People - Johnson Lab

university of north texas - department of biological sciences - institute of applied sciences

	Jeff A. Johnson
		Assistant Professor Dept. of Biological Sciences Institute of Applied Sciences Tel: 940.369.8071 jajohnson (AT) unt.edu C.V.

	Susan Hammerly
		Graduate Student, PhD (start Spring '09) Research focus: conservation genetics, captive breeding Dept. of Biological Sciences Tel: 940.565.4873 sch0113 (AT) unt.edu	I am interested in conservation biology and the management of small avian populations in endangered species recovery programs. My research focuses on evaluating inbreeding depression and exploring the concept of ‘adaptation to captivity’ in the federally endangered Attwater’s prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido attwateri) in an effort to better understand and improve factors affecting the survival of reintroduced individuals. I am using molecular methods to verify the existing pedigree and evaluate the consequences of potential errors. The second component of my research uses a variety of immune-related measures to evaluate ‘immunity’ among individuals in the captive-release program and determine if immune response is correlated to genetics or survival post release.

	Sarah Schulwitz
		Graduate Student, PhD (start Spring '12) Research focus: avian toxicology Environmental Sciences Tel: 940.565.4873 SarahSchulwitz (AT) my.unt.edu C.V.	Broadly, I aim to contribute to the mitigation of our species’ negative impact on Earth’s biodiversity through education and applied research. My graduate research focuses on identifying factors that may influence avian population viability, specifically: pollution and habitat fragmentation. Initial research (for MS degree) quantified mercury levels in avian species at Arctic, Temperate and Sub-Antarctic latitudes to provide baseline environmental mercury values across differing trophic levels and proxomity to potential point sources. More recently, I am investigating population connectivity among Greater Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations in Northwestern Wyoming using population genetic-based analyses. The results of this work will help to inform conservation and management decisions of Sage Grouse populations in Wyoming.

	Stephanie Galla
		Graduate Student, MS (start Fall 2010) Research focus: avian phylogeography & conservation Dept. of Biological Sciences sgalla32 (AT) gmail.com	My goal as a biologist is to work with avian populations and discover new techniques for improving wildlife management. At UNT, I am using phylogenetic methods as a tool for understanding the demographic history of North American Prairie grouse (Genus: Tympanuchus), which in turn will be used to help conservation efforts for these birds. Using a multi-locus approach, I aim to uncover the evolutionary history of this group using phylogenetic methods to identify those demographic processes important to their diversification. This research has important management implications for the Attwater’s Prairie-chicken (T. cupido attwateri), an endangered subspecies of prairie grouse that is being considered for out-crossing with the Greater Prairie-chicken (T. c. pinnatus) to bolster genetic diversity. My research will shed light on how distinct Attwater’s are from the Greater Prairie-chicken and whether out-crossing is the best management option for this endangered bird.

	Jonathan Dombrosky
		Graduate Student, PhD (start Fall 2013) Environmental Sciences Co-advised with Dr. Wolverton (Geography)	Jonathan's research will focus on temporal changes in avian biodiversity in northwest Greenland

	David De La Cerda
		Undergraduate Student Dept. of Biological Sciences	David's research is focused on ascertaining familiar relationships among Attwater's Prairie-chicken to investigate the effects of inbreeding on fitness

Lab Alumni:
Graduate students:
Sarah Schulwitz	Obtained MS May 2012. Stayed at UNT for PhD studies
Undergraduate students:
Taylor Allison	Undergraduate Researcher -- Graduated with BS in May 2011 (now in Dental School)
Jaclyn Rosenwinkle	Undergraduate Researcher -- Graduated with BS in May 2011
Jessica Fowler	Undergraduate Researcher -- Graduated with BS in Dec 2010 (now at Arkansas State Univ with Dr. Virginie Rolland)
Nicole Harris	Undergraduate Researcher -- Graduated with BS in May 2010
Ryan Williams	Undergraduate Researcher, McNair Scholar -- Graduated with BS in May 2012 (now at UNT working on MS with Dr. Hoeinghaus)
Jana Wold	Undergraduate Researcher -- Graduated with BS in May 2012 (now in New Zealand.... living)

last updated 05 April 2013