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Evans Lab People

R. Dave Evans, Professor and Director of WSU Stable Isotope Facility

I am an ecologist interested in ecosystem responses to global change.  Our research questions address scales from the physiological ecology of individuals to regional biogeochemical cycles of nitrogen, carbon, and water.  I also helped establish and currently direct the WSU Stable Isotope Core Facility.

E-mail: rdevans(at)wsu.edu

Positions

2003 to current: Associate to Full Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University

1993 to 2003: Assistant to Associate Professor, Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas

1990 to 1993: Postdoctoral fellow and Alexander Hollaender Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow (DOE, 1991 to 1993) in the laboratory of Dr. J.R. Ehleringer, University of Utah

Education

1990: PhD, Washington State University, Botany (R. Alan Black major professor).  NORCUS Research Fellow (DOE)

1986: MS, Western Washington University, Biology (Rich Fonda major professor).

1984: BS, Western Washington University, Biology


 

Mike Lott, Manager WSU Stable Isotope Facility

Mike Lott is a Laboratory Manager and Analytical Chemist with over 25 years’ experience in the field of Stable Isotope analysis. He has experience in academic, private, and government research sectors. Mike earned BS degrees in Chemistry and Biology from the University of Utah where he developed a love for instrumental analysis. He is passionate about understanding how things work so that he can find ways to improve and adapt processes to gain insight into the world around him. Mike likes a good mystery, especially where there is an interesting solution. He has spent time exploring diverse materials such as counterfeit currency, illicit drugs, plant and animal tissues, and a variety of synthetic compounds. In his free Time, Mike loves to work with wood, grow things in his garden, and hike, but most of all he enjoys spending time with his family. -The Dad gig is wonderful and the Grand-Dad one is even better!

Kate Allan

Kate joined the lab as a Scientific Assistant in 2023.  She has extensive experience in stable isotope analyses and interpretation after completing her MS in Geochemistry at McMaster University.  She was previously a Research Assistant at the McMaster Research Group for Stable Isototopologue where her duties included maintenance and troubleshooting of a gas chromatography – isotope ratio mass spectrometer, maintenance of the lab database, and correction of stable isotope results.

Graduate Students

Meaghan Petix

Meaghan received a B.S. in Biology and Environmental Studies (2011) from Binghamton University and her M.S. in Plant Biology (2014) at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where her research took her up to Alberta to study the impact of increased nitrogen deposition on boreal peatlands. She worked as a field ecologist/botanist in the Pacific Northwest for several years before her passion for lichens and biogeochemistry led her to the Evans lab. Her PhD research is focused on assessing nitrogen deposition in mountainous regions, particularly the North Cascades. Outside of work she enjoys botanizing, birding, and biking around the Palouse!

Katherine Gale

Katherine completed a B.S. of Environmental Science with dual minors in Chemistry and Botany at Paul Smith’s College in 2019. Before joining the Evan’s Lab, Katherine worked as a coordinator for the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) to detect, manage, and educate the public on aquatic and terrestrial invasive species, participated in a project in partnership with the NYS Dept. of Health to detect the prevalence of tick-borne Powassan virus in the North Country region of New York State, and for the last two years was an aquatic toxicology laboratory technician where she conducted acute and chronic aquatic toxicity tests according to EPA protocol. Her passion for learning and interest in research and teaching is what brought her back to academia. Having lived, worked, and learned all over New York State, Katherine wanted to continue her education in ecosystems that were unique and unfamiliar, which is what attracted her to the Pacific Northwest. Katherine is interested in research that targets impacts of global change, particularly in forested ecosystems. During her spare time, Katherine likes to rock climb, hike, and explore her creativity through crafting and music.