lecturer at Auburn University
Clayton Jowers — NSF-REU (May 2022–August 2022)
Jorge Lopez-Perez — NSF-REU (May 2019–August 2019)
Currently: PhD Student in Biology at Utah State University