{"id":63,"date":"2022-07-28T15:58:41","date_gmt":"2022-07-28T22:58:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/storfer\/?page_id=63"},"modified":"2026-03-18T15:55:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T22:55:23","slug":"lab-alumni","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/storfer\/people\/lab-alumni\/","title":{"rendered":"Lab alumni"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Former postdoctoral associates:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Dale Clement (2022-2024); Postdoctoral Research Associate, Wake Forest University<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Savannah Bartel (2022-2024; Co-advised with David Crowder); USGS Biologist, Boise, ID<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Rhett Rautsaw (2022-2023); Bioinformatic Support Scientist, Pacific Biosciences<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Chris Kozakiewicz (2019-2021); Assistant Professor, Michigan State University email:cpkoz@msu.edu<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Mark Margres (2017-2018); Assistant Professor, University of South Florida; email: margres@usf.edu<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Brendan Epstein (2013-2016); Postdoctoral Research Associate, Univ. Minnesota; email: epste051@umn.edu<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Jake Kerby (2006-2008); Professor and Chair, University of South Dakota; email: jacob.kerby@usd.edu<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Ben Ridenhour (2004-2006) Assistant Professor, University of Idaho<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Stephen Mech (2001-2002); Professor, Albright College<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Former Graduate Students<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • Graduated <\/em>(8 PhD, 9 MS)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Marc Beer (PhD 2024) Characterization of the abiotic and biotic drivers of population genomic variation to study the evolutionary consequences of global change. Current position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Washington State U.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Rachael Kane (MS 2021) How inbred is the Tasmanian devil? A meta-analysis of island mammals. Current position: Genomics Laboratory Specialist, Columbia River Intertribal Fisheries Commission<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Austin Patton (PhD 2020) Integration of comparative phylogenetics and genomics to study diversification and historical demography. Current position: Research Associate at Arcadia Science, Berkeley, CA<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Lauren Ricci (MS 2018) Comparative landscape genetics of Tasmanian devils and their facial tumor disease. Current position: PhD student at Utah State University<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Steven Micheletti (PhD 2016); Title, \u201cMultiple tests of species\u2019 geographic range limits in an endemic salamander species\u201d Current Position: Geneticist at 23andme<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Lanie Smith (MS 2016); Title, \u201cTelomeres as a marker for disease susceptibility in Tasmanian devils” Current Position: Research Scientist; University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Daryl Trumbo (PhD 2015); Title, \u201cLandscape genomics and geographic range limit evolution of the invasive cane toad (Rhinella<\/em> marina<\/em>) in Australia\u201d Current Position: Assistant Professor; Colorado State University, Pueblo<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Sarah Emel (PhD; 2015); Title, \u201cIntegrating niche modeling and landscape genetics to study species\u2019 responses to climate change\u201d Current Position: Assistant Professor at IUP<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Jonathan Eastman (PhD; 2010); Title \u201cOn the role of historical constraint in evolution: An emphasis in salamander evolution.\u201d Current Position: Firefighter in Iowa Falls, IA<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Karen Chojnacki (MS; 2009); Title: \u201cSpatial variation in selection and multivariate estimates of local adaptation in a salamander-virus system.\u201d Current Position: Teaching Assistant, WSU<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Steve Spear (PhD; 2009); Title: \u201cEffects of land use change and habitat differences on genetic variation and population genetic structure of tailed frogs.\u201d Current Position: Research Biologist at USGS, La Crosse, WI.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Ashley McCally (MS; 2009); Ashley studied the effects of chytridiomycosis on amphibian community dynamics. Current Position: Owner of Lily and Gus Clothing<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Melanie Murphy (PhD; 2008); Title: \u201cNew approaches in landscape genetics and niche modeling for understanding limits to anuran distributions\u201d Current Position: Associate Professor, University of Wyoming<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Jennifer Cotter (MS; 2008); Title: \u201cGenomic responses of ambystomatid salamanders to infection with an emerging virus” Current Position: Laboratory Technician, Denver, CO.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Craig Steele (PhD; 2006); Title: \u201cPhylogenetics, phylogeography and comparative population genetics of giant salamanders (genus: Dicamptodon<\/em>)\u201d Current Position: Geneticist for Idaho Game and Fish<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Andrew Giordano (MS; 2005); Thesis title, \u201cEffects of Altitude on Population Structure and Life History Variation in the Long-toed salamander.\u201d Current Position:  Upper School Division Head, Tahoe Expedition Academy, Truckee, CA<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Diane Forson (MS; 2005); Thesis title, \u201cAgricultural Contaminants and Iridovirus: Cofactors in Amphibian Declines.\u201d Current Position: Instructor \u2013 Biology Department, Everett Community College, Everett, WA<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Steve Spear (Co-Advisor; MS, ISU; 2004); Thesis title, \u201c”Landscape effects on genetic structure in tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum melanostictum<\/em>) populations across the northern range of Yellowstone National Park” Current Position: Research Biologist at USGS<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Former laboratory staff:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      • Cyla Sparks (2024)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":9143,"featured_media":0,"parent":28,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"wsuwp_university_location":[],"wsuwp_university_org":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/storfer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/63"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/storfer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/storfer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/storfer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9143"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/storfer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/storfer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/63\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":222,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/storfer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/63\/revisions\/222"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/storfer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/28"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/storfer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/storfer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/storfer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/storfer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_location?post=63"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_org","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/storfer\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_org?post=63"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}