Current Lab Members
Dr. Claire Godineau Postdoctoral Associate
Claire joined the Spigler lab in April 2022 after earning her PhD at the University of Montpellier in France. Her research aims at identifying factors facilitating adaptation and persistence under environmental change. She uses theoretical approaches combining individual-based simulations and analytical models of quantitative genetics. For her PhD thesis, Claire investigated how assortative mating (mating between similar individuals) for phenological traits facilitates adaptation to climate change. She then extended those results by exploring how sex-specific natural selection and sexual dimorphism affect the conditions for which assortative mating facilitates adaptation and the impacts of yearly variation in selection intensity on adaptive responses. Her current work in the lab is composed of three subprojects: modeling how seed banks affect the demography and evolution of populations in a changing environment; investigating the effect of inbreeding depression and competitive context on the evolution and demography of mixed-mating plants; and empirical work on the quantitative genetics of floral traits in Sabatia angularis.
Claire joined the Spigler lab in April 2022 after earning her PhD at the University of Montpellier in France. Her research aims at identifying factors facilitating adaptation and persistence under environmental change. She uses theoretical approaches combining individual-based simulations and analytical models of quantitative genetics. For her PhD thesis, Claire investigated how assortative mating (mating between similar individuals) for phenological traits facilitates adaptation to climate change. She then extended those results by exploring how sex-specific natural selection and sexual dimorphism affect the conditions for which assortative mating facilitates adaptation and the impacts of yearly variation in selection intensity on adaptive responses. Her current work in the lab is composed of three subprojects: modeling how seed banks affect the demography and evolution of populations in a changing environment; investigating the effect of inbreeding depression and competitive context on the evolution and demography of mixed-mating plants; and empirical work on the quantitative genetics of floral traits in Sabatia angularis.
Dr. Matt Chmielewski Postdoctoral Associate
Matt earned his Ph.D. at Portland State University (Portland, OR) in August of 2019. His dissertation focused on understanding the role that birds play in bryophyte dispersal (mosses, hornworts, liverworts), as well as the community ecology of bryophytes in extreme environments. His interest in natural history and field-based ecology has taken him to a wide range of environments from the Pacific Northwest to Antarctica and the Congo Basin. In addition to his degree, he earned a Certificate in Innovation in College Teaching, and has taught in community college, small liberal arts college, and large state university settings. His postdoctoral research will focus on sex-specific foraging of plant-pollinator networks. He has previously earned both a B.A. and M.A. in Biology from Clark University (Worcester, MA). In his free time Matt enjoys bicycling, gardening, birding, and trying to find time to read fiction. Check out Matt's website here!
Matt earned his Ph.D. at Portland State University (Portland, OR) in August of 2019. His dissertation focused on understanding the role that birds play in bryophyte dispersal (mosses, hornworts, liverworts), as well as the community ecology of bryophytes in extreme environments. His interest in natural history and field-based ecology has taken him to a wide range of environments from the Pacific Northwest to Antarctica and the Congo Basin. In addition to his degree, he earned a Certificate in Innovation in College Teaching, and has taught in community college, small liberal arts college, and large state university settings. His postdoctoral research will focus on sex-specific foraging of plant-pollinator networks. He has previously earned both a B.A. and M.A. in Biology from Clark University (Worcester, MA). In his free time Matt enjoys bicycling, gardening, birding, and trying to find time to read fiction. Check out Matt's website here!
Gerard (JJ) Smith
PhD Candidate
JJ joined the Spigler lab as a Ph.D. student in August of 2017. He is interested in studying pollinator behavior, animal-mediated selection on floral traits, and temporal changes in pollinator assemblages. In order to comprehensively explore these topics, he approaches research questions from a network perspective, including entire pollinator assemblages or plant communities. JJ is developing methods involving video cameras and video analysis software to efficiently sample these large collections of organisms. Previously, he earned a M.S. in Entomology from the University of California, Davis in 2015 and a B.S. in Biology from Villanova University in 2008. In his free time, JJ enjoys exercising, cooking, playing video games, and spending time with his fiancé and two cats.
Check out JJ's fancy website!
PhD Candidate
JJ joined the Spigler lab as a Ph.D. student in August of 2017. He is interested in studying pollinator behavior, animal-mediated selection on floral traits, and temporal changes in pollinator assemblages. In order to comprehensively explore these topics, he approaches research questions from a network perspective, including entire pollinator assemblages or plant communities. JJ is developing methods involving video cameras and video analysis software to efficiently sample these large collections of organisms. Previously, he earned a M.S. in Entomology from the University of California, Davis in 2015 and a B.S. in Biology from Villanova University in 2008. In his free time, JJ enjoys exercising, cooking, playing video games, and spending time with his fiancé and two cats.
