Dr. Sean T. Giery, Assistant Professor: I received my Ph.D. from North Carolina State University before doing a postdoc at the University of Connecticut followed by three years as an Eberly Research Fellow at Pennsylvania State University. The core of my research explores the ecological origins and evolutionary consequences of diversity using a wide range of tools and approaches—from stable isotopes and genomic data to large-scale field experiments.

Alyssa Meyer: Ph.D. Student: Alyssa is an incoming student in the Giery Lab (starting January 2025). She has a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Binghamton University. Her research interests lie at the intersection of behavioral and evolutionary ecology with a focus on adaptation in rapidly changing environments. She is particularly interested in how amphibians are responding to climate change, both behaviorally and morphologically, and how these changes affect amphibian populations. Her work ultimately aims to inform conservation strategies that preserve biodiversity and support ecosystem resilience.

Umair Ahmad, Ph.D. Student: Umair is a member the Miles Lab at OU. He has a BS and MS in Zoology from the University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Pakistan. His research investigates the impact of climate change and wildfires on host-parasite relationships. Umair brings expertise in molecular techniques, conservation, ecology, and multivariate analysis to the group. He’s directly contributing to several ongoing projects and training undergraduates in molecular techniques. In addition to receiving several academic fellowships, he recently received the BIOS Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, and serves as President of the BIOS Graduate Society.

Elizabeth Shaffer, M.S. Student: Elizabeth is an incoming student for the Giery lab. She received her B.S. in Ecology from the University of Georgia and is now pursuing a career in herpetological research. Her main research interests include rapid evolution, phenotypic diversity, and anthropogenic effects on reptile/amphibian ecology.

Emma Sielski, Undergraduate Research Assistant: Emma is a sophomore majoring in Biological Sciences. Her current work in the Giery lab includes extracting, quantifying, and assessing genomic DNA from tissue samples. Outside of the lab, Emma holds several leadership positions including Director of Public Relations for Ohio University's chapter of the National Biological Honors Society, and Vice President of Phone a Friend. Emma has also won a spot in the OU’s Diabetes Institute Summer Interprofessional Research Experience (DISIRE). There she’ll be expanding her research skills and advancing towards a career in research.

Ellie Faber, Undergraduate Researcher: Ellie is an undergraduate student in the Honors Tutorial College at OU. In summer 2024 she’ll be leading a new project to characterize the ectoparasite community of Common Wall lizards in Cincinnati, Ohio. Stay tuned!

Makenna Koogler, Undergraduate Researcher: Majoring in Wildlife & Conservation Biology, Makenna is a PACE intern in the Giery lab for the 2024-2025 year. Her primary duties will be assisting data collection and species surveys to see how climate change is affecting vernal pools and the amphibians that reside within them. Outside of the lab, Makenna is a member of the HIKE club executive board and has spent the last two summers working at wildlife rehabilitation centers in Dayton, Ohio. 

Grace Smith, Undergraduate Researcher: Grace is a Sophomore that is majoring in Wildlife and Conservation Biology with a minor in Environmental and Plant Biology. She also loves the outdoors and participates in skiing, hiking, camping, and rock climbing. Her love for the environment fuels her passion in biology and ecology. In her career she plans to work on restoration of habitats, wildlife management, and ecological research. 

James Watson, Undergraduate Researcher: Primarily interested in tropical ecology and conservation, James is now a MS student studying False Gharial in Malaysia with Dr. Indraneil Das!! Before that, James spent his senior year at Appalachian State University conducting a mesocosm experiment investigating growth and survival differences among spotted salamander color morphs.

Mister Bug, Assistant to the Professor: Founding member of the Giery lab. Enthusiastic about vertebrates…and worms. He’s also skilled at finding salamanders and reasons to delay bedtime.