Lab Professionals

Ph.D. – Environmental Toxicology, Texas Tech University, 2020

B.S. – Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, 2012

Prior to coming to Texas Tech University, I conducted research to study the effects of contaminants on snakes as an undergraduate, and then I worked as a fisheries observer in Alaska, as well as a research technician on several projects that studied turtles in Illinois. I recently graduated from TTU with a Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology. My doctoral research focused on conducting studies required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to register a medicated feed to treat parasites in wild northern bobwhite. I also used molecular techniques to identify potential intermediate hosts of those parasites. For my post-doctoral research, I wish to continue studying the impacts parasites have on wild bobwhite.

Ph.D. University of Madras, India 2011
M.Sc. Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, India 2003
B. Sc. Biochemistry, Periyar University, India 2001

I graduated with a Ph.D in Biotechnology from the University of Madras (Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture-ICAR) in November 2011. My doctoral research has focused on identifying novel seafood allergens (Pen m 3.0101, Pen m 4.0101 & Pen m 6.0101) in black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon. My previous research experience dealt with the molecular epidemiology of ticks and tick borne diseases, and epidemiological studies focusing on anthelmintic resistance in nematodes that affect ruminants. The objective was to identify potential recombinant vaccine candidates to combat parasite infections in ruminants. As a Post-Doctoral Research Investigator in the Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, I wish to advance our understanding of the pathogenicity and life cycle of parasites in quail.

B.S. – Wildlife Biology, Texas State University, 2016

M.S. – Wildlife Ecology, Texas State University, 2019

My prior research experience focused on an introduced trematode that infects waterfowl. I surveyed waterfowl across much of Texas to determine prevalence and intensity while also describing the pathology associated with infection. I also conducted an experiment to better understand the behavior of one infective stage of the parasite. My research at TTU will focus on the impacts of parasites on Bobwhite Quail population in the Rolling Plains and will include developing a protocol that utilizes recent advances in DNA sequencing to monitor the endoparasite communities of wildlife.

B.S., Zoology, Liberty University, 2020

I completed my undergraduate degree in Zoological sciences, during which I was heavily involved in various wildlife research projects. My primary focus was on the Peaks of Otter Salamander, a threatened species endemic to only a few mountain peaks in central Virginia. However, my involvement in a project studying Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in frogs and its sister fungus B. salamandrivorans in salamanders quickly piqued a profound interest in epidemiological research, which brought me here to The Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory. Over the course of my graduate studies, I plan on researching the effects of various environmental factors on the epidemiology of parasites found in Bobwhite Quail. Hopefully, this will give vital insight into mitigating these detrimental infections in order to help restore the populations of the iconic gamebird species.

I have been employed at Texas Tech for 27 years with 21 of those working for Dr. Kendall. I retired in December 2020 and returned part-time in March 2021.

I started at Texas Tech University in fall 2021 in the Natural Resource Management program with a concentration in Wildlife Biology. My interests in wildlife began while working as a veterinary assistant in Pearland. My time in the veterinary field sparked my interest in parasites and wildlife health. These interests drew me to the research being done at WTL. Since starting, I have learned a great deal about quail, parasites, and laboratory field techniques for quail management. The skills I have learned include DNA extraction, quantitative PCR, quail call counts, trapping, communicating with the public, and conducting parasite surveys. I want to use these techniques to study the impacts of parasites and the environment on stress levels in quail. In the future, I want to use my experience to work in the public sector of wildlife management and outreach.

B.S - Environmental Science, University of Texas at San Antonio, 2022

Prior to acceptance into Texas Tech University and joining the Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, I conducted research to study fluvial dynamics of various creek systems and effects of eutrophication along an urbanized gradient in the south-central Texas region and effectiveness of a low cost phytoremediation for accelerated removal while increasing dissolved oxygen as an undergraduate, a week after graduating I worked in a non-profit environmental consulting company conducting various projects including: dendroecological research and flow analysis to establish relationships between flow conditions and riparian productivity within the Brazos, Guadalupe, and Trinity Rivers. Responsible for evaluating efficacy of environmental flow releases within Big Cypress and Little Cypress Bayous in Northeast Texas involving multiple habitats. I also am responsible for conducting remote sensing tasks evaluating Alligator Gar (Atractosteus spatula) in the South-Central Texas region and its decline in the past decade. I also conducted research along the California Region and the Channel Islands with a focus in understanding endemic species interactions and hydrogeological relationships with Eucalyptus trees. After these projects I decided to join the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) as a Project Manager in the Superfund Section - Remediation Division to conduct investigations and removal actions of highly contaminated areas within the Texas Region while performing Site Discovery Assessments, Preliminary Action and Site Investigations (PASI), and completing Pre-Cercla's. My current research interests are eco-acoustics and bioinformatics with a focus towards application of reintroduction/conservation biology techniques to successfully restore the Texas Bobwhite Quail.

