Current Lab Members
Graduate Research Assistants
Hannah McKinnon Reish
Hannah graduated from Michigan Technological University in 2020 with a B.S. in Biology-Ecology. Her undergraduate research focus was aquatic toxicology. Following graduation she was involved in clinical virology and microbiology testing through her work in a COVID-19 testing lab and a pediatric genetics lab at Lurie children's hospital.
She is currently a graduate student at Southeast Missouri State University. Her thesis will be on plastic biodegradation in multiple generations of darkling beetles and their microbiota.
Hannah graduated from Michigan Technological University in 2020 with a B.S. in Biology-Ecology. Her undergraduate research focus was aquatic toxicology. Following graduation she was involved in clinical virology and microbiology testing through her work in a COVID-19 testing lab and a pediatric genetics lab at Lurie children's hospital.
She is currently a graduate student at Southeast Missouri State University. Her thesis will be on plastic biodegradation in multiple generations of darkling beetles and their microbiota.
Kate Appleman
Kate Appleman is a current graduate student at Southeast Missouri State University pursing a Master of Business Administration focused on Healthcare Administration. Appleman graduated from Southeast in May 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology: Biomedical Sciences and a Bachelor of General Studies focused on Spanish, Chemistry, Physics, Child Development, and Child Trauma and Outcomes. After her Masters, Appleman hopes to attend medical school to become a physician. For her research, she has worked primarily with various porcine heart valves. Appleman has co-first authored a publication that can be found in the Journal of Biomechanics. The focus of her current study is to measure the efficacy of atrial appendage tissue to function as a neo-bicuspid valve. This is being done for both the pulmonary and aortic valves. She hopes to further develop her research skills in the lab this year with other projects.
Kate Appleman is a current graduate student at Southeast Missouri State University pursing a Master of Business Administration focused on Healthcare Administration. Appleman graduated from Southeast in May 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology: Biomedical Sciences and a Bachelor of General Studies focused on Spanish, Chemistry, Physics, Child Development, and Child Trauma and Outcomes. After her Masters, Appleman hopes to attend medical school to become a physician. For her research, she has worked primarily with various porcine heart valves. Appleman has co-first authored a publication that can be found in the Journal of Biomechanics. The focus of her current study is to measure the efficacy of atrial appendage tissue to function as a neo-bicuspid valve. This is being done for both the pulmonary and aortic valves. She hopes to further develop her research skills in the lab this year with other projects.
Amber Tyler
Amber is a current graduate student at Southeast Missouri State University pursuing a Master of Science in Biology. Her research is examining the effect of long chain fatty acids on wolf spider immune responses. Following graduation she plans to attend PA school.
Amber is a current graduate student at Southeast Missouri State University pursuing a Master of Science in Biology. Her research is examining the effect of long chain fatty acids on wolf spider immune responses. Following graduation she plans to attend PA school.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Rebecca Witty
Rebecca is a Biology major and a chemistry minor. She plans to attend medical school to become a pathologist. She is assisting on several projects in the lab including plastic biodegredation in darkling beetles, disease dynamics in tadpoles, and immune responses in wolf spiders.
Rebecca is a Biology major and a chemistry minor. She plans to attend medical school to become a pathologist. She is assisting on several projects in the lab including plastic biodegredation in darkling beetles, disease dynamics in tadpoles, and immune responses in wolf spiders.
Megan Witt
Megan a senior majoring in biology with minors in chemistry and general psychology. She is a member of Greek life and enjoys volunteering at the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school and become a physician. |
Laura Boozer
Laura is a psychology major minoring in biology, chemistry, and criminology. She plans to attend medical school. She is assisting on investigations of plastic biodegredation in darkling beetles and reproductive trade-offs in Blanchard's cricket frogs. |
Tinotenda Nigel Shavi
Tino is a Biology major with an interest in microbiology and molecular biology. He is currenly assisting on several projects in the lab including plastic biodegredation in darkling beetles, disease dynamics in tadpoles, and immune responses in wolf spiders. |
Jaylen Greenlee
Jaylen is a Biology Major on the pre-med track. He plans to become a primary care physician. He is currently assisting with the investigation of plastic biodegredation in darkling beetles. |
Past Lab Members
Marissa Wright
Marissa is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University graduated with a B.S. in Biology and successfully completed the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. Her research project examined the development and disease susceptibility in tadpoles. She plans to attend PA school
Marissa is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University graduated with a B.S. in Biology and successfully completed the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program. Her research project examined the development and disease susceptibility in tadpoles. She plans to attend PA school
Logan Oleson
Logan is a is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University graduated with a B.S. in Biology. She is currently exploring graduate school options |
Allison Knaust
Allison is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University graduated with a B.S. in Biology She is currently exploring graduate school opportunities. |
Kyra Lathrop
Kyra is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with a B.S. Biology, She has been accepted into the graduate program at the University of Central Missouri where she will pursue a MS in Biology |
.Jordan Henderson
Jordan is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University with a B.S. in Biology. |
Lindsey Dewey
Lindsey graduated from Murray State University in 2020 with a B.S. in Biology. She is currently a graduate student at Southeast Missouri State University in Fritz Lab, where she is investigating the effects of beaver recolonization on high desert streams. She is a coauthor of a manuscript on trade-offs between reproductive effort and immune responses in wolf spiders, published in Physiological Entomology. |
Andre Gregory
Andre graduated from Murray State University in 2021 He now attends Logan University Chiropractic School. He is a coauthor of a manuscript on the investigation of trade-offs between reproductive effort and immune responses in wolf spiders, published in Physiological Entomology. |
