Colette
M. St. Mary
Graduate and Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Also see my own research interests and check out the Department of Zoology Undergraduate and Graduate program information
My philosophy
I place a high priority on undergraduate research experiences and graduate education. In my own experience, critical thought and scientific development are fostered by an open and encouraging environment. Such an environment requires that students, as well as faculty, present their ideas and research, and receive and benefit from critical feedback. To this aim, I encourage frequent and open communication with all my students and routinely sponsor seminars (or workshops) in which students and faculty can present research problems for discussion (e.g., Research Reviews in Ecology and Evolution). I also feel that regular lab meetings for my students (and advisees) are essential to maintain open communication and provide more informal avenues of scientific discussion.
Opportunities
- Undergraduates
I have undergraduates involved in nearly every facet of my research program as do my graduate students. Typically interested students are encouraged to volunteer for a semester and if all works well they may work with me or my graduate students on more independent research projects. The students who are currently working under my supervision are involved in laboratory experiments focused on the evolution of parental care, field and laboratory studies of reef fish communities, and histological preparation and the quantification of gonadal sex allocation (see my research interests for more details).
- Graduate Students
I currently have students working in the areas of life-history evolution, population dynamics, and reproductive behavioral ecology. I currently have 5 students in the lab, three PhD students and 2 Master’s students (as below). Brandon and Ben expect to finish their degrees within the year. Billy and Becca are midway into their projects and Hope is just starting her thesis work.
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Hope Klug MS
The evolution of filial cannibalism.
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Brandon Chockley MS
Mechanisms affecting population demography in coral shrimp.
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Charles Gunnels PhD
Variation in female reproductive strategies in a facultatively eusocial wasp.
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Benjamin Miner PhD
Evolution and ecological consequences of phenotypic plasticity.
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Becca Hale MS
(2001), PhD
The evolution of plasticity in the expression of parental care.
Graduates from
my lab
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Sanford Boye MS
(2000)
Evolutionary relationships among Pacific and Atlantic Lythrypnus (Gobiidae).
currently: Research technician,
Flinders University, Australia
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Brian Farina MST
(2000)
currently: Research technician,
Gainesville, FL, USA
I am particularly interested in attracting students with interests in reproductive behavioral ecology. For instance students interested in sexual selection, mating system evolution, parental care and the like. If you share my interests and are considering applying to our graduate program please take a look at the interests of our faculty as a whole and contact those of us who share your interests about your application.
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(last updated 6/16/02)