Graduate Students
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Kenny Jones is the newest LAQE member, starting his MSc program in January, 2018. Kenny is an Arkansas State alum, and during his undergraduate tenure there he conducted genetic research on the Blueface Darter and was instrumental in the renovation of the ASU natural history collections. We look forward to Kenny's thesis research on the Coal Darter here in Alabama, and can't wait to build our own zoology collection at UWA!
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Joshua Millwood is a veteran UWA Tiger, having graduated with a BSc in Biology in 2016. Josh immediately entered the Conservation Biology MSc program, and has chosen to conduct his research in the LAQE. Josh is interested in a broad range of evolutionary questions, but is currently focused on resolving phylogenetic interrelationships of Mobile Basin Sculpins (Cottus). Josh is also a critical contributor to our work on the Baikal Sculpin Radiation. |
Undergraduate Students
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Rakim Ali is an honors biology major who joined the LAQE during his freshman year. Rakim is quickly becoming our point man for questions regarding protein structure and function. He maintains a longstanding interest in synthetic biology, and is currently focused on mapping the expression of ohnologous gene pairs that originated with the Teleost Genome Duplication event (TGD). His work has important implications regarding the use of teleosts as model organisms, and his research products may improve our ability to customize medical treatments for individuals with metabolic disorders. Rakim is also a star of the UWA soccer team. |
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Destiny Langford is a Biology Education major at UWA, and one of just ten Julia Tutwiler Scholars selected from her class (2019). Destiny is a master of organization, serving as secretary of the UWA Tri-beta club, a resident assistant, science tutor, and an animal care technician at the LAQE. Destiny plays a key role in developing genetically distinct lines of poeciliid and cichlid fishes for experimental work. |
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Sarila (Sam) Mickle is a native of Grove Hill, Alabama, where she developed a skillset caring for animals of all shapes and sizes. Sam is our senior fishkeeper, responsible for tracking husbandry data in the LAQE indoor aquaria facility. Sam is also eager to volunteer for field work, and she is developing a project focused on gene flow among Mimic Shiners (Notropis volucellus) of the Tennessee and Tombigbee River Basins.Meagan Machholz is our marine mammal devotee. Though we are located about 150 miles from the Gulf, that hasn't discouraged Meagan from developing and implementing an eDNA sampling protocol for the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus). Meagan's habitat occupancy survey in Alabama is a collaborative effort with faculty at Dauphin Island Sea Lab and Mote Marine Lab. Meagan's career goal is to become a marine wildlife photographer, but during her time at UWA she functions as a scientist through and through. |
Timothy (TJ) Odom
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Brannon (Boo) O'Pry is our undergraduate environmental DNA (eDNA) specialist. A marine biology major at UWA, Boo takes every opportunity to collect Bull Shark (Carcharhinus leucas) eDNA along the northern Gulf Coast. His undergraduate research project is designed to optimize eDNA collection and analysis protocols, for both freshwater and marine animals. When he is not obsessing over sharks, you can find him on a collegiate golf course, where he regularly wins trophies and applause from flocks of fans. His hero is Tiger Woods. |
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Joseph Sammons has been involved in LAQE activities since its inception. A native of Linden, Alabama, Joseph is the ultimate volunteer, with a heart for service and a deeply curious mind. Joseph is currently generating a morphometric and meristic data set that contributes to the discovery and description of a new freshwater fish species. He plans to name this fish after the renowned Dr. E.O. Wilson. |
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Patricia (Kiersten) Schellhammer is a native of Tuscaloosa, AL, and one of just ten Julia Tutwiler Scholars at UWA. Kiersten maintains diverse interests, including everything from domestic horse evolution to anime. In the LAQE, Kiersten is leading a population genetics project on the Bullhead Minnow (Pimephales vigilax) in the Tennessee and Mobile River Basins. Her work has important conservation implications regarding the management of watershed connectivity. Kiersten plans to use her experience in the LAQE as a stepping stone toward a PhD in comparative genomics. |
Lab Alumni
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Timothy (TJ) Odom was one of our first undergraduate LAQE members. TJ quickly demonstrated leadership ability within our group, as he continually volunteered to train our incoming freshmen. TJ conducted his own research as well, with a focus on the human microbiome. In 2016, TJ received the highest undergraduate award at the annual Alabama Academy of Science conference.
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Yanesha Johnson joined the LAQE after excelling in Dr. Sandel's Vertebrate Zoology course in Spring of 2016. Yanesha conducted research on the necrobiome of freshwater fishes under controlled laboratory conditions. She also was instrumental in the isolation of mycobacteriophage from dermal mucosa. Her work in this area sheds light on the microbial dynamics of decomposition in freshwater environments. This research experience benefited Yanesha by preparing her for graduate school in Forensic Science. She is currently enrolled in the Master of Science program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
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Jon (Tyler) Newburn joined the LAQE at its inception in 2016, having received his undergraduate degree from UWA in 2015. Tyler was critical in every aspect of establishing the LAQE, from writing collection permits to installing cabinets and equipment. Tyler is a fisherman scientist, and his thesis was developed at the intersection of public health and sportfishing. He tested the hypothesis that the Horizon Oil Event contributed to eastward expansion of Mycobacterium ulcerans within the dermal mucosa of Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus). Tyler is now serving with the National Park Service at the Big South Fork River and Recreation Area. |
Collaborators
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Dr. Andres (Andy) Aguilar
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Dr. David Neely
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Dr. Rune Toms - Children's Hospital Birmingham
Research Associate
Kayla Fast MSc joined the LAQE in 2016, in order to assist with project management on the Baikal Sculpin project. Since then, Kayla has stepped up to contribute to UWA in multiple ways, including co-instructing the SEA-PHAGES Discovery and Bioinformatics courses. Kayla received her graduate degree from Mississippi State, where she studied avian malaria and phylogeography of North American songbirds. Her expertise is an invaluable asset to the many ongoing projects at The LAQE.
Principal Investigator
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Dr. Michael Sandel started the LAQE in 2015, with the intent of increasing the undergraduate research footprint of the University of West Alabama. He is privileged to serve a university with a diverse and talented student body, and he strives to include all people types in the search for biological knowledge. With the establishment of UWA's new Master of Science program in Conservation Biology, he is also excited to lead graduate students on their path toward a career in the biological sciences.
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