Alumni of the Lab
Post Docs
Fred (Phred) Benham (2018 – 2024)
Adaptation to salt marsh habitats in Savanna Sparrows. NSF Postdoctoral Fellow. Present Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Colorado.
Nicholas Mason (2018 – 2020)
The genetic basis of substrate matching in larks. NSF Postdoctoral Fellow. Present Position: Assistant Professor: Louisiana State University (LSU) and Curator of Birds (LSUMNS).
Martim Melo (2015 – 2019)
Coping with aridity: an evolutionary approach using oceanic island birds. Present Position: Research Assistant Professor CIBIO (Portugal).
Guinevere Wogan (2012 – 2015)
Phylogeograpy of Southern African arid zone birds. Present Position: Postdoc: Assistant Professor at Oklahoma State University.
Beata Matysiokova (2013-2015)
Assistant Professor, Lab of Ornithology, Palacky University, Czech Republic
Sean Rovito (2011-2014)
Assistant Professor, Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para la Biodiversidad (LANGEBIO), a unit of CINVESTAV in Irapuato, Mexico
Graeme Oatley (2012-2013)
Senior Research Assistant at Wellcome Sanger Institute, United Kingdom
Hanneline Smit (2008-2010)
Conservation Division Manager, Birdlife South Africa
Lauryn Benedict (2008-2010)
Associate Professor, University of Northern Colorado
Jerome Fuchs (2007-2009)
Curator of Birds, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris
Sophie von der Heyden (2005-2009)
Senior Lecturer, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Ulf Johansson (2005-2007)
Curator of Birds and Mammals, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm
PhD Students
Daniel (Dan) Wait (PhD 2024)
Speciation in Spotted Towhees
Mackenzie Kirchner-Smith (PhD 2024)
Functional morphology and convergent evolution in the skulls of diurnal raptors (Accipitriformes & Falconiformes), University of California, Berkeley. Curator of Integrated Biology, San Bernardino County Museum.
Cynthia Wang-Claypool (PhD 2024)
Nectarivory as a syndrome in birds: insights from feeding morphology, genetics, and nutritional ecology. University of California, Berkeley. Assistant Curator of Genetic Resources, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University.
Jackie Childers (PhD 2023)
The Evolution of Nest Architecture in Weaver Birds, University of California, Berkeley. NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, Los Angeles County Museum & Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology. (jchilders.com)
Rosa Jimenez (PhD 2021)
Diversification of the Central American bird fauna, University of California, Berkeley. Present Position: Professor: Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala.
Ariella Rink (PhD 2021)
Behavioural, microhabitat, and phylogenetic dimensions of intrasexual contest competition in combatant Monkey Beetles (Scarabaeidae: Hopliini). University of Cape Town, co-advised with Jonathan Colville and Res Altwegg. Present Position: Postdoc, University of Cape Town.
Dana Lin (PhD 2018)
Genetic and phenotypic dynamics across a vole contact zone
Zac Hanna (PhD 2017)
Genomics of the Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis) and Barred Owl (Strix varia) in Western North America
Michael Holmes (PhD 2015)
Assistant Professor, Coastal Carolina University
“Morphological Adaptations in Crania of Four Species of Cricetid Rodent: Variation Through Time and Along Elevational Gradients”
Owen Davies (PhD 2015)
Environmental consultant
“Taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of cisticolas (Cisticola spp.)”
Andrew Rush (PhD 2014)
Lecturer, UC Berkeley
“Phylogeography of the “Western Flycatcher” Species Complex”
Beth Wommack (PhD 2014)
Curator of Vertebrates, University of Wyoming
“The Range and Use of Plumage Variation in the American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)”
A-T. Elaine Vo (PhD 2014)
Lead Research Scientist, OpenBiome
“Determinants and Implications of Variation in the Avian Gut Microbiota”
Potiphar Kaliba (PhD 2014)
Director of the Museum of Malawi
“Faunal turnover between east and southern African terrestrial vertebrates: is Malawi the geographical break?”
Jay McEntee (PhD 2013)
Postdoc, University of Florida
“Social Selection, Song Evolution, and the Ecology of Parapatry in Sunbirds”
Tinashe Muteverie (PhD 2013)
Lecturer, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe
“Effect of Pleistocene climatic changes on the evolutionary history of South African intertidal gastropods”
Tshifhiwa Mandiwana-Neudani (PhD 2012)
Senior Lecturer, University of Limpopo, South Africa
“Systematics of African francolins and spurfowls”
Graeme Oatley (PhD 2011)
Senior Research Assistant at Wellcome Sanger Institute, United Kingdom
“Exploring species boundaries within the Cape White-eye Zosterops virens and Orange River White-eye Zosterops pallidus complex using organismal and molecular evidence”
Angela Ribeiro (PhD 2011)
Marie Curie Fellow, University of Copenhagen
“Unravelling temporal and spatial genetic patterns across three endemic southern African Cercotrichas Scrub-robins”
Prince Kaleme (PhD 2011)
Mammalogist, Lwiro Research Station, Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
“Habitat fragmentation, patterns of diversity and phylogeography of small mammal species in the Albertine rift”
Sampath Lokugalappatti (PhD 2011)
Senior Lecturer, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
“Climatic perturbations and speciation of southern and eastern African Bulbuls (family Pycnonotidae)”
Callan Cohen (PhD 2011)
Director of Birding Africa
“The phylogenetics, taxonomy and biogeography of African arid zone terrestrial birds: the bustards (Otididae), sandgrouse (Pteroclidae), coursers (Glareolidae) and Stone Partridge (Ptilopachus)”
Tshifhiwa Nangammbi (PhD 2010)
Lecturer (= Assistant Professor), University of Venda, South Africa
“Systematics of the Tricolia, Phasianella and Gabrielona complex (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Phasianellidae) in southern Africa”
Marta De Ponte Machado (PhD 2010)
Private Sector
“Population dynamics of Great White Pelicans in southern Africa: causative factors and influence on other seabirds”
Knud Jonsson (PhD 2010)
Marie Curie Fellow, Imperial College, London
“Determining biogeographic patterns of dispersal and diversification in the “Crown Corvida” in Australia and south east Asia”
Masters Students
CM Muller (M.Sc. 2010)
Lisa Nupen (M.Sc. 2007)