Abby Perrino - M.A., Biology
Abby received a B. A. in Biology in 2010 from Judson University. Following graduation she did botanical studies and wetland surveys for both research and regulatory purposes for several organizations across the Midwest. While at JCU, Abby studied the distribution of biological soil crusts on gypsum soils in the Chihuahuan Desert.
|
Lucy Peloso - B.S., Biology
Lucy worked on projects related to gypsum plant ecology. Lucy is serving with COMCorps, an AmeriCorps program in Athens, Ohio. She is working with a nonprofit called Community Food Initiatives that focuses on food insecurity and community resilience in Athens County and surrounding areas.
|
Joe Mikhail - B.S., Biology
.Joe worked on data entry for biological soil crust research. He is attending University of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Rebecca Reicholf - B.S., Biology, M.S., Biology
As an undergraduate, Becca contributed to a number of plant-soil relations projects, particularly related to gypsum and serpentine soils. Following graduation, she worked in the Aquatic Invasive Weeds Unit, USDA-ARS in Davis CA prior to beginning her Master's degree at John Carroll. Her thesis investigated the potential role of glucosinolates in drought tolerance of gypsophilic mustards.
|
Reina Neilsen - M.S., Biology
Research focus: adaptation to low nutrient soils in a suite of chaparral shrubs. Following her graduation, Reina worked as a researcher at the University of Minnesota working in a crop physiology lab in the agronomy department. She now is a laboratory instructor at her alma mater, Gustavus Adolophus College in St. Peter, MN.
|
Danny Dlugos - M.S., BiologyThesis title: Physiological and morphological responses to reductions in light quantity and quality in the invasive plant,
Multiflora rose (Thunb., Rosaceae). Currently, Danny received his PhD from Clemson University and is now at Miami University as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Botany in the Department of Entomology, Soils, and Plant Science. |
Jennifer Murphy - M.S., BiologyThesis title: Functional traits and their plasticity in invasive and non-invasive species in response to light availability. Jennifer completed her Ph.D. in Biology at Case Western Reserve University in the lab of Dr. Jean Burns. Currently, Jennifer is an adjunct instructor at John Carroll University.
|
Esther Salata - B.S., Environmental ScienceHonors Thesis title: Light responses and leaf nitrogen of invasive and non-invasive Rosa spp. Esther completed a Master's degree in the School of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Michigan in the lab of Dr. Ines Ibanez. Following graduation, she was a Park Ranger (interpretative) for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a Naturalist for the Cleveland Metroparks, and a scientific educator at Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Ester is the founder of Benesafe Solutions.
|
Megan Thornhill - B.S., Biology
Nutrient resorption in the invasive cordgrass Spartina densiflora, and Leaf nutrient responses in nutrient amended bunchgrasses of the Intermountain West. Megan graduated as a Woodrow Wilson Ohio Teaching Fellow from Ohio University and is now a high school biology teacher.
|
Will Murray - B.S., Environmental Science
Soil properties of the Clark Mountain range, Mojave National Preserve. Currently, Will is working at BSA Environmental
Services. |
Matthew Mayher - B.S., Environmental Science
Herbarium organizer extraordinaire. Matthew recently graduated with a Master's degree in Biology from the University of Toledo. He studied with Dr. Daryl Dwyer, working on riparian and wetland restoration. Matthew is currently an Organic Lab Tech at Chemtron.
|
Rachael Glover - M.S., Biology
Thesis title: Clonal integration in under different light regimes. After graduating, Rachael worked as the Restoration
Ecology Program Coordinator at The Wilds. Rachel is currently pursuing a PhD at Ohio State University in restoration ecology. |
Jill Collins - M.S., Biology
Thesis title: Light relations and early life history traits of a problematic invasive, Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora Thunb.)
(Rosaceae). Jill previously worked for the Ohio State University Extension Service in Cuyahoga County as a Nutrition Specialist. She is currently working as a registered nurse. |
Katie Hallal - B.S., Biology
Soil characteristics of serpentine and non-serpentine chaparral soils. Katie earned a M.Ed. at Edinboro University, and she is currently a science teacher at St. Ignatius High School.
|
Elise Bartelme - B.S., Biology & Environmental Science
Nutrient resorption in desert shrubs; functional traits related to invasiveness in the genus, Rosa . Elise completed a M.S. in Plant Biology at the University of Georgia, working in Dr. Lisa Donovan's lab. Currently, Elise is a plant ecologist at Enviroscience.
|
Jesús Sánchez - M.S., Biology
Thesis title: Physiological and growth responses of three congeners of Asclepias to low soil water availability. Jesús worked as the Director of Programs at Esperanza, an organization promoting Hispanic education. Currently, Jesús is Manager - Youth Outdoors at Cleveland Metroparks.
|
Nicole Pietrasiak - M.S., Biology
Thesis title: Environmental factors influencing distribution of microbiotic crusts in Joshua Tree National Park; Nicole earned a Ph.D. in Soil Science at the University of California, Riverside. After working as a post-doctoral researcher in Dr. Jeff Johansen's lab at JCU, Nicole joined the plant and environmental sciences faculty at New Mexico State University in Fall 2015. In January 2023 Nicole joined the faculty at the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
|
Stephanie Racicki - B.S., Biology
Nutrient resorption in desert shrubs; Stephanie earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Walsh University, and she is currently working as a physical therapist.
|
Alynn Martin - B.S., Biology
Huntington-Codrington undergraduate research fellow Summer 2008; Potential ecotypic variation in the genus Sarcobatus. Alynn obtained a Master's degree at Grand Valley State University in the lab of Dr. Amy Russell and in 2019 completed a PhD in disease ecology at the University of Tasmania in the lab of Dr. Scott Carver. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at USGS.
|
Molly Falasco - B.S., BiologyHuntington-Codrington undergraduate research fellow Summer 2007 (Nutrient resorption in California chaparral
shrubs); research volunteer Summer 2006; Resource use and acquisition traits in native and invasive perennial forbs; Molly earned a M.D. at the University of Toledo. She is currently a pediatrician at Akron Children's Hospital. |
Christina Fink - B.S., BiologyHuntington-Codrington undergraduate research fellow Summer 2006; Resource use and acquisition traits in native and
invasive perennial forbs; Christina earned a M.D. at the Ohio State University. Currently, Christina is a pediatric cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic. |