Current lab members

Michelle Diminuco (MS 2027, UGA)

Michelle joined our lab in 2025 after doing her undergraduate work at UVa, during which time she did a Field Study in the Bahamas and an REU in Bermuda.  After graduating she worked in St. Thomas, USVI and Guam doing coral restoration and management work.  She plans to work on coral wound healing and how it is affected by shifts in the microbiome due to environmental factors (e.g., algal contact, temperature). [ her webpage]

Nina Simone Warner (MS 2026, UGA)

Nina Simone joined our lab in 2025 after her first year at UGA.  She has a love for herps and aquatic ecology and is hoping to pursue a study that brings together these interests.  She did her undergraduate work at Spelman during which time she completed two REUs.  She received a FUSE fellowship from UGA in recognition of her accomplishments.

Josh Egenolf (MS 2026, UGA)

Josh joined our lab in 2026 (and will set a record, sort of, for the shortage time to degree).  Josh will be completing his MS (non-thesis) this semester based upon the vast course work he did previously while in the doctoral program in the Odum School (working with Carl Jordan).   Josh has been working as a restoration ecologist for the past 15 years, most recently with The Nature Conservancy of Indiana and as a certified arborist with a private firm.  We are looking forward to Josh receiving his degree and continuing his professional contributions in conservation and restoration.

Gbenga Dehemin (PhD 2028, UGA)

Gbenga joined our lab in 2023.  Gbenga did his undergraduate work at the University of Lagos (Marine Sciences; 2018) and then worked as a biology teacher, science tutor, and graphic designer.   Gbenga started his MS by doing an internship with the Georgia Coastal Ecosystem LTER program.  In his application, Gbenga noted that "Nothing interests me more than the idea of instigating change around me".  Gbenga is contributing to the biomimic project, investigating how temperature fluctuations drive the thermal ecology of marsh organisms, especially Littoria irrorata.

Kelsey Vaughn (PhD 2028, UGA)

Kelsey joined our lab in 2022 after receiving her BS from the University of Arkansas (2019) and her MS from the University of the Virgin Islands (2021).  She's interested in the behavioral response of prey to predators and has done field work in the coral reefs of Moorea as well as laboratory studies involving learning in a freshwater predator-prey system.  Her lab work focuses on how thermal stress in a predator-prey system alters learning ability and how the relative rates of learning in predator and prey shape the outcome of their interaction. 

Nikki Solano (PhD 2026, UGA)

Nikki joined our lab in 2022, and is co-advised by Courtney Murdock (at Cornell University).  Nikki is interested in mosquito population dynamics, the roles of the microenvironment (especially temperature and humidity) and density-dependence.  She's also a dedicated teacher and mentor; and she embraces the integration of the arts and sciences.