B.S. - Biology, Neuroscience, Bioinformatics (minor), Miami University, 2023

Throughout my time at Miami University, I began my research career by working in a physiology ecology lab and focusing my first year on ways to communicate research to non-scientific audiences. First, I was involved with investigating the PPARgamma fat storage pathway in the migratory catbird. I also assisted in research studying cold-induced cardiac hypertrophy in mice and prairie voles as model organisms, where I was able to represent my lab at the 2022 Ohio Physiology Society Conference. I fell in love with fieldwork, especially working with birds, at Miami which was a major force for me choosing to work with quail. I plan to use my computing skills and knowledge of songbirds to investigate how the same environmental conditions affecting quail are harming other species. Finally, I hope to raise awareness for wildlife toxicology by relating to interdisciplinary audiences and communicating the importance of the research being conducted in our lab.

I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in animal science while completing the prerequisites for veterinary school. My journey for the love of animals and veterinary medicine started in 2020 when I received a phone call stating that I got a position working as a technician at a local veterinary clinic. After learning more about the animal field I knew I wanted my future to involve this line of work. A new opportunity opened when I saw the WTL job posting. I have now been introduced to a new area that will grow my knowledge and experience. With this undergraduate position and previous experience, I plan on applying to veterinary school and furthering my education.

B.S. - Biology, Wildlife Biology and Conservation Concentration, Ball State University, 2015
M.S. - Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University, 2024

During my undergraduate studies at Ball State University, I was part of a wildlife research lab and continued post-graduation as a field technician assisting with projects investigating the roosting habits of northern-long eared bats and white-tailed deer range and mortality in Bloomington, IN. I also assisted the Indiana Department of Natural Resources as a deer check station technician, collecting samples for disease surveillance of chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis. In 2016, I joined the Basic Medical Sciences Department within the Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine as a laboratory technician, managing teaching specimens and served as a teaching assistant for Veterinary Nursing and DVM anatomy courses. I completed my M.S. degree in 2024 which focused on musculoskeletal adaptation of green iguanas. As a member of the Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory, I plan to continue the utilization of the Mobile Research Laboratory to monitor parasitic infections within quail populations in Texas and Oklahoma post FDA approval of the medicated feed.

I am a third-year student at Texas Tech University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a concentration in pre-veterinary studies. My deep passion for animals has driven me toward a career in veterinary medicine, with the goal of working with companion animals after attending vet school. While my focus has primarily been on companion animals, my family’s ranch, where I spent many summers outdoors, instilled a growing interest in wildlife. This interest led me to the Wildlife Toxicology Lab (WTL), where I’m eager to expand my expertise through hands-on laboratory and fieldwork, particularly to support bobwhite quail conservation efforts.

I am currently a pre-vet student at Texas Tech University, where I enrolled in 2023. With hands-on experience as a certified veterinary assistant, I’ve developed a strong foundation in animal care and welfare throughout my time working at a clinic. My love for wildlife drives me to actively participate in clubs at Texas Tech focused on conservation and education. I also enjoy hunting, which deepens my connection to nature and helps me better understand wildlife dynamics. I’m committed to pursuing a career in veterinary medicine, with hopes of getting into veterinary school, and excited to combine my experiences and interests to make a positive impact in the Wildlife Toxicology Laboratory.

I am a sophomore majoring in Animal Science with an industry concentration. My goals within the lab are to learn more about avian husbandry and conservation. I began working within the veterinary field my junior year of high school as a certified veterinary assistant, as well as being involved in FFA competitions and showing livestock. I fell in love with the growing field of implementing technology into medicine and I plan to continue my love for research further into animal health.
I am a sophomore majoring in Animal Science with an industry concentration. My goals within the lab are to learn more about avian husbandry and conservation. I began working within the veterinary field my junior year of high school as a certified veterinary assistant, as well as being involved in FFA competitions and showing livestock. I fell in love with the growing field of implementing technology into medicine and I plan to continue my love for research further into animal health.

B.S. – Biology, Fairfield University, 2023
M.P.S. – Animal Sciences with a concentration in Animal Health, Cornell University, 2024

I earned my Bachelor of Science in biology from Fairfield University where I also competed as a varsity NCAA Division I swimmer each of my four years. During my time at Fairfield, I completed 2 years of undergraduate research in marine biomechanics as well as field research experiences conducted in Colorado. I spent one summer in the Pawnee National Grasslands on the Central Plains Experimental Range assisting in research on the potential of rodents as predators on ground nesting birds. I returned to Colorado as a high altitude field tech at the University of Denver’s High Altitude Laboratory studying morphologies and phenotypes of successful mammalian species at high elevations on Mt. Evans. Following completion of my B.S., I began my master’s in animal science with a concentration in animal health at Cornell University. While at Cornell, I worked closely with horses and maintained heavy research interests in endocrinology and immunology while developing a biosecurity protocol for horse farms in New York State. As a Ph.D. student at Texas Tech University, I hope to continue exploring ways to support wildlife and develop skills that are applicable both in the lab and in the field.