Current Lab Members

Dr. Carla Hurt (Associate Professor, Biology)

I am interested in processes of speciation and diversification and the implications that these processes have on conservation of biodiversity. Specific aims of my research include: 1) identifying taxonomic lineages and cryptic diversity, 2) reconstructing the phylogenetic history and geographic context of species radiations, 3) examining the ecological and developmental factors that promote and sustain diversity and 4) assessing the geographic structure of genetic variation within habitats. To address these questions, I employ a wide diversity of molecular tools including DNA sequencing and genotyping as well as next-generation tools such as transcriptome sequencing and reduced genome sequencing.

Learn more about my research here.

Students

Parker Hildreth – M.S. Student

My thesis research aims to identify at risk hidden diversity within Faxonius durelli (Saddle Crayfish) and Faxonius forceps (Surgeon Crayfish) residing in the Cumberland and Tennessee river drainages. Other projects in progress include, species delimitation of the Faxonius placidus (Bigclaw Crayfish) species complex using genomic/mitochondrial derived data sets and determining if a newly discovered population of the federally endangered Faxonius shoupi (Nashville Crayfish) is a disjunct population or an anthropogenic introduction.

 

Katherine Torrance – Post-Bacc

I started in this lab as an undergraduate researcher in the late spring of 2020. I graduated the following spring with a bachelor’s in biology (conc. zoology). At the beginning of the fall semester in 2021, I rejoined the lab as a post-baccalaureate researcher. My project examines burrowing Alpheus shrimp species for evidence convergent evolution of morphology due to similar life history. To do this, I am combining phylogenetic and geometric morphometric techniques.

I plan to pursue a master’s degree, and eventually Ph.D, involving conservation genetics and/or animal behavior.

 

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Katherine_Torrance2

Holly Palk – M.S. Student

My work focuses on the sequencing, assembly, and annotation of novel, whole genomes. I am interested in loci under selection and local adaptation of a population. Currently, I am working on producing a reference whole genome for Hardin crayfish (Faxonius wrighti) that will be used on a Species Status Assessment and future efforts for conservation and population genomics.  

Anchita Sanan – M.S. Student

I am studying the genetics and morphometrics of the hyperdiverse snapping shrimp genus Alpheus. By applying a combination of morphometric and molecular tools, I intend to 1) determine if similarities in distantly related shrimp are a result of convergent evolution driven by similar selection pressures and 2) identify morphological characters of taxonomic importance in species diagnosis.

Brook Grubb – Ph.D. Student

My research takes an interdisciplinary approach using both landscape ecology and genomics work to understand species dispersal, persistence, and ecological needs. My dissertation work involves creating a species status assessment for the Hardin Crayfish (Faxonius wright) and will provide information on their taxonomic validity, habitat needs, life history, and current and future conditions that will be used to make an ESA listing decision. In addition, I am exploring environmental conditions that facilitate their dispersal in a landscape genomics framework.

Miranda Gaupp – Ph.D. Student

Genomics approaches offer exciting opportunities to drastically improve conservation efforts through filling in knowledge gaps related to species ecology, gene flow, and genetic diversity. I am passionate about learning and applying genomics and bioinformatic techniques to answer ecological and evolutionary questions that are unattainable through field work alone. With that, I am excited to continue to play a part in conservation genomics efforts through my work in the Hurt lab. I received a Master of Science in Biology from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia after obtaining a B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. I look forward to continuing my formal education through Tennessee Tech’s Ph.D. program starting in Spring 2023. During my time at Tn Tech, I will be applying ‘omics approaches to study the Tennessee Streamside salamander (Ambystoma barbouri). Specifically, I will be investigating population genetic structure and genetic diversity within and between populations of this species throughout its southern range as well as how these genetic components relate to environmental and landscape factors. Ultimately, this work will be in effort to inform and improve conservation management of the species in Tennessee.

JT Thompson – M.S. Student

I am an M.S. student studying the impact of urbanization and genetic diversity of the Streamside Salamander (Ambystoma barbouri) using landscape genomics.