Lab Members
MS Student
Dept. of Biological Sciences Fordham University New York, NY 10458 BS Mercy College BA Johns Hopkins University |
Andrea Aplasca I am interested in conservation biology and the implications of wildlife health on human and global health. I am also interested in how these factors influence population genetics and how this information applies to conservation management practices. My research interests stem from a diverse background including research experience on the neuroscience of metabolism at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, coastal ecology with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, nesting ecology of diamondback terrapins in Jamaica Bay, as well as the ecology of the Allen’s Cay iguana in the Bahamas. Most recently, I have worked as a licensed veterinary technician for the Wildlife Conservation Society which has been a formative influence on my interest in the intersection of conservation science and global health.
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PhD Candidate
Dept. of Biological Sciences Fordham University New York, NY 10458 MS Duquesne University BS Grove City College |
Stephanie Dowell I am interested in using molecular techniques to understand more about the ecology, evolution, or behavior of a species. I received my Master of Science degree from Duquesne University studying the genetic and morphological differences between two species of minnows, the channel shiner (Notropis wickliffi) and the mimic shiner (Notropis volucellus) in Pennsylvania. This information was used to differentiate between these two taxonomically confused species.
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PhD Candidate
Dept. of Biological Sciences Fordham University New York, NY 10458 MS Fordham University BS Skidmore College |
Christina Frare I come from a diverse biology background. I earned my bachelor's in neuroscience from Skidmore College. After college, I taught Living Environment (biology) and health in a NYC public school. In 2009 I started my Master's in Cell and Molecular biology at Fordham University, which is finished in 2011. I am now working on my PhD with Dr. Hekkala. I am particularly interested in the impact of different land development strategies, as well as different land uses on biodiversity and the implications that has for conservation.
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Phd Candidate
Dept. of Biological Sciences Fordham University New York, NY 10458 MS East Stroudsburg University BA Felician College |
Amanda M. Makkay I am interested in conservation management, particularly of large carnivores persisting at human-wildlife interfaces. My research interests include investigating progressive ways of managing carnivore populations and mitigating the associated conflict with humans. My interest is fueled by a concern that in a world where human encroachment and habitat fragmentation are becoming the norm, management strategies must anticipate these effects on predator populations. I received my M.S. in 2010, where I evaluated the efficacy of nonlethal management techniques on the American black bear (Ursus americanus). My current research focuses on assessing genetic diversity, as predicted by management models, and comparing diversity values to empirically derived measurements, using snow leopard populations as a model. I am analyzing non-invasively collected samples from the N. American ex situ snow leopard (Uncia uncia) population, the in situ population throughout their native range, and archival museum specimens.
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Undergraduate Student
Dept. of Biological Sciences Fordham University New York, NY 10458 |
Kaitlin Abrams The research I work on focuses on the allele frequency of nuclear microsatellite loci in the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). Utilizing blood samples of crocodiles from Madagascar and parts of East Africa, I isolate and amplify DNA for nine microsatellite loci, followed by genetic analysis to call allele sizes. By doing so, we are able to identify population structure based on genetic differences.
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Undergraduate Student
Dept. of Biological Sciences Fordham University New York, NY 10458 |
Ame Anteyi I am a junior and Biology major at Fordham College Rose Hill. I am currently working on fecal samples of the American Pika and attempting to find the best method to extract DNA from the fecal samples. I ultimately plan to study the results climate change may have had on the populations of Pika through genetic analysis.
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Undergraduate Student
Dept. of Biological Sciences Fordham University New York, NY 10458 |
Julien Atienza I’m a junior Biology major, Bioinformatics minor at Fordham College Rose Hill. This summer I assisted in the project examining the change in species distribution of chipmunks in the Tahoe Basin. Specifically, I extracted and amplified DNA from chipmunk field samples for species identification based on microsatellites. My interests lie in molecular biology and its various applications in the ecological and medical fields.
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Undergraduate Student
Dept. of Biological Sciences Fordham University New York, NY 10458 |
Rachel Coffey I am entering my senior year and am a Biology major at Fordham College Rose Hill. This past summer I investigated the presence or absence of hybridization between two sunfish species at Fordham's biology field station, the Louis Calder Center. Currently I plan to pursue either medical school or graduate school after graduation.
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Undergraduate Student
Dept. of Biological Sciences Fordham University New York, NY 10458 |
Matt Cucino I am a junior pursuing a Biology major. I have been working on non-invasive genetic methods for monitoring wild American Pika populations in the face of climate change. The goal of this project is to determine if there has been a loss of genetic diversity in Pika populations correlated with increasing temperature.
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Undergraduate Student
Dept. of Biological Sciences Fordham University New York, NY 10458 |
Daniela Doumet I am a senior pursuing a double major in biological sciences and anthropology. I am currently working on a project involving ancient Equid DNA extracted from bones found in Iran. I hope to eventually attain an interdisciplinary PhD introducing conservation in both an ecological and archaeological perspective.
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Undergraduate Student
Dept. of Biological Sciences Fordham University New York, NY 10458 |
Kathyrn Posocco |
Undergraduate Student
Dept. of Biological Sciences Fordham University New York, NY 10458 |
Sydney Schneider I am a sophomore majoring in Biology at Fordham College Rose Hill. After graduation, I plan to attend dental school. I am currently working with Christina Frare on her research analyzing the changing dynamics of genetic data of chipmunk species and how these changes have modified the small mammal populations in the Tahoe Basin.
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