Lab Members

Principal Investigator

Todd Oakley

Our lab addresses the question of how complex traits originate during evolution. We primarily study invertebrate visual systems and eyes, addressing questions like, when did a particular phenotype evolve? When did the components of that phenotype evolve? Where did those components come from? What evolutionary processes and mechanisms were involved?

Postdoctoral Researchers

Cory Berger

Cory studies the physiology and evolution of marine invertebrates, especially cnidarians. He applies experimental, bioinformatic, and evolutionary methods to sensory and behavioral traits like light perception and circadian rhythms.

 

@caberger.bsky.social

Graduate Students

Seth Frazer

Seth is interested in the molecular evolution of visual systems.

His research focuses on the use of machine learning to explore opsin genotype:phenotype relationships and elucidate the functional evolution of opsins.

 

Prospective Graduate Students

Thinking of joining our lab as a graduate student? (Click above)

If you are fascinated by evolution and driven to understand it and communicate what you learn to the world, you might be in the right place! 

Cheyenne McKinley

Cheyenne is interested in the evolution of biological rhythms. She is currently using behavioral assays to investigate the underlying mechanisms of circalunar rhythm in Cypridinid ostracods.

Lisa Mesrop

Lisa is interested in studying the evolution of novel traits, more specifically, the origin of the 'upper lip' and bioluminescence in ostracods. 

Sriram Ramamurthy

Sriram is a PhD student coadvised by Drs. Todd Oakley and Armand Kuris. His research focuses on the biology of intertidal sea anemones, including their spatial & trophic ecology, comparative morphology, the evolution of agonistic behaviors, and a peculiar symbiotic association between anemones and the amphipod Orchomenella recondita.

Bridget Vincent

Bridget is interested in patterns of convergent evolution in molluscan novelties.