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GLGL Graduate Students and Technicians
Amanda Haponski
Ph.D. Candidate
amanda.haponski@rockets.utoledo.edu
CV 2012
Research Interests:
My research interests include phylogeography, population genetics, systematics, ecology
and natural history of marine and freshwater fishes.
Projects:
I received my master’s degree from the University of Toledo in December of 2007 and
decided to continue on for my Ph.D. in Carol Stepien’s lab. My thesis focused on
a morphologic, genetic, and biogeographic comparison of two known subspecies of the
Greenside Darter (Etheostoma blennioides Rafinesque 1819). I used a variety of morphological characters (i.e. scale counts)
and molecular data to determine if these two subspecies should really be considered
as subspecies. I also finished up a study looking at the genetic variation of the
Rainbow Darter Etheostoma caeruleum in the Lake Erie Region and worked with a local high school teacher Mr. Tim Bollin.
My dissertation research focuses on Lake Erie walleye (Sander vitreus), an important commercial fishery species. I am using archived scale samples to
compare the genetic variation of walleye in Lake Erie over the past 50 years and also
looking at the genus Sander and comparing morphological characters and molecular data to determine the systematic
relationships among the species. I also participated in the National Science Foundation's
GK-12 program from 2008-2010 and was paired again with Mr. Tim Bollin from the Toledo
Early College High School. He and I co-instructed a Science Research course focused
on water quality of the Toledo Area. In this course students developed and carried
out independent research projects and presented their results at local science fairs.
Lindsey R. Pierce
Ph.D. Candidate
lindsey.pierce@rockets.utoledo.edu
CV 2012
Research Interests:
Aquaculture genetics, fish conservation genetics/genomics, epidemiology, nutrigenomics,
virology.
Projects:
I received my B.S. in Animal and Veterinary Science with a minor in Fisheries and
Wildlife Science from West Virginia University in May of 2006. I then went on to attend
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University where I received my M.S. in Biology,
primarily focusing on nutrigenomics. While presenting my master’s work at the Annual
AFS meeting, I became interested in the research conducted at the Great Lakes Genetics
Laboratory. I decided to further my education by working toward a Ph.D. in Dr. Carol
Stepien’s lab focusing on the molecular genetic detection and evolutionary patterns
of the fish Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia virus (VHSv). During my time in Dr. Stepien’s
laboratory, I participated in the National Science Foundation's GK-12 program from
2011-2012 paired with Mrs. Singler from Ottawa Hills High School where I helped students
develop and carry out independent research projects. For 2012-2013 I am paired with
Mrs. Cole from Toledo Early College High School, where I also will assist students
with science fair assignments, and will be developing a fun lesson plan on the coevolutionary
dynamics between pathogens and their hosts.
Carson Prichard
Ph.D. student
carson.prichard@rockets.utoledo.edu
CV 2012
Research Interests:
Great Lakes fisheries, population and conservation genetics, fish ecology
Projects:
I have had a lifelong passion for fish, which has led me to pursue a career if fisheries
research. I received my B.S. in Biology at Grand Valley State University (2005-2009),
and then completed my M.S. in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan
State University (2010-2012). As a member of the Quantitative Fisheries Center I
developed statistical models to estimate sea lamprey wounding rates on lake trout
in the Great Lakes. My initial Ph.D. research with Dr. Stepien at the University
of Toledo will investigate population genetics of invasive Asian carp species, assessing
genetic variation between populations near potential Great Lakes invasion sites and
longer established populations in North America.
Timothy Sullivan
Master's Student
timothy.sullivan@rockets.utoledo.edu
CV 2012
Research Interests:
My research interests include phylogeography, population and landscape genetics, fisheries
and aquatic ecology and conservation.
Projects:
I received my B.A. in Biology from the College of Wooster in May 2010, where I completed
my undergraduate thesis studying the impacts of predatory stress on the evolution
of body size and coloration in tropical stream fishes of Tobago. Upon graduation,
I sought a position in Dr. Stepien’s laboratory in order to further my understanding
of fisheries and population genetics. My thesis research project focuses on the use
of fine-scale nuclear microsatellite variation to understand the spatial patterns
of yellow perch stock structure in Lake Erie, as well as how consistent these patterns
are over time.
Vrushalee Palsule
Research Technician, The University of Toledo
vrushalee.palsule@utoledo.edu
CV-2012
I received my B.Sc. in Biotechnology from Mumbai University, India and a M.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology from Louisiana Tech University. I like to get involved in research that incorporates various techniques in Genetics and Molecular biology. This was encouraged as a research technician under Dr. Stepien on developing assays using StaRT PCR and Real time PCR to detect VHS fish virus in Great Lakes.
Shane T. Yerga-Woolwine
DNA Research Technician
shane.woolwine@utoledo.edu
419.530.8370
CV 2012
I received my B.A. in Biology from Adrian College. After graduating, I worked at a research laboratory in Eugene, Oregon, and then I served as senior Lab Manager in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at the Medical University of Ohio (now the University of Toledo Medical Center). I joined the GLGL team in 2012 as a DNA Research Assistant.