Check out JJ's fancy website!
Mark Walker
PhD Candidate
Mark joined the lab in Fall 2018. He is interested in the evolutionary consequences of self-pollination, using the flowering plant Sabatia angularis. Selfing allows for reproduction when pollinators or conspecifics are rare, however it comes with the risk of inbreeding depression and frequently evolves under conditions of environmental stress. Using methods such as competition experiments and integral projection models, the viability of selfing as a long-term reproductive strategy can be assessed.
Mark earned his BSc and MSc from the University of Canterbury, and previously worked as a technician at Lincoln University in New Zealand. Mark enjoys hiking, reading and travelling.
PhD Candidate
Mark joined the lab in Fall 2018. He is interested in the evolutionary consequences of self-pollination, using the flowering plant Sabatia angularis. Selfing allows for reproduction when pollinators or conspecifics are rare, however it comes with the risk of inbreeding depression and frequently evolves under conditions of environmental stress. Using methods such as competition experiments and integral projection models, the viability of selfing as a long-term reproductive strategy can be assessed.
Mark earned his BSc and MSc from the University of Canterbury, and previously worked as a technician at Lincoln University in New Zealand. Mark enjoys hiking, reading and travelling.
Catherine (Katie) McManus
Graduate Student
Katie joined the lab Fall 2021. She is interested in insect ecology & pollinator conservation. She previously researched the effects of climate change on plant physiology at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the impacts of agriculture on milkweed for monarch conservation at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Katie earned her BS in Biology from the University of Scranton in 2019. She enjoys running, doing yoga, reading memoirs, and rollerskating.
Graduate Student
Katie joined the lab Fall 2021. She is interested in insect ecology & pollinator conservation. She previously researched the effects of climate change on plant physiology at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the impacts of agriculture on milkweed for monarch conservation at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Katie earned her BS in Biology from the University of Scranton in 2019. She enjoys running, doing yoga, reading memoirs, and rollerskating.
Ruth Walton
Undergraduate Researcher
Ruth Walton is a junior biology student. She joined the lab summer of 2021 to work on a project studying temporal patterns of heterospecific pollen receipt in a grassland community. Ruth's broad scientific interests include ecology and conservation. In her free time, she enjoys reading, long-distance running, hiking, and spending time with her fiancé and seven siblings.
Undergraduate Researcher
Ruth Walton is a junior biology student. She joined the lab summer of 2021 to work on a project studying temporal patterns of heterospecific pollen receipt in a grassland community. Ruth's broad scientific interests include ecology and conservation. In her free time, she enjoys reading, long-distance running, hiking, and spending time with her fiancé and seven siblings.
Brittney Flinn
Undergraduate Researcher
Brittney Flinn is a senior studying Biology, with a minor in Spanish. She is student coordinator and secretary of Temple’s chapter of SEEDS - an organization supporting diversity and accessibility in Ecology. She is especially interested in restoration ecology and peatland bog conservation. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, baking, and knitting.
Undergraduate Researcher
Brittney Flinn is a senior studying Biology, with a minor in Spanish. She is student coordinator and secretary of Temple’s chapter of SEEDS - an organization supporting diversity and accessibility in Ecology. She is especially interested in restoration ecology and peatland bog conservation. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, baking, and knitting.
Also featuring in our awesome undergrad research crew...
Annmarie Charles
Madelyn Pedia
Annmarie Charles
Madelyn Pedia
You?
Undergraduates, potential graduate students and postdoctoral associates who share my interests in fundamental questions in plant ecology and evolutionary biology are encouraged contact me. You can read more about these opportunities here.
Undergraduates, potential graduate students and postdoctoral associates who share my interests in fundamental questions in plant ecology and evolutionary biology are encouraged contact me. You can read more about these opportunities here.
Former Lab Members
Postdoctoral Associates Lauren Frazee (Data Scientist at BioStat Solutions, LLC) Sarah Emel (Assistant Professor, Indiana University of Pennsylvani) Graduate Students Skyler Naya, MS 2020 Undergraduate Researchers Ashley McGrogan Asma Sharaf Jen Cortese Bella Bianchi Susanna Ostrowski Claire Neal Alyssa Bray Alaha Abdul Faruq Maria Molyashcha Danielle Kobulsky Jag Gummadi D'Era Washington Alyssa Woodard Jessical Hart Stuart Olshevski Aurélie Ky Hayley Dashnaw Tanner Simpson Paige Pammer Tiyaasa Preston Curt Harrity Amazing Research Techs Kate Bird Matthias Gaffney Mitch LeSage Rossana Maguiña